Undergraduate Courses

Graduate Courses

Molecular Cell & Developmental Biology
225 Sinsheimer Laboratories
Phone: 831.459.4986
Fax: 831.459.3139
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GRADUATE COURSES

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS *not offered during 2009-10 academic year

200A. Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature (Fall)
Development of critical thinking skills via discussion of research articles on a broad range of topics. Prepares students to critically evaluate research publications, and improves their ability to organize effective oral presentations and to evaluate the oral presentations of other scientists. Enrollment restricted to graduate students in MCD biology, or by permission of instructor. (Formerly Critical Analysis of Genetics and Molecular Biology.) Enrollment limited to 20. W. Saxton

200B. Advanced Molecular Biology (Fall)
An in-depth coverage of the structure, function, and synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Discussion of the roles of macromolecules in the regulation of information in the cell. Prerequisite(s): Enrollment restricted to graduate students. The Staff

200C. Advanced Cell Biology (Winter)
An in-depth coverage of topics in cellular and subcellular organization, structure, and function in plants and animals. Emphasis on current research problems. Prerequisite(s): BIOL 200B. Enrollment restricted to graduate students. D. Kellogg

200D. Developmental Biology (Spring)
Key topics in developmental biology, including developmental genetics, epigenetics, stem cell biology, and developmental neurobiology. Lectures are accompanied by critical analysis and discussion of recent publications. Enrollment restricted to graduate students in MCD biology, or by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited to 20. S. Strome, J. Tamkun

201. RNA Processing*
An advanced graduate-level course on biological aspects of RNA function and processing in eukaryotes. Lectures and discussions will be developed using the current literature.

202. Cellular and Organismal Toxicology *
Emphasizes biochemical, cellular, and organ system basis of intoxication, including dose-response relationships, biotransformation of toxicants, biochemical mechanisms underlying toxicity, factors influencing toxic action, and biomarkers of exposure. Emphasizes effects of various classes of toxins, including heavy metals and persistent synthetic organics, with a focus on susceptible biochemical/cellular processes of the central nervous, immune, hepatic, and renal target organ systems.

203. Ribosomes and Translation*
This course will cover in depth the field of ribosome research, including the structure and function of ribosomes and the molecular mechanisms of protein synthesis. It will begin with an historical review of the ribosome field and proceed up to and including the most recent findings. We will focus on some central questions: (1) How is the accuracy of aminoacyl-tRNA selection determined? (2) What is "accommodation"? (3) What is the mechanism of peptide bond formation (peptidyl transferase)? (4) What is the mechanism of translocation? (5) What are the mechanistic roles of the ribosome and translation factor EF-G in translocation? (6) To what extent is the mechanism of translation determined by RNA? ( 7) Why is RNA so well suited for the ribosome? (8) How did translation evolve from an RNA world?

204. Chromatin *
Eukaryotic DNA is complexed with histones to form chromatin. This course focuses on the ways in which chromatin influences and is manipulated to regulate gene expression.

205. Epigenetics *
In-depth coverage of epigenetics focusing on how alterations in chromatin structure and DNA methylation establish and maintain heritable states of gene expression. Lectures are supplemented with critical discussion of recent publications.

206. Introduction to Stem Cell Biology (Fall)
This new course will provide instruction on fundamental issues and experimental approaches of stem cell biology research. The course is divided into 3 sections: basic principles, experimental approaches, and emerging areas of research. Topics covered include stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, the microenvironment, epigenetics, cell cycle regulation, as well as how basic research translates to medical therapeutics.

206L. Current Protocols in Stem Cell Biology (Winter)
Provides students with hands-on experience in embryonic stem cell culture methods.

208. Cellular Signaling Mechanisms (Spring)
All eukaryotic cells utilize intricate signaling pathways to control such diverse events as cell-cell communication, cell division, and changes in cell morphology. This course covers the molecular basis of these cellular signaling pathways, focusing on the most current research.

210. Application and Analysis of Microarrays *
Topics include, but are not limited to, microarray production techniques, experimental strategies using microarrays, extraction and analysis of microarray data, DNA and protein arrays, SNP analysis, gene expression analysis, materials analysis, and advanced analysis of data using bioinformatic techniques. (See BME210)

214. Cancer Cell Biology *
Focuses on molecular and cellular mechanisms behind cancer. Topics include oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, cell growth genes, checkpoint genes, telomeres, and apoptosis. Students gain experience in understanding the cutting edge of cancer drug design and formulate their own proposals for applying molecular and cellular biological techniques toward cancer diagnosis and treatment.

226. Advanced Neuroscience*
Students will learn about the basis of neural behavior at the cellular, molecular and system levels.  The first half of the course will focus on the cellular, molecular, and developmental aspects of the nervous system and we will cover two sensory systems: olfaction and auditory. The last half of the quarter will concern higher level functions of the nervous system such as processing and integrating information. We will also discuss a number of human diseases and disorders.  Enrollment limited to graduate students.

288. Stem Cell Research: Scientific, Ethical, Socaial, and Legal Issues (Winter)
Scientific, ethical, social, and legal dimensions of human embryonic stem-cell research, including the moral status of the embryo; the concept of respect for life; ethical constraints on oocyte procurement; creation of embryonic chimeras; federal policies; and political realities.

289. Practice of Science (Winter)
Examination of ethical and practical scientific issues, including the collection and treatment of data, attribution of credit, plagiarism, fraud, and peer review. Career issues, including how to apply for grants and positions in industry or academia, will be discussed.

291/292. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Seminar (every quarter)
Topics of current interest in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology are presented weekly by graduate students, faculty, and guest speakers.

297. Independent Studies (every quarter)
Independent study for graduate students who have not yet settled on a research area for their thesis.

299. Thesis Research (every quarter)
Thesis research study for PhD graduate students who have advanced to candidacy.

Please refer to the online UCSC Catalog for additional graduate course listing information.

Additional information about our graduate program is available on the Graduate Advising website and in the MCDB Graduate Handbook.

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