BI**194: Fall 2024 Course Descriptions
Disclaimer: Students may not receive credit for a second attempt of the same topic that was previously completed.
| Instructor |
Hasty, Jeff |
| Title |
Advanced topics - Molecular Biology |
| Description |
Advanced topics - Molecular Biology |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Golden, James |
| Title |
Microbiology Current Topics |
| Description |
This class will cover current topics in microbiology from recent scientific review articles and primary research papers. Topics could include areas such as molecular mechanisms of bacterial cell biology; genetics and evolution of traits such as antibiotic resistance; bacterial interactions such as biofilms, symbiosis, or pathogenesis; and microbial biotechnology. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Golden, Susan |
| Title |
Biological Rhythms |
| Description |
This class will cover current topics in molecular and behavioral rhythms related to circadian, annual, tidal, or lunar timescales, and topics that may range from human sleep and performance to processes in environmental and laboratory organisms. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Pruneda-Paz, Jose |
| Title |
BIMM 194 Circadian rhythms: molecular mechanisms and physiological implications of biological clocks |
| Description |
This is a seminar style course. Students will explore, through the presentation and discussion of primary scientific literature, the fundamental characteristics of biological clocks and how circadian rhythms shape physiological responses across species. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Hao, Nan |
| Title |
Synthetic Biology |
| Description |
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that merges biology, engineering, and computational sciences to design and construct novel biological systems or redesign existing ones. By leveraging the principles of standardization, modularity, and abstraction, it aims to engineer biological components to create solutions for diverse applications, from healthcare and biotechnology to environmental sustainability. This course serves as a dynamic platform for exploring cutting-edge research, discussing seminal papers, and dissecting the fundamental principles that underpin the rapidly evolving field of synthetic biology. By critically analyzing and discussing landmark papers, students gain invaluable insights into the latest methodologies, tools, and breakthroughs driving advancements in synthetic biology. With a focus on fostering critical thinking, debate, and a deeper understanding of synthetic biology and its applications, this course empowers students to become adept in navigating the complex landscape of this revolutionary scientific discipline. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Suel, Gurol |
| Title |
Why biology is random: How cells gamble to survive and the impact on disease. |
| Description |
Overall questions that will be pursued in this course:
- What is randomness in biology?
- Why is it important to understand that biology is based on random processes?
- How does randomness arise?
- How is randomness measured in biological systems?
- Does randomness have a purpose/benefit in biology?
- Is there a cost to randomness in biology?
- How randomness better explains diseases and especially failures in treatment?
This course will introduce the concept of randomness (stochasticity) in biology, which is an advanced topic that is typically not covered sufficiently in standard biology textbooks. This section will also provide a conceptual framework for understanding the mysteries and unsolved problems facing biology and biomedicine. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Murre, Cornelis |
| Title |
Epigenetics in Gene Regulation, Development and Cancer |
| Description |
The course is focused on epigenetic mechanisms that control gene expression. There will be a heavy emphasis on understanding the basis of design, execution and interpretation of relevant scientific experiments. The goal of the course is to read, critically evaluate and present primary data from research articles. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Pekkurnaz, Gulcin |
| Title |
Brain Energy Metabolism in Health and Diseases |
| Description |
The underlying causes of metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders are complex, though these conditions have recently been attributed to changes in brain energy metabolism dysregulation. In this course, we will explore the principles of brain energy metabolism in health and diseases through a critical reading of primary research literature. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Jin, Yishi |
| Title |
Research literature study on Synapse and Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Description |
Synapses are where the actions in the nervous system take place! Many neurological diseases are associated with synapse dysfunction. Increasing genetic studies of Autism or Autism spectral disorders (ASD) have implicated many mutations affecting genes that function in synapses. The goals of the course are to provide basic knowledge on how synapses are formed and regulated, and to discuss cutting-edge research on understanding the causative associations of genes in Autism. Specifically, we will first focus on the key studies that reveal the tripartite components of the synapse. We will then discuss representative research on understanding autism-associated genetic mutations on synapses and behaviors using animal models. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Wertheim, Joel |
| Title |
Contagion: Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases |
| Description |
In this course, we will explore the factors that underlie the emergence, epidemiology, and evolution of infectious diseases. We will use the 2011 feature film Contagion as an entry point to understanding how we can use molecular epidemiology to study and combat these emerging threats. Students will read and discuss primary literature describing the current state of the field, with a particular focus on viral pathogens like HIV and SARS-CoV-2. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |