BI**194 / BGGN 280-285: Spring 2022 Course Descriptions
Disclaimer: Students may not receive credit for a second attempt of the same topic that was previously completed.
| Instructor |
Bier, Ethan |
| Title |
Topics in Active Genetics |
| Description |
In this course students will learn first about the history of genetics from Mendel to the first evidence for non-Mendelian inheritance emerging from the work of Barbara McClintock, the discovery of selfish genetic elements that bias their own inheritance, concepts such as those put forward by Chris Curtis to drive beneficial traits into population, the CRISPR revolution and its application to gene-drives and development of other active genetic elements, applications of CRISPR technology and gene-drive principles to somatic cell genetics and genome engineering, real world applications of active genetics such as combating insect-borne diseases including malaria, reversing insecticide resistance, scrubbing antibiotic resistance from bacteria in the environment and in clinical settings, and consideration of the ethical issues surrounding novel transformative biological technologies such as CRISPR and its applications to active genetics. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Rivera, Fabian |
| Title |
Bacterial Virulence Factors and Pathogenesis in the Mammalian Host |
| Description |
This course provides an overview of the field of bacterial pathogenesis. The goal of the course is to learn about the molecular mechanisms of bacterial virulence factors and microbial interactions within mammalian hosts. Students will focus on reading, critically evaluating, and presenting primary research literature. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Russell, Alistair |
| Title |
Molecular considerations in deep sequencing |
| Description |
Next-generation sequencing has been increasingly applied to different biological problems. The physical act of generating material for sequencing is not an unbiased process, and a number of different artifacts may color any given sequencing analysis. This class will introduce the methods used to generate sequencing libraries, and the caveats to their analysis. This class will involve reading and discussion of primary research literature. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Wildonger, Jill |
| Title |
A CRISPR View of Gene Editing |
| Description |
CRISPR has emerged at the forefront of gene editing technologies. This course will cover the history of CRISPR, the cellular DNA repair pathways that are critical to CRISPR and other gene editing approaches, and the applications of CRISPR-based gene editing in research and disease treatment. Note: Due the overlap in content, students who have taken BISP 194 "Genome Editing: Past, Present, and Future" (Instructor Deborah Yelon) should not enroll in this course. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Malinow, Roberto |
| Title |
History of LTP |
| Description |
Critical reading of relevant primary research publications. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Glasgow, Stacey |
| Title |
Glia and Disease |
| Description |
In this course we will discuss recent literature pertaining to glial cell function and dysfunction in various disease states. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Chisholm, Andrew |
| Title |
Biology of Regeneration |
| Description |
Cellular and molecular genetic analysis of regenerative phenomena in a variety of animals. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Greenspan, Ralph |
| Title |
Neurobiology of Consciousness and Higher Cognition |
| Description |
The neurobiology of consciousness is an intriguing frontier in neuroscience research. This seminar will delve into the principal findings on human consciousness and its animals counterparts, covering experimental work showing higher cognition in mice, fruit flies, honeybees, jumping spiders, and the octopus. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Estelle, Mark |
| Title |
Topics in Plant Growth and Development |
| Description |
Because they are sessile, plants exhibit a remarkable ability to sense their environment and to alter their developmental programs in response to changing conditions. As a result of this developmental plasticity, a plant’s appearance can vary dramatically depending on the conditions in which it lives. In this course we will explore the mechanisms involved in environmental regulation of plant development.. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |
| Instructor |
Briggs, Steven |
| Title |
Inbreeding depression/heterosis |
| Description |
We will read articles on inbreeding depression and heterosis in plants, animals, and humans. Students will present figures from the articles for class discussion. Grades will be based on class participation. |
| Prerequisites |
Please see the Biology Course Prerequisites page for most current prerequisite information. |