Course List
Course Descriptions
The following courses are part of the first year curriculum and are administered by the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine faculty.
The following advanced biochemistry courses are offered to graduate students beyond their first year of study.
- BMM 693A Molecular Cell Biology (Spring)
- BMM 693B Proteins –Protein Biochemistry - Fundamentals to Therapeutic Applications (Spring of even numbered years)
- BMM 753 Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease
- BMM 785 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Journal Club (Fall/Spring)
- BMM 790 Teaching Practicum
- BMM 730 Current Topics in Cell Biology
- BMM 796 Graduate Seminar
- BMM 797 Research
Course Information
BMM 753
Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease
Students will learn about molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies in four areas of human disease:
Metabolic disease/diabetes: Dr. M. Gencheva
Cancer: Dr. S. Weed
Neurodegeneration: Dr. V. Ramamurthy
Aging and chronic disease: Dr. S. Frisch (course coordinator)
Novel features of the course include:
• A unique, molecular pan-disease approach
• Active Learning format
• Discussions with clinicians in each disease area
BMM 693A
Molecular Cell Biology (Spring)
The course provides instruction in the structure of DNA and RNA, and basic molecular processes like DNA replication, transcription, splicing and translation. Specific topics include comparison of prokaryotic and eukaryotic mechanisms of replication and transcription, mRNA and protein stability, genetics and epigenetics. Molecular based technologies, including siRNA, gene identification and transgenics are also discussed.
Course Director: Peter Stoilov
Faculty: Pete Mathers, Mike Ruppert, David Smith
BMM 785
Biochemistry 785 - Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Journal Club (Fall/Spring)
Faculty: Members of the Biochemistry Faculty (core course for Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine graduate students). This course critiques selected articles from the scientific literature.
BMM 790
Biochemistry 790 - Teaching Practicum
Students register for this course when they are doing a teaching experience.
BMM 730
Current Topics In Cell Biology
This is a 3-credit advanced class. The course is uniquely structured to allow advanced students to independently study a focused area of cell biology while working one-on-one with a faculty member. Students will scrutinize the primary literature and draft an original review on the topic. The faculty member will guide the student’s literature search and provide editorial comments during development of the review.
Faculty: Schaller, Frisch, Martin, Weed, Hazlehurst, Tucker, et al.
BMM 793B
Biochemistry 793B - Free Radicals and Redox Biomedicine
An introductory course in Free Radicals and Redox Biomedicine focused on: 1) biologically-relevant free radicals and allied reactive species, 2) physicochemical properties and methods of detection, 3) physiologic and pathophysiologic roles and 4) redox signaling.
Prerequisites: Graduate level biochemistry, physical chemistry and/or biophysics. Undergraduates only by permission of instructor.
Faculty: Khramtsov, Gunther, Kelley, et al.
BMM 693B
Protein Biochemistry - Fundamentals to Therapeutic Applications - (Spring of even numbered years.)
Advanced study of proteins, enzymes, and physical techniques in biochemistry. Emphasizes the study of proteins and enzymology, including: protein structure, function and analysis; enzymology; types of spectroscopy, functions and applications; biochemical thermodynamics applied to proteins and enzymes.
Course Director: Michael Gunther
Faculty: Michael Schaller, Qiang Ma, David Smith
BMM 797
Biochemistry 797 - Research
Students register for research credit hours during the semesters and summer sessions in which they are participating in research for their dissertation. The number of credits varies with semester depending on the total course load.
BMM 796
Biochemistry 796 - Graduate Seminar
Students register for seminar credit when they do their seminar in a subject area not directly related to their research. The topic for the selected subject area seminar must be approved by the seminar coordinator.