Course List
Course Descriptions
The following courses are part of the first year curriculum and are administered by the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine faculty.
First Year
- BMS 747 - Foundations for Contemporary Biomedical Research I
- BMS 777 - Foundations for Contemporary Biomedical Research II
- BMS 715 Molecular Biology (Spring)
Beyond First Year
The following advanced biochemistry courses are offered to graduate students beyond their first year of study.
- BIOC 793A (SPTP) Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease
- BIOC 785 Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Journal Club (Fall/Spring)
- BIOC 790 Teaching Practicum
- BIOC 791 Current Topics in Cell Biology
- BIOC 701/CCB 701 Biochemical and Oncogenic Signaling (Fall)
- BIOC 750 Advanced Protein Chemistry/Enzymology (Spring of even numbered years)
- BIOC 751 Advanced Molecular Biology (Spring of odd numbered years)
- BIOC 796 Graduate Seminar
- BIOC 797 Research
Course Information
BIOC 793A
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
BMS 747 and BMS 777
Foundations of Contemporary Biomedical Research I & II
The purpose of this course is to impart a fundamental understanding of the functional components of a cell, and the basis for regulation of cellular processes and organ systems. The knowledge base is developed in an interactive faculty-student environment that requires interpretation and rational speculation to apply general concepts to specific situations and stimulate creative scientific thought.
Course Coordinators: Michael Schaller, Scott Weed
BMS 715
Molecular 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
BIOC 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.
BIOC 790
Biochemistry 790 - Teaching Practicum
Students register for this course when they are doing a teaching experience.
BIOC 791A
Biochemistry 791A - 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.
BIOC 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.
CCB701/BIOC701
CCB701/BIOC701 Biochemical and Oncogenic Signaling (Fall)
CCB701/BIOC701 is a 3 credit course designed for the advanced graduate student. The course will focus on in-depth coverage of the principles defining mechanistic biochemical signaling pathways utilized by normal and transformed cells. Specific topics include receptor tyrosine kinases, signaling by cytokine receptors, G protein-coupled receptors, nonreceptor tyrosine kinses, Ras superfamily proteins, MAP kinases, PI3 kinase and PTEN, NFκB, Wnt, Hedgehog and Notch signalings, steroids and steroid receptors, and mTOR and AMPK signalings. At the conclusion of this course, students will possess a solid understanding of key concepts of signal transduction as well as analytical skills in reviewing the contemporary research literature in signaling networks relevant to biochemistry and cancer biology. Basic knowledge in cell biology is recommended, though not required, to enroll this course. Students can contact course coordinator if they have concerns about their foundation required to successfully complete the course. This course is the joint listing between Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Cell Biology Program.
BIOC 750
Biochemistry 750 - Protein Chemistry/Enzymology - (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, Drew Shiemke, Qiang Ma, David Smith
BIOC 751
Biochemistry 751 - Advanced Molecular Biology - (Spring of odd numbered years)
Current topics in Molecular Biology. Much of the course content will be taken from current literature, and will give the student a unique opportunity to focus on new techniques and applications from the researchers involved in their development.
BIOC 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.
BIOC 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.