The goal of the course is to develop an understanding of the fundamental principles of genetics at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and population levels. The course establishes a link between the generation of genetic variants through mutation and recombination, their patterns of inheritance, interactions between genes to produce complex phenotypes, and the maintenance of such genetic variation in natural populations. The course also explores principles of genome organization and the mechanisms that regulate gene expression. Other topics include: DNA sequencing and the use of genomic data to address questions in genetics, comparing and contrasting genetic regulation strategies across the three domains of life, and exploring experimental approaches for addressing genetic questions. Laboratory investigation will expose students to the fundamentals of genetics including transmission, molecular, and computational techniques for genetic analysis. Students must attend lab during the first week in order to continue in the course. During certain weeks, students are required to come in outside of scheduled lab time for approximately one hour 3-4 days after the scheduled lab. Please plan your schedule accordingly.
This course has a required co-requisite laboratory: BIOC 219L/BISC 219L.
Units: 1.25
Max Enrollment: 60
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 219,BIOC 219
Prerequisites: BISC 110, BISC 110P, BISC 112, BISC 112Y or BISC 116. One unit of college chemistry is recommended. Not open to First-Year students.
Instructor: Beers, Biller, Carmell, Okumura, Sequeira
Distribution Requirements: LAB - Natural and Physical Sciences Laboratory; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences; LAB - Natural and Physical Sciences Laboratory; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Summer; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Fall
Notes:
This is a required co-requisite laboratory for BIOC 219/BISC 219.
The grading option chosen for the lecture (BIOC 219/BISC 219) - either Letter Grade or Credit/Non Credit - will apply to the lab as well; the final grade is a single unified grade for both lecture and lab and is based on the grading option you choose for the lecture section.
Units: 0
Max Enrollment: 12
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 219L,BIOC 219L
Prerequisites:
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Fall
Notes:
Examines structure-function relationships in eukaryotic cells. We will explore the operation and regulation of molecular mechanisms that carry out processes central to life. Considerable emphasis is placed on experimental approaches for investigating the following topics: protein structure and function, biological membranes and transport, cytoskeletal assembly and function, protein biogenesis and trafficking, cell communication and signaling, the cell cycle, and intercellular interactions. Laboratory investigations will provide students with experience in classical and modern approaches to examine and quantify cellular processes. Students must attend lab during the first week in order to continue in the course.
Units: 1.25
Max Enrollment: 48
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 220
Prerequisites: One of the following (BISC 110, BISC 110P, BISC 112, or BISC 112Y) and two units of college chemistry; or BISC 116 and CHEM 116 and one unit of college chemistry. Not open to First-Year students.
Instructor: Darling, Okumura, Roden
Distribution Requirements: LAB - Natural and Physical Sciences Laboratory; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring
Notes:
This course brings together the fundamental multidisciplinary concepts governing life at the molecular level and opens a gateway to advanced biochemistry offerings. Grounded in an understanding of aqueous equilibria, thermodynamic, kinetic, and spectroscopic principles, the course will emphasize the structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. The laboratory introduces modern laboratory techniques for the study of biomolecules and develops experimental design and critical data analysis skills. The laboratory component can be of particular value to students planning or engaged in independent research and those considering graduate level work related to biochemistry. This course counts toward Chemistry or Biochemistry major requirements.
Units: 1.25
Max Enrollment: 24
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 223
Prerequisites: (CHEM 205 or CHEM 120) and CHEM 211 and one of the following (BISC 110, BISC 110P, BISC 112, BISC 112Y, BISC 116, CHEM 212), and permission of the instructor.
Instructor: Elmore, Hall, Tantama
Distribution Requirements: LAB - Natural and Physical Sciences Laboratory; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes:
A survey of the chemical foundations of life processes, with focus on theory and applications relevant to medicine. Topics include bioenergetics, metabolism, and macromolecular structure. Essential skills such as data analysis and understanding of the primary literature will be approached through in-class discussions and application to current biomedical problems. This course is suitable for students wanting an overview of biochemistry, but it will not contain the experimental introduction to biochemical methods and laboratory instrumentation required for the Chemistry and Biochemistry majors.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 24
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 227
Prerequisites: (CHEM 205 or CHEM 120) and CHEM 211 and one of the following (BISC 110, BISC 110P, BISC 112, BISC 112Y, BISC 116). Not open to students who have completed BIOC 223/CHEM 223.
Instructor: Kress
Distribution Requirements: NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring; Fall
Notes: Does not count toward the minimum major in Chemistry.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes:
Units: 0.5
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall; Winter
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Winter; Spring
An intensive laboratory course offering a multiweek independent team research project and training in experimental applications of physical chemistry and biochemistry. Topics will include spectroscopy and chemical thermodynamics of biomolecules. This course will emphasize independent hypothesis development and experimental design skills as well as public presentation of results. Students will read primary literature, construct a research proposal, develop their own laboratory protocols manual, conduct experiments using a variety of instrumentation, and present their research. One class period per week plus one lab and mandatory weekly meetings with instructor.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 16
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 320
Prerequisites: BIOC 223/CHEM 223
Instructor: Oakes
Distribution Requirements: NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences; LAB - Natural and Physical Sciences Laboratory
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring
Notes: Ann E. Maurer '51 Speaking Intensive Course.
Many critical research advances result from applying basic chemical principles and tools to biological systems. This approach has opened up exciting new areas of study, such as the development of bio-orthogonal reactions, the engineering of cells to incorporate “unnatural” biomolecules, selective modifications to cellular surfaces, and the synthesis of peptidomimetics and other bio-inspired materials. These approaches have allowed for important advances in developing novel therapeutics, engineering modern materials, and the studying biological processes in vivo. In this course, students will explore contemporary research breakthroughs in chemical biology through reading, analysis and discussion of the primary literature. Students will also propose novel research directions through the preparation of independent research proposals.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 12
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 323
Prerequisites: BIOC 223/CHEM 223 or BIOC 227/CHEM 227, or permission of instructor.
Instructor: Elmore, Woodford
Distribution Requirements: NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
Researchers increasingly attempt to harness biochemical approaches as a way to address pressing societal problems. For example, recent work has focused on topics including the effective production of biofuels, remediation of environmental pollutants and developing new treatments for antibiotic resistant pathogens. In this course, juniors and seniors will explore contemporary research aimed at solving these problems through readings in the primary literature, invited lectures, interviewing researchers and developing independent research proposals. Students will analyze and interpret research findings through weekly writing assignments targeted towards broad audiences, such as research summaries for the scientific press, textbook sections, executive summaries and proposals accessible to non-specialists. Class sessions will be structured as workshops to analyze core chemical and biological concepts and provide structured critiques of writing assignments.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 12
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 324
Prerequisites: BIOC/CHEM 223 or BIOC/CHEM 227 or BIOC/BISC 220 or (CHEM 205 and CHEM 211 and (BISC 110 or BISC 112 or BISC 116)), or permission of the instructor.
Instructor: Elmore
Distribution Requirements: NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Other Categories: CSPW - Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing
Typical Periods Offered: Every three years
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall
Notes:
Biosensors and optogenetics are important tools used to understand the physiology of living systems across the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. Luminescent biosensors emit light during a measurement while optogenetics are activated by light to control and manipulate signaling and metabolism in living cells. In this course, students will explore the chemistry and biology of these tools, focusing on the principles of their design, strategies for their construction, and their applications in the life and physical sciences. Students will engage the subject matter with group work, peer-to-peer editing, and individual assignments through a combination of active-learning lectures, current literature analysis, and oral presentations. The course will culminate in the writing and presentation of an NIH-style original research proposal. This course will provide foundations for thinking about protein engineering as well as hypothesis-driven biological questions, and it is appropriate for students across the spectrum of chemical, physical, and biological interests.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 12
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 325
Prerequisites: BIOC/CHEM 223 or BIOC/CHEM 227 or BIOC/BISC 220 or (CHEM 205 and CHEM 212 and (BISC 110 or BISC 112 or BISC 116))
Instructor: Tantama
Distribution Requirements: NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Not Offered
Notes:
Provides a survey of fundamental principles in physical chemistry and how they relate specifically to the study of biological molecules and processes. Emphasis is placed on empowering students to understand, evaluate, and use models as approximations for the biomolecular world. Models are mathematically represented and provide both qualitative and quantitative insight into biologically relevant systems. Commonly used experimental techniques such as spectroscopy and calorimetry are explained from first principles with quantum mechanical and statistical mechanical models, and computational applications such as protein structure prediction and molecular design are explained through physical models such as molecular mechanics and dynamics.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 24
Crosslisted Courses: BIOC 331
Prerequisites: BIOC 223/CHEM 223 and MATH 116 or equivalent.
Instructor: M. Radhakrishnan
Distribution Requirements: MM - Mathematical Modeling and Problem Solving; NPS - Natural and Physical Sciences
Typical Periods Offered: Spring
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring
Notes: Does not count toward the chemistry major but counts toward the biochemistry major and the chemistry minor. Students are strongly encouraged to complete one course in physics in addition to the stated prerequisites before enrolling;
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Units: 0.5
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor. Open to juniors and seniors.
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall; Winter
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Winter; Spring
The first course in a two-semester investigation of a significant research problem, culminating in the preparation of a thesis and defense of that thesis before a committee of faculty from the Biochemistry program. Students will discuss their research progress informally with faculty and student colleagues and gain familiarity with contemporary research through presentations by outside seminar speakers. This route does not lead to departmental honors.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: Open only to Seniors with permission of the instructor.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes:
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 15
Prerequisites: Permission of the department.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes: Students enroll in Senior Thesis Research (360) in the first semester and carry out independent work under the supervision of a faculty member. If sufficient progress is made, students may continue with Senior Thesis (370) in the second semester.
The second course in a two-semester investigation of a significant research problem, in the preparation of a thesis and defense of that thesis before a committee of faculty from the Biochemistry program. Students will discuss their research progress informally with faculty and student colleagues and gain familiarity with contemporary research through presentations by outside seminar speakers. This route does not lead to departmental honors.
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 10
Prerequisites: BIOC 355 and permission of the department.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Spring; Fall
Notes:
Units: 1
Max Enrollment: 25
Prerequisites: BIOC 360 and permission of the department.
Instructor:
Typical Periods Offered: Spring; Fall
Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall; Spring
Notes: Students enroll in Senior Thesis Research (360) in the first semester and carry out independent work under the supervision of a faculty member. If sufficient progress is made, students may continue with Senior Thesis (370) in the second semester.