MOLECULES TO LIFE AND THE NATURE OF SCIENCE

ZOOLOGY 370

Develop a broad understanding of how life works at the molecular level. Covers structure, chemistry, and functions of macromolecules, focusing primarily on how nucleic acids carry out their central roles in cells, rather than transmission genetics. Other topics include the governing principles by which life evolved, functions, and is organized; the experimental methods used to study these processes; and the historical context for our understanding of them. In other words: soup-to-nuts of nucleic acid biology and chemistry.

BIOCHEM 301

Explore the basic chemical properties of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Topics to be discussed include protein structure and function, the chemical logic of metabolism, and the mechanisms of DNA replication, DNA transcription, DNA repair, and gene expression. Understand principles and themes in biochemistry that relate to metabolic diseases, drug design, virus infection and vaccination, and gene therapy. Does not cover the foundational material necessary to succeed in additional biochemistry coursework, and is not likely to be acceptable for medical or veterinary school admission.

BIOCHEM/CHEM 704

Chemistry and biology of proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates; application of organic chemistry to problems in cell biology, biotechnology, and biomedicine.

BIOCHEM 719

Topics covered include protein structure and folding, protein dynamics, biological catalysis, membrane structure and assembly, nucleic acid structure and folding, and bioenergetics. Each topic includes discussion of the primary literature, hypothesis generation, experimental design, data, analysis and interpretation underlying the facts in the textbook. Supports transition from undergraduate consumers of knowledge to graduate students and future independent scientists who will discover and add new knowledge.

BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 560

Covers basic and applied biochemical principles related to human disease. Topics such as: cancer, including cell cycle regulation, oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and cellular metabolism; metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes; biotechnology, including metabolomics, CRISPR-based genetic screens, and experimental models of human disease.