The key concepts and techniques related to the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenesis including the exploitation of mammalian host cells by medically relevant prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens, molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases, immune response to infections, the role of pathogenic and host factors in disease and emerging techniques to study the basis of microbial pathogenesis and disease.

Advanced theoretical and applied methods in modern genomic research; classical and novel approaches used to solve problems in functional genomics and system biology; modern sequencing techniques and their utilization in biomedical research.

Formation of organelles, regulation of the abundance and function of organelles, interaction and cooperation of organelles with each other; proteins and other macromolecules: how they are synthesized within or imported into organelles; disease cased by deficiencies in organelle function.

Introduction to computational biology and insight into the newest approaches for generating and analyzing large datasets from biological systems. Specifically, an understanding of microarray analysis, "deep sequencing," mass spectroscopic analysis and proteomics, sequence alignment and identification of motifs within DNA and protein molecules, clustering coordinately regulated genes and proteins, and structural modeling.

Students will carry out independent research under the supervision of a faculty in the field of molecular biology and genetics.

Available to students with a GPA equal to or greater than 3.00 and with consent of the instructor.

Students will carry out independent research under the supervision of a faculty in the field of molecular biology and genetics.

The advanced methodology used for modern biological science research. Topics include the interpretation of data gained from both hypothesis-driven and high-throughput experiments from research articles focusing on DNA repair, DNA replication, transcription, cell cycle, organelle biogenesis, proteomics and genetics.

The ability to communicate results and interpretation effectively is key to success in the biological sciences. This course will improve the skills of students in conveying their findings in lectures, research posters, and research publications.

Energy generation in the cell, energy storage mechanisms and use; the processes of oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and photosynthesis; energy acquisition mechanism by chemotrophic organisms.

Molecular details of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Subject areas will include immune recognition, immunosuppression, communication between different immune system cell types, and autoimmunity.

The key areas of RNA biology, structure and function; splicing, polyadenylation, transport, translation and decay of mRNAs; the regulatory mechanisms governed by noncoding RNAs such as siRNAs, miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs.

The cell and molecular biology of pathogenic organisms, such as malaria, trypanosomes, toxoplasma, and parasitic yeast. Organism life cycles, host invasion strategies, methods of immune system evasion, and the evolution of parasites.

Proteomics and function, fundamentals of mass spectrometry (MS), tandem MS, chemical and posttranslational modifications, protein identification, data mining, protein complexes, protein folding, MS genotyping, high throughput; recently developed proteomics methods and their applications; focus on the recent scientific literature in this field including quantitative comparison of healthy and disease proteomes, the comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interactions in different cell types, and new approaches to analyze cellular signaling pathways and the subcellular-organelle and cell surface proteomes.

Cells have elaborate mechanisms for controlling cell proliferation and differentiation. In this course, we will explore in molecular detail the intricate signaling pathways that are important for cell behavior, with a major focus on those pathways that are conserved widely among many species.

Fundamental aspects of the molecular and cellular biology of tumor formation and cancer cells. Topics include cell cycle, oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, the tumor's interaction with other cells and tissues, approaches to treating cancer, and novel experimental approaches for the discovery of mutations that contribute to tumorigenesis.

Broad cross section of methodological approaches including cloning, genomic strategies, single molecule and single cell-based studies, in situ localization, high troughput approaches such as RNAi, gene expression analysis, genetic approaches with model systems as well as techniques for protein analysis.

The journey of a fertilized egg to turn into a fully developed adult, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the animal development in two vertebrate (mouse, fish) and two invertebrate (fly, worm) models; body plan formation, organogenesis, morphogenesis, regeneration and ageing.

Function of different neuronal cell types and the larger organization of the mammalian nervous system: The topics include the molecular details of synaptic connectivity and its relationship to learning and memory and the causes of neurodegenerative disease.

The key concepts and techniques related to the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cytoskeleton including the molecular mechanism of the core building blocks, nucleators, molecular motors and regulators of actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and intermediate filaments, roles of the cytoskeleton in the physiology of individual cells, tissues and organisms and their implications in human disease, emerging techniques to study the cytoskeletal components such as advanced microscopy.

Fundamental aspects of molecular and cellular biology of cancers with respect to developing cancer therapies; basic principles of cancer treatment, molecularly targeted therapies, cytotoxic therapies, drug discovery approaches, drug delivery systems, cell-based and gene therapies; discussion of research and review articles.

Stem cell biology at the intersection of developmental/cell biology and medicine; overview of stem cell biology in the context of embryonic development, tissue maintenance and cancer. Embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, reprogramming and differentiation, stem cells in adult tissues and cancer, therapeutic applications of stem cells. Advanced molecular and cellular techniques to study, generate and manipulate stem cells.

The key concepts and techniques related to the molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenesis including the exploitation of mammalian host cells by medically relevant prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens, molecular mechanisms of infectious diseases, immune response to infections, the role of pathogenic and host factors in disease and emerging techniques to study the basis of microbial pathogenesis and disease.