Molecular Biology (M.S.) - Graduate - 2015 University Catalog


 

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Complete 32 semester hours including the following 3 requirement(s):

  1. CORE COURSES

    Complete for 11 semester hours.

    BIOL 547 Molecular Biology I (3 hours lecture) 3
    BIOL 548 Molecular Biology II (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) 4
    BIOL 556 Molecular Biology of Proteins (3 hours lecture) 3
    BIOL 592 Graduate Colloquium (1 hour lecture) 1

  2. RESEARCH IN BIOLOGICAL LITERATURE

    Complete for 1 semester hours.

    BIOL 597 Research in Biological Literature 1

  3. ELECTIVES & CULMINATING ACTIVITY

    Complete the following 2 requirement(s) for a total of 20 semester hours:

    1. CONCENTRATION/SPECIALIZATION COURSES

      Complete 14 semester hours (if completing a thesis) - 17 semester hours (if completing BIOL 599 or a Lab course) from:

      1. BIOLOGY ELECTIVES

        BIOL 505 Experimental Cell Culture (2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab) 3
        BIOL 512 Topics in Modern Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 513 Instrumentation and Techniques for Biological Science (2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab) 4
        BIOL 515 Population Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 520 Plant Physiology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 533 Advanced Cell Biology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 540 Mammalian Physiology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 549 Topics in Developmental Biology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 550 Topics in Microbiology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 551 Intermediary Metabolism I (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 552 Biology of Lipids (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 555 Medical Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 557 Virology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 558 Microbial Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 560 Molecular Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 561 Genomics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 562 Short Topics in Molecular Biology (1 hour lecture) 1
        BIOL 563 Statistical Genomics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 564 Proteomics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 565 Advanced Plant Molecular Genetics (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 566 Bioinformatics (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab) 4
        BIOL 568 Advanced Neuroscience (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 587 Selected Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab) 3-4
        BIOL 593 Molecular Ecology (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 594 Signal Transduction (3 hours lecture) 3
        BIOL 598 Selected Techniques in Molecular Biology (1 hour lecture, 2 hours lab) 1.5

      2. NON-DEPARTMENTAL APPROVED ELECTIVES

        $H - 9 semester hours may be completed from the following:

        CHEM 570 Advanced Biochemistry (3 hours lecture) 3
        CHEM 575 Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanisms (3 hours lecture) 3
        CHEM 577 Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (3 hours lecture) 3
        CHEM 578 Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) 3
        CHEM 579 Biomolecular Assay Development (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab) 3
        CHEM 582 Biochemical Pharmacology (3 hours lecture) 3

    2. CULMINATING ACTIVITY

      Complete 1 of the following options:

      1. THESIS

        1. Complete for 6 semester hours.

          BIOL 698 Master's Thesis 4-6

        2. Submit the completed Thesis original and one copy to the Graduate Office. See Thesis Guidelines for details.

      2. NON-THESIS RESEARCH OPTION

        1. Complete for 4 semester hours.

          BIOL 599 Introduction to Biological Research 4

        2. Present a research summary to a committee of 3 faculty members. Results are reported to the Graduate School.

      3. NON-THESIS LAB OPTION

        1. Complete a Laboratory Course for 3 semester hours - 4 semester hours with approval from graduate advisor.

        2. Present a research summary to a committee of 3 faculty members. Results are reported to the Graduate School.

Course Descriptions:

BIOL505: Experimental Cell Culture (2 hours lecture, 2 hours lab)

This graduate course will provide theoretical and practical experience working on living cells. Provides understanding, observation, and hands-on experiences in tissue and organ culture techniques, primary cell culturing, cell differentiation, and techniques in toxicity and mutagenicity assays, plant callus and protopast experimentation. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 380, or similar Genetics course with passing grade and a previous Microbiology course or experience.

BIOL512: Topics in Modern Genetics (3 hours lecture)

Seminar course. Selected topics from current development in genetic research, including chromosome and gene fine structure, extra chromosomal genetic elements, genetic engineering, and aspects of biomedical genetic research. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate course in genetics.

BIOL513: Instrumentation and Techniques for Biological Science (2 hours lecture, 4 hours lab)

This course is designed to acquaint students with modern analytical and research techniques in biology, including manometry, spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, chromatography, microbial batch growth and assay techniques, immunotechniques and evaluation of experimental design and data. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: 24 semester hours in biology.

BIOL515: Population Genetics (3 hours lecture)

Detailed survey of the theory and application of the genetics of popoulations. Topics to be covered include Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium and Evolution, Natural and Artificial Selection, Migration, Mutation, Bottlenecks, Random Genetic Drift, and Genetic Variation. Students will learn population genetic principles and the mathematical theory behind those principles. Students will be required to write a literature paper on a topic of their choice related to Population Genetics. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 or permission of instructor.

BIOL520: Plant Physiology (3 hours lecture)

Investigation of physiology of plants. Plant growth, development and reproduction as well as the new advances in plant physiology. Water relations of plants, mineral nutrition, physiological significance of soil and soil moisture, photosynthesis, respiration, plant biosynthesis and dynamics of growth. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Permission of instructor.

BIOL533: Advanced Cell Biology (3 hours lecture)

Detailed analysis of cellular structure and function. Topics to be covered include the role of subcellular organelles in maintaining cell viability, analysis of cytoskeletal components, structure and function of the plasma membrane and cellular defects that lead to cancer and other disease states. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Matriculation in the biology master's program or permission of professor.

BIOL540: Mammalian Physiology (3 hours lecture)

A broad survey of the physiology of mammalian systems aimed at graduate students who lack an upper-level background in physiology at the undergraduate level. The principles of homeostatis mechanisms as they apply to various organ systems will be stressed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing, but not open to students who have completed undergraduate upper division Mammalian/Human Physiology classes.

BIOL547: Molecular Biology I (3 hours lecture)

Central concepts at the cellular level will be emphasized. Contemporary viewpoints in the areas of biomolecules, energy yielding and energy requiring processes and transfer of genetic information. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Cell biology, and one year organic chemistry.

BIOL548: Molecular Biology II (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab)

Central concepts at the cellular level will be emphasized. Contemporary viewpoints in the areas of biomolecules, energy yielding and energy requiring processes and transfer of genetic information. The laboratory will deal with up-to-date investigative procedures via selected experiments. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547.

BIOL549: Topics in Developmental Biology (3 hours lecture)

Seminar in the regulation of developmental events, including both classical morphogenesis and recent advances using techniques of cell and molecular biology. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Genetics and developmental embryology.

BIOL550: Topics in Microbiology (3 hours lecture)

Coverage of selected topics such as the microbial genetics, antibiotic action, bacteriophage, virus, cancer and microbial metabolism. Emphasis will be placed on practical applications of modern research in specific areas. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Microbiology.

BIOL551: Intermediary Metabolism I (3 hours lecture)

Discussion of interrelationships of catabolic and anabolic paths. Primary emphasis is placed on the metabolism of nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and proteins. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Biochemistry and cell biology.

BIOL552: Biology of Lipids (3 hours lecture)

Biological cycles, unity and diversity in metabolic paths, metabolic evolution, metabolic control mechanisms and other special topics. Primary emphasis is placed on the metabolism of lipids. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Cell biology and organic chemistry.

BIOL555: Medical Genetics (3 hours lecture)

A detailed study and analysis of human genetics, inborn genetic diseases, genomics, gene therapy, and the Human Genome Project. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: A genetics course or permission of instructor.

BIOL556: Molecular Biology of Proteins (3 hours lecture)

Study of the molecular biology of biomolecules, including proteins. The course will examine how changes in the three dimensional structure of biomolecules affect their biological function. Protein engineering, enzyme catalysis, and site-directed mutagenesis will be discussed. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Admission into the graduate biology program or permission of department.

BIOL557: Virology (3 hours lecture)

This course will develop the fundamental principles of modern virology and examine the connection between viruses and disease. It will examine the molecular biology of virus replication, infection, gene expression, the structure of virus particles and genomes, pathogenesis, classification of viruses, and contemporary viral research. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of a Cell & Molecular Biology course or permission of instructor.

BIOL558: Microbial Genetics (3 hours lecture)

Microbial Genetics provides students with an understanding of the basis for genetic processes in microorganisms and the implication for higher organisms. The focus of the course will be on prokaryotes, particularly E.coli, and viruses, primarily bacteriophages. Current developments in microbial genetics, such as bioinformatics and genomics, will be presented. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 350.

BIOL560: Molecular Genetics (3 hours lecture)

A course that will focus on biological research problems that are being addressed in eucaryotic systems from a molecular genetics viewpoint. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 with a grade of "B" or better.

BIOL561: Genomics (3 hours lecture)

Describes the entire DNA sequence of organisms. Faciltates the understanding of the function of the genomes. Specific topics include comparative genomics, functional genomics and bioinformantics. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 380 or permission of instructor.

BIOL562: Short Topics in Molecular Biology (1 hour lecture)

Focus on specific topics in molecular biology including the development induced pleuripotent cells, advances in RNA interference and recent innovations in understanding transcriptional regulation. Emphasis will be placed on providing the most up to date information on these topics. May be taken for up to 6 credits as long as the topics are different. 1 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547.

BIOL563: Statistical Genomics (3 hours lecture)

Introduction to the statistical problems arising recently in gene mapping, high throughputomic data analysis, phylogenetics and sequence analysis by integrating of both statistics and genomics. To learn the statistical methods and concepts that are of particular use in analyzing genetics and genomic data. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 and STAT 401 or equivalent Statistics course as determined by department.

BIOL564: Proteomics (3 hours lecture)

Proteomics is the study of the entire complement of proteins expressed by a genome. This course will describe the structure of the proteins in the proteome and the functional interaction between the proteins and cover the development of large-scale technologies for protein separation, isolation, detection and quantitation. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547.

BIOL565: Advanced Plant Molecular Genetics (3 hours lecture)

This course will focus on plant molecular biology and genetics and how plant systems differ from other eucaryotic systems at a cellular level. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547, minimum grade of B.

BIOL566: Bioinformatics (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab)

Describes the computational analysis of gene sequences, protein structures, and expression datasets on a large scale. Provides a way in which to manage and store huge amounts of data, and to create statistical tools for analyzing it. Specific topics include biological database search tools, DNA sequence alignment and comparison, analysis of protein structure, and phylogenetics analysis, as well as topics of current interest. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547.

BIOL568: Advanced Neuroscience (3 hours lecture)

The students will achieve an understanding of current concepts of nervous system function at the cellular level and at the level of higher systems and brain. The students will learn about the state of the art methods in modern neuroscience research and their applications. They will summarize and critique primary research papers and develop research proposals based on the acquired knowledge and their vision of future progress in neuroscience. A particular attention will be given to the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurological diseases, and to current scientific approaches to treatment. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 or departmental approval.

BIOL587: Selected Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology (3 hours lecture, 2 hours lab)

This course is designed to provide advanced biology and molecular biology graduate students with a literature intensive exploration of current developments and specialized content in the biological sciences. Topics will cover specific research areas in molecular biology. This course is designed to fulfill elective requirements of the biology masters degree and the molecular biology masters degree. 3 - 4 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547.

BIOL592: Graduate Colloquium (1 hour lecture)

Students in this course will read primary resource material and interpret the data. This course will also teach students how to read, critique and present scientific data to a peer group. Students will analyze, discuss and present primary research articles with respect to scientific content, accuracy of the data and significance of the experiments. 1 sh.

Prerequisites: Matriculation in the biology master's program or permission of the professor.

BIOL593: Molecular Ecology (3 hours lecture)

Detailed survey of the application of molecular methods to address ecological, behavioral, and conservation questions. Topics to be covered include the principles of most common molecular techniques used in molecular ecology, and application of those molecular techniques to phylogeography, behavioral ecology, population genetics, conservation genetics, and adaptive variation. Students will develop and present independent research proposal. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 or instructor's permission.

BIOL594: Signal Transduction (3 hours lecture)

This course will cover various aspects of cellular signaling from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. Topics will include specific signal transduction systems, methods for studying these systems and the results of these signaling events on cell division, cell differentiation and cell function. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: BIOL 547 or permission of instructor.

BIOL597: Research in Biological Literature

To allow the student to investigate and evaluate a specific topic in biology under the supervision of a faculty member and to develop the student's skills in presenting current research in both the written and oral modes. 1 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

BIOL598: Selected Techniques in Molecular Biology (1 hour lecture, 2 hours lab)

A laboratory course that trains students in advanced techniques in molecular biology. Students will learn how to perform a specific technique as well as learning the theory behind the technique. May be repeated three times for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 1.5 sh.

Prerequisites: Undergraduate or graduate molecular biology courses or equivalent and permission of instructor.

BIOL599: Introduction to Biological Research

A research experience in which students will be exposed to current biologic techniques by working with scientific investigators in industry, or within the department. Students will work on projects involving research techniques, data collection and the analysis and interpretation of the data. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

BIOL698: Master's Thesis

Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the MSU Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take BIOL 699 if they don't complete BIOL 698 within the semester. 4 - 6 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

CHEM570: Advanced Biochemistry (3 hours lecture)

Structure, function, and chemistry of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. Analytical methods biochemists use to study metabolism, regulation, binding, and catalytic activity of biomolecules. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 or instructor's permission.

CHEM575: Enzyme Kinetics and Mechanisms (3 hours lecture)

The following properties of enzymes are considered: structure, specificity, catalytic power, mechanism of action, multienzyme complexes, kinetics, regulation, and multienzyme systems. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 or equivalent.

CHEM577: Nucleic Acid Biochemistry (3 hours lecture)

This course will present fundamental aspects of nucleic acid biochemistry including structure and biological function and will be organized according to a systematic consideration of techniques used in the study of nucleic acids. Current literature and key topics such as protein-DNA, protein-drug complexes and nucleic acid repair mechanisms will be considered. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 or equivalent.

CHEM578: Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab)

Fundamental techniques used to isolate, characterize, and study nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Theory and application of buffers, spectrophotometry, tissue fractionation, centrifugation, extraction, chromatographic separations, electrophoresis, radioactivity, enzyme purification and dinetics, enzymatic assays, NMR and MS structure determination. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 or equivalent.

CHEM579: Biomolecular Assay Development (2 hours lecture, 3 hours lab)

This course will provide the student with hands-on experience of state of the art techniques used for drug discovery research in the pharmaceutical industry. These techniques include assay development for high throughput screening and molecular docking methods for lead discovery. Using these techniques will allow the student to understand the drug discovery process, which includes a dialogue between crystallographers, medicinal chemists, biochemists, and biologists. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 or instructor's permission.

CHEM582: Biochemical Pharmacology (3 hours lecture)

How drugs interact with, and influence biochemical pathways relevant to disease in the whole organism. Topics covered in this course deal with a review of fundamental concepts in biochemistry relevant to drug discovery, the process of drug discovery and specific examples of drug interactions with biochemical pathways and how they impact human disease. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: CHEM 370 and CHEM 371.

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