Biochemistry Graduate Courses

BIOC 520
Seminar
Credits: 1
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Course Description: Seminar course covering special topics in biochemistry.
Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

BIOC 530
Advanced Biochemistry
Credits: 3
Quarters: Autumn
Instructors: Baker, Varani, Merritt, Hol, Daggett, Stoddard, Weiner
Course Description: Structure, function, and chemistry of proteins and nucleic acids; introduction to the biophysical methods used to study macromolecules. Prerequisites: a comprehensive course in biochemistry and permission.

BIOC 540, 541, 542
Critical Reading
Credits: 2,2,2
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Course Description: Critical reading of original articles for first year graduate students in biochemistry.

BIOC 581
Introduction to Biochemical Research
Credits: 4
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Course Description: These "laboratory rotations" provide an opportunity to perform research for a full academic quarter in each of three different laboratories.

BIOC 600
Independent Study or Research
Credits: *
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer
Course Description: Independent study or research in preparation for the doctoral examination.

BIOC 700
Master's Thesis
Credits: *
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer
Course Description: Research for the Master's thesis.

BIOC 800
Doctoral Dissertation
Credits: *
Quarters: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer
Course Description: Research for the doctoral dissertation.

Conjoint Courses (offered by the Department of Biochemistry)

CONJ 538
Genetic Instability and Cancer
Credits: 1.5
Instructors: Maizels, Monnat
Seminar focusing on molecular pathways that maintain genomic stability in all cells and that carry out programmed changes in genomic structure in the immune system. Special attention devoted to understanding how failure in these pathways leads to genomic instability and malignancy. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Offered: W.

CONJ 541
Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Paul Bornstein
Translational control; cytoskeleton and molecular motors; protein targeting, sorting and secretion; apoptosis; regulation of cell function by extracellular matrix. Prerequisite: comprehensive undergraduate course in biochemistry and molecular biology, or permission of instructor. Offered: Sp.

CONJ 545
Molecular Interactions and Medicine
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Verlinde
Forces governing molecular interactions in biology with a focus on medicine. Principles of computer modeling techniques for predicting the molecular behavior of proteins, ligands, and their complexes. In computro ligand discovery, drug design, and understanding of some genetic diseases at the atomic level. Two computer laboratory sessions. Offered: Sp.

Conjoint Courses** (offered by other departments or the FHCRC)

CONJ 531
Signaling Mechanisms
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Hille, Zagotta, Detwiler
Membrane electricity. Structure and roles of voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels in electrical signaling. Calcium as a second messenger. Exocytosis and its regulation. Phototransduction in photoreceptors. Prerequisite: comprehensive undergraduate course in general biochemistry and molecular biology, or permission of instructor. Offered: A.

CONJ 532
Signal Transduction
Credits: 1.5
Instructors: Beavo, McKnight, Moon, Storm
Intracellular signaling pathways leading from cell membrane receptors to nucleus. Pathways activated by seven transmembrane receptors and G-proteins, insulin/PI3 kinase, nitric oxide and WNTs and mechanisms of signal termination. Cytokine/Jak/Stat signaling and role of subcellular localization in signal transduction. Prerequisite: BIOC 442 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. Offered: A.

CONJ 533
The Dynamic Chromosome
Credits: 1.5
Instructors: Gottschling, Roth
The chromosome viewed as the ultimate organelle. How chromosomes are maintained and propagated. Epigenetic regulation of genes. Genetic, biochemical, and cytologic methods for understanding chromosome functions. Prerequisite: cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Offered: A.

CONJ 534
Selected Problems in Nervous System Development
Credits: 1.5
Instructors: Strong, Stoddard
Introduces students to current issues in developmental neurobiology. Topics include regionalization of the neuroectoderm, mechanisms of neurogenesis, axon patterning and plasticity, and cell death. Not intended to be comprehensive; examines the experimental basis for current views in the field of a few topical issues.

CONJ 535
RNA Structure and Biological Function
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Ferré-D'Amaré
Survey of the diversity of cell-biological roles played by RNA with emphasis on structural principles and structure-function relationships. Readings from the current literature to cover both methods for the study of RNA, and examples of the function of this nucleic acid as part of the machinery for gene expression. Offered: W.

CONJ 536/ZOOL 541
Experimental Design in Cell Biology
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Wright
Experimental design in cell biology. A topic of current research interest is covered in depth in order to follow a line of investigation and critically evaluate the strengths and limitations of various experimental strategies. Offered: jointly with ZOOL 541 W.

CONJ 537
Gene Transcription
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Toshio Tsukiyama
Focuses on biochemical mechanisms of eukaryotic gene transcription and RNA processing. Readings in current research literature. Offered: A.

CONJ 539
Biological Basis of Neoplasia
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Neiman
Lecture/discussion on cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypes associated with cancer, including genetic predisposition, injury, and instability; alteration in control of cell division and cell death; failure of differentiation; tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Molecular biology of tractable model systems is emphasized. Prerequisite: introductory biochemistry and cell biology. Offered: W.

CONJ 542
Development
Credits: 3.0
Instructor: Stoddard
This elective will cover the biology, evolution, mechanisms and structure/function relationships of enzymes that act on DNA and RNA. The course will focus both on various molecular systems, and also on important techniques used for their study, including high resolution structure determination, single molecule methods, kinetics and thermodynamic binding analyses, and protein engineering. Offered: Sp.

CONJ 543
Problems in Genetic Analysis
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Emerman
Introduction to problems of genetic analysis using a variety of organisms. Use of classical and modern genetic tools to understand fundamental problems in biology and medicine. Presents several widely used genetic approaches in detail. Offered: Sp.

CONJ 544
Protein Structure, Modification and Regulation
Credits: 1.5
Instructors: Stoddard, Strong
Overview of general principles of protein structure, including forces that contribute to folding and stabilization, followed by an extended coverage of the means by which protein structure and function are modified and regulated. Examples from recent developments in protein folding, processing, and allosteric regulation. Prerequisite: introductory biochemistry and cell biology.

CONJ 546
Survey of Technologies for Molecular Biology
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Bumgarner
Provides a broad overview of modern technologies used in molecular biology with particular emphasis on DNA sequencing and gene expression. In addition to methods and applications for the technologies, examines the theoretical basis and underlying instrumentation through which these technologies are implemented. Offered: A.

CONJ 547
Molecular Evolution of Viral-Host Interactions
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Katze
Focuses on the interactions between viruses and the cells they infect, with special emphasis on evolutionary battle that occurs between the invading virus and its host. Examines new technologies being used to molecularly dissect virus-host interactions. Offered: Sp.

CONJ 552
Molecular Metabolic Flexability in Biology
Credits: 1.5
Instructor: Gottschling, Hockenbery, Roth
This course will focus on small molecules and the ways that chemistry of these molecules facilitates life under changing conditions. It will include systems from microbiology to human physiology to understand aspects of cancer, aging, and animation. Offered: A.

Courses in Other Departments

BIOL 585
Methods and Problems in Development
Credits: 3
Instructor: Schubiger
Special topics in development. Integrates classical and current approaches. Developmental genetics, experimental embryology, molecular mechanisms of developmental regulation, and gene function in cell determination and differentiation in developing systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 455 or equivalent.

BIOL 586
Analysis of Development
Credits: 3, 6 maximum
Instructor: Hille
Analysis of structural, physiological, and molecular levels of developmental processes, including gametogenesis, fertilization, cell and tissue movements, induction, and cytodifferentiation. Prerequisite: ZOOL 456 and BIOC 442.

BIOSTR 520
Structure-Based Drug Design
Credits: 3
Instructor: Verlinde
General Information and Lecture Schedule

CHEM 553
Statistical Mechanics
Credits: 3
Instructor: Drobny
General theorems of statistical mechanics, relation of the equilibrium theory to classical thermodynamics, quantum statistics, theory of imperfect gases, lattice statistics and simple cooperative phenomena, lattice dynamics and theory of solids, liquids, solutions, and polymers, time-dependent phenomena and mechanisms of interaction. Prerequisite: CHEM 552. Offered: A.

PABIO 531
Applications of Molecular Biology to Public Health
Credits: 2
Instructors: Cangelosi, Kuo
Addresses the impact of molecular biology on public health. Lectures focus on the application of biotechnology to diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and environmental concerns. Considerations for developing and using biotechnology products also discussed. Prerequisite: courses in genetics, biochemistry, or microbiology, or permission of instructor. Offered: A.

NEUBEH 502
Introduction to Neurobiology
Credits: 4
Instructor: Sherk
Survey of all aspects of neuroscience, including an introduction to neuroanatomy and modules on sensory and motor systems. Lecture and laboratory discussion of original literature, observation of demonstrations, and examination of macroscopic and microscopic neural tissue. Offered: W.

GENET 551
Basics of Genetic Analysis
Credits: 3
Instructors: Berg, Manoil
First course of a three quarter sequence in formal, molecular, and microbial genetics. Offered: A.

GENET 552
Mutational Anslysis
Credits: 3
Instructors: Byers, Sibley
Origin of mutations and their analysis in human and other genomes. Prerequisite: GENET 551 or permission of instructor. Offered: W.

GENET 553
Chromosome Structure and Mechanics
Credits: 3
Instructors: Fangman, Braun
Chromosome structure and DNA replication; molecular basis of recombination and transposition. Prerequisite: GENET 552 or permission of instructor. Offered: Sp.

*Variable credits

**Some conjoint courses are taught by faculty based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. These can be reached by 20 minute ride on the FHCRC shuttlebus, leaving every 30 minutes from the UW Health Sciences Center.