UTexas

Molecular Biosciences (MBS)

MBS 219L  Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills  2 Hours  
Explore basic skills used by biochemists and an introduction to future career options. Examine basic biochemical concepts and laboratory, computational, and professional skills.
MBS 119S, 219S, 319S, 419S, 519S, 619S, 719S, 819S, 919S  Topics in Molecular Biosciences  1-9 Hours  
This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Biology Instructional Office. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.
MBS 320  Cell Biology  3 Hours  
Explore principles of eukaryotic cell structure and function. Examine macromolecules, membranes, organelles, cytoskeleton, signaling, cell division, differentiation, motility, and experimental methodologies.
MBS 320L  Cell Biology Laboratory  3 Hours  
Explore the complex structures and functions of cells through direct observation and experimentation. Discuss regulation of gene transcription and translation, protein sorting, organelles and membrane trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell division. Use a combination of modern molecular biology, biochemistry, and microscopy techniques, with a strong emphasis placed on hypothesis-driven approaches, proper experimental design, and clear scientific writing and presentation.
MBS 325T  Human Genetics  3 Hours  
Examine genomics, cancer genetics, identification and analysis of human disease genes, and monogenic and multifactorial traits in humans.
MBS 226L  General Microbiology Laboratory  2 Hours  
Introduction to microbiology laboratory techniques and experimental demonstration of principles of microbiology.
MBS 326M  Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology  3 Hours  
Designed primarily for nursing and pre-pharmacy students. Explore an overview of the structure, function, and genetics of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, with emphasis on the interactions between micro-organisms and the human host. Examine principles of microbial pathogenesis, the host's innate and adaptive immune responses to infection, epidemiology, laboratory diagnosis, and antimicrobial chemotherapy and vaccines.
MBS 326R  General Microbiology  3 Hours  
Examine an overview of the major areas of microbiological study, including cell structure and function, genetics, host-microbe interactions, physiology, ecology, diversity, and virology.
MBS 327D  Emerging Infectious Diseases  3 Hours  
Examine genomic and proteomic tools used to understand the causes of human infectious diseases. Discuss genome sequencing, community sequencing, proteomics, microarrays, and human polymorphism analysis; and how these technologies have been applied to the study of important human viral diseases. Explore extensive coverage of the molecular and clinical biology of these diseases.
MBS 327G  Genomics  3 Hours  
Examine genome structure, organization, and function of model organisms; theory and methodology of genetic and physical mapping; sequencing analysis and annotation; genome duplication and evolution; and ethics for biotechnology and cloning.
MBS 328  Introductory Plant Physiology  3 Hours  
Examine general principles of the mineral nutrition, water relations, metabolic activities, growth, and development of green plants.
MBS 328D  Discovery Laboratory in Plant Biology  3 Hours  
Discuss methods of experimental design, data gathering, data interpretation, and data presentation, including original experiments relating to questions of current interest in plant physiology.
MBS 128L  Laboratory Experiments in Plant Physiology  1 Hour  
Introduction to experimental techniques used in the study of the mineral nutrition, water relations, metabolic activities, growth, and development of green plants.
MBS 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S  Topics in Molecular Biosciences  1-9 Hours  
This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Biology Instructional Office. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.
MBS 330  Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses  3 Hours  
Examine mechanisms by which viruses replicate and kill or transform cells.
MBS 230L  Virology Laboratory  2 Hours  
Examine basic experimental techniques applied to selected bacteriophages and animal viruses.
MBS 331L  Laboratory Studies in Molecular Biology  3 Hours  
Explore molecular biology methods, experimental design, and analyses applicable to both research and fields such as healthcare, biotechnology, and genetic analyses. Conduct experiments in a research project format.
MBS 336  Tumor Biology  3 Hours  
Discuss core aspects of cancer pathology, treatment, epidemiology, the discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and the molecular genetics underlying the characteristic features of malignant tumors (including metastatic behavior, genomic instability, angiogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis). Examine the biochemical functions of cancer-related proteins and enzymes and therapeutic approaches based on our understanding of these proteins. Explore important experimental approaches that have influenced our current understanding of cancer.
MBS 137, 237, 337, 437  Topics in Biology  1-4 Hours  
Examine recent developments and research methods in the biological sciences.
MBS 339M  Bacterial Behavior and Signaling Mechanisms  3 Hours  
Examine molecular, cellular, organismal, ecological, and evolutionary biology of bacteria. Focus on a large number of bacteria, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative from four major phyla, that live and survive both as free-living microbes, in groups, and in both beneficial and pathogenic associations with eukaryotic hosts. Explore evolution of organelles and behaviors, including receiving and transducing signals that produce a variety of outcomes such as chemotaxis and motility, morphogenesis and development, secretion and virulence, quorum sensing and biofilms, bacterial warfare, and antibiotic production and tolerance.
MBS 343  Advanced Cell Biology  3 Hours  
Explore current research in eukaryotic cell biology including vesicle trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics, cell movement and organization within tissues, and cellular signal transduction and information processing. Focus on experimental reasoning, quantitative methods for studying cells, and reading primary literature.
MBS 344  Molecular Biology  3 Hours  
Examine molecular basis of cellular processes: gene structure and function, DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis, viruses, molecular aspects of immunology and cancer, and recombinant DNA.
MBS 349L  Experiments in Developmental Biology  3 Hours  
Discuss methods and principles of developmental biology in a laboratory context, with emphasis on animal embryology using molecular techniques and microscopy.
MBS 350  Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology  3 Hours  
Explore the principles and mechanisms of embryonic development and the processes guiding stem cell differentiation and tissue repair.
MBS 350M  Plant Molecular Biology  3 Hours  
Discuss the fundamentals of plant molecular biology, including structure and expression of the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes.
MBS 355  Microbial Biochemistry  3 Hours  
Study the function of bacterial proteins and their complexes, including their role in inter-bacterial interactions that shape multi-species communities.
MBS 356E  Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics  3 Hours  
Explore epigenetic mechanisms that involve covalent modifications of the three major biomolecules: DNA, RNA, or proteins in the context of gene expression and genome stability. Examine how environmental and intrinsic factors regulate these mechanisms to impact normal and diseased cell functions, particularly as they relate to human health, aging, and behavior.
MBS 360K  Immunology  3 Hours  
Discuss the basic concepts of humoral and cell-associated immune phenomena, including innate immunity; the molecular basis of T cell and B cell antigen recognition; hematopoiesis and the development of lymphocytes; cellular and humoral immune responses; and the basics of immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, immunotherapy, and vaccination.
MBS 260L  Immunology Laboratory  2 Hours  
Examine current techniques in experimental cellular and humoral immunology.
MBS 361  Human Infectious Diseases  3 Hours  
Examine etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and immunobiology of the major microbial diseases, with emphasis on their prevention.
MBS 361L  Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory  3 Hours  
Discuss techniques required for independent work in diagnostic and epidemiological bacteriology.
MBS 366  Microbial Genetics  3 Hours  
Examine molecular biology of nucleic acids. Explore biosynthesis of macromolecules, transfer of genetic material from cell to cell, recombination, mutagenesis, and regulatory mechanisms.
MBS 366R  Molecular Genetics and Medicine  3 Hours  
Discuss the implementation of molecular genetics techniques in medicine. Explore the application of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for several genetic disorders and infectious diseases.
MBS 367C  Cellular and Molecular Bases of Neural Development  3 Hours  
Introduction to the principles by which the neural tube (brain and spinal cord) forms during embryonic development. Discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of a three-dimensional neural tube and its division into forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, and spinal cord.
MBS 368C  Supervised Literature Review  3 Hours  
Conduct supervised literature review and written capstone thesis on a selected subject in biology by individual arrangement with the instructor.
MBS 368R  Supervised Capstone Research  3 Hours  
Conduct supervised independent research and written capstone thesis on a selected subject in Biology by individual arrangement with the instructor.
MBS 175C  Capstone Seminar  1 Hour  
Document and reflect on the capstone experience, present capstone work in a professional venue, and discuss plans for transitioning to post-graduation careers.
MBS 177, 277, 377  Undergraduate Research  1-3 Hours  
Perform laboratory or field research in the various fields of biological science under the supervision of one or more faculty members.
MBS 379H, 679H  Honors Tutorial Course  3,6 Hours  
Conduct an original laboratory or field research project under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a thesis or research presentation for students in the honors program in biology.