Molecular Biosciences: MBS

Lower-Division Courses

MBS X19L. Introduction to Biochemical Laboratory Practices and Skills.

Explore basic skills used by biochemists and an introduction to future career options. Examine basic biochemical concepts and laboratory, computational, and professional skills.

MBS X19S. Topics in Molecular Biosciences.

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.

Upper-Division Courses

MBS X20. Cell Biology.

Explore principles of eukaryotic cell structure and function. Examine macromolecules, membranes, organelles, cytoskeleton, signaling, cell division, differentiation, motility, and experimental methodologies.

MBS X20L. Cell Biology Laboratory.

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 X25T. Human Genetics.

Examine genomics, cancer genetics, identification and analysis of human disease genes, and monogenic and multifactorial traits in humans.

MBS X26L. General Microbiology Laboratory.

Introduction to microbiology laboratory techniques and experimental demonstration of principles of microbiology.

MBS X26M. Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

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 X26R. General Microbiology.

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 X27D. Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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 X27G. Genomics.

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 X28. Introductory Plant Physiology.

Examine general principles of the mineral nutrition, water relations, metabolic activities, growth, and development of green plants.

MBS X28D. Discovery Laboratory in Plant Biology.

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 X28L. Laboratory Experiments in Plant Physiology.

Introduction to experimental techniques used in the study of the mineral nutrition, water relations, metabolic activities, growth, and development of green plants.

MBS X29S. Topics in Molecular Biosciences.

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 X30. Molecular Biology of Animal Viruses.

Examine mechanisms by which viruses replicate and kill or transform cells.

MBS X30L. Virology Laboratory.

Examine basic experimental techniques applied to selected bacteriophages and animal viruses.

MBS X31L. Laboratory Studies in Molecular Biology.

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 X36. Tumor Biology.

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 X37. Topics in Biology.

Examine recent developments and research methods in the biological sciences.

MBS X39M. Bacterial Behavior and Signaling Mechanisms.

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 X43. Advanced Cell Biology.

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 X44. Molecular Biology.

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 X49L. Experiments in Developmental Biology.

Discuss methods and principles of developmental biology in a laboratory context, with emphasis on animal embryology using molecular techniques and microscopy.

MBS X50. Developmental, Stem Cell, and Regenerative Biology.

Explore the principles and mechanisms of embryonic development and the processes guiding stem cell differentiation and tissue repair.

MBS X50M. Plant Molecular Biology.

Discuss the fundamentals of plant molecular biology, including structure and expression of the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes.

MBS X55. Microbial Biochemistry.

Study the function of bacterial proteins and their complexes, including their role in inter-bacterial interactions that shape multi-species communities.

MBS X56E. Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics.

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 X60K. Immunology.

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 X60L. Immunology Laboratory.

Examine current techniques in experimental cellular and humoral immunology.

MBS X61. Human Infectious Diseases.

Examine etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and immunobiology of the major microbial diseases, with emphasis on their prevention.

MBS X61L. Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory.

Discuss techniques required for independent work in diagnostic and epidemiological bacteriology.

MBS X66. Microbial Genetics.

Examine molecular biology of nucleic acids. Explore biosynthesis of macromolecules, transfer of genetic material from cell to cell, recombination, mutagenesis, and regulatory mechanisms.

MBS X66R. Molecular Genetics and Medicine.

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 X67C. Cellular and Molecular Bases of Neural Development.

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 X68C. Supervised Literature Review.

Conduct supervised literature review and written capstone thesis on a selected subject in biology by individual arrangement with the instructor.

MBS X68R. Supervised Capstone Research.

Conduct supervised independent research and written capstone thesis on a selected subject in Biology by individual arrangement with the instructor.

MBS X75C. Capstone Seminar.

Document and reflect on the capstone experience, present capstone work in a professional venue, and discuss plans for transitioning to post-graduation careers.

MBS X77. Undergraduate Research.

Perform laboratory or field research in the various fields of biological science under the supervision of one or more faculty members.

MBS X79H. Honors Tutorial Course.

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.

Graduate Courses

Professional Courses