MBB Graduate courses

A listing of all MBB Graduate courses, with an indication as to when they are offered, is presented below. Click on a course title to obtain the complete course description (PDF file). To assist with course planning, consult the Projected Courses guide .

President's Dream Colloquium offered in Fall 2012
The Fall President's Dream Colloquium on the Emergence and Complexity of Life is now accepting applications to enroll. Colloquium organizers Nancy Forde (Physics) and Peter Unrau (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry), have put together a really exciting lineup of speakers for this fall, and the colloquium truly will cover life (from about 3.5 billion years ago), the universe (or at least other habitable worlds) and everything. It's also a great networking opportunity. MBB graduate students have been pre-approved to take this course for credit towards their degrees but there is a limit of 20 students. Colloquium poster

MBB 505-3 Problem Based Learning in Bioinformatics  offered in Spring 2012
The problem-based learning course will develop students' ability to exchange ideas in small groups focused on real but simplified problems in bioinformatics. Problems will be carefully selected to cover multiple areas of bioinformatics research. This is an advanced bioinformatics course that assumes the student has previous bioinformatics training. Prerequisite: MBB 841 or equivalent bioinformatics course (undergraduate or graduate). This course is identical to CMPT 505 and students can not take both courses for credit.

MBB 659-3 Special Topics in Bioinformatics  offered in Fall 2011
Consideration of recent research literature on contemporary topics in bioinformatics. Prerequisites: MBB 441 or 841; or CMPT 341 or 881.

MBB 721-3 Nucleic Acids  offered in Fall 2011
An examination of recent literature about the structure and function of DNA and RNA.

MBB 722-3 Biological Membranes  offered in Spring 2011
A review of recent literature on the structure, dynamics, function and biosynthesis of membrane lipids and proteins.

MBB 723-3 Protein Structure and Function  offered in Fall 2011
Transition state theory; specificity in enzyme catalyzed reactions; use of recombinant DNA techniques to describe and modify enzyme catalysis, catalytic activities through monoclonal antibody techniques.

MBB 724-3 Membrane Transport Mechanisms  offered in Summer 2011
Structure and function of molecules that mediatetransport across membranes including channels, carriers, and pumps. Primary literature from the fields of biochemistry and physiology will be explored through lectures and independent study. Prerequisite: MBB 321, 322 and either MBB 323 or CHEM 360 or permission of the instructor.

MBB 726-4 The Immune System I: Basis of Innate and Adaptive Immunity  offered in Fall 2011
The basic organization of the immune system, including structure, function and genetics of antibodies, T-cell receptors, innate immune receptors, and the complement system. Innate, antibody and cellular immune responses and their control, and development of the cells involved in these responses. Prerequisite: MBB 331 or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for MBB or HSCI 426, MBB 826 or HSCI 726 may not complete MBB 726 for credit.

MBB 727-3 The Immune System II: Immune Responses in Health and Disease  offered in Spring 2012
The immunologic response to bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, immunological diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency, hypersensitivity reactions (including asthma and allergy), and transplantation-rejection reactions. Immunotherapeutics and vaccine development.Prerequisite: MBB 426/HSCI 426 or MBB 726 or permission from instructor.

MBB 730-3 Mechanisms of Secretory Transport
Analysis of mechanisms of protein, lipid, and nucleic acid delivery and transport within cells. The course will examine processes of protein targeting,exocytosis, and endocytosis; molecular mechanisms of COP-and clathrin-mediated vesicle transport; and viral and SNARE-mediated membrane fusion.Lectures will present landmark experiments from classic papers, and student presentations will focus on recent research articles. The significance of these findings with respect to human disease and signal transduction will be considered. Prerequisite: MBB 322 and BISC 331/MBB 331 or permission of the instructor.

MBB 736-3 Gene Expression  offered in Spring 2012
A consideration of the mechanisms and regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

MBB 737-3 Molecular Genetics of Signal Transduction
Consideration of recent literature dealing with mechanisms of signal transduction. The emphasis of the course varies from term to term. Past offerings have ranged from a specific focus on studying signaling using molecular genetics in model organisms, to an examination of diverse cell biological, biochemical, and genetic approaches being used in current signal transduction research.

MBB 738-3 Human Molecular Genetics  offered in Spring 2012
The course will consider recent advances in human molecular genetics. Topics will include genome analysis, genetic testing, and studies of genetic disorders. Prerequisite: MBB 331 (or BISC 331) or equivalent.

MBB 741-3 Bioinformatics  offered in Fall 2011
An overview of the newly emerging field of bioinformatics, which is loosely defined as the intersection between the fields of molecular biology and computer science. A combination of lecture format and hands-on instruction is provided in the use of, and theory behind, bioinformatic software tools used in genomic and computational biology research. An introduction to the development of bioinformatic software is included, though only basic computer science knowledge is required for this particular course. Prerequisite: one introductory computer programming course (e.g. CMPT 102, 103, 110, 120 or equivalent).

MBB 742-3 Proteomics  offered in Summer 2012
Since the completion of the human genome, the next step is to understand the function of these genes. Proteomics cover the integration of a number of topics with the aim of analyzing the complete complement of proteins expressed by a biological system. This course will give a general understanding of the proteome, describe many of the different aspects of proteomics that have been developed recently, identify the technologic limitations related to proteomics, and will also include likely future directions for the field. Prerequisite: one introductory computer programming course (e.g. CMPT 102, 103, 110, 120 or equivalent).

MBB 743-3 Protein Biogenesis, Function and Degradation  offered in Fall 2011
The central dogma of molecular biology (DNA to RNA to protein) underscores two fundamental biological processes, transcription and translation, that are essential to life. Protein biogenesis (folding, assembly, targeting to the proper cellular compartment), protein modification and protein degradation represent three other equally important cellular activities. The emphasis in this course will be to review the literature on protein biogenesis,function, and degradation, and explore the new and exciting developments that are just starting to uncover how mechanistically complex these processes are.

MBB 744-3 Developmental Neurobiology
The course will examine recent literature on neuronal growth cones and axonal guidance. Cell culture, biochemical, and molecular genetic approaches will be emphasized in assessing the roles and functions of guidance cues. Prerequisite: MBB/BISC 331 and BISC 333 or equivalent and permission of the instructor.

MBB 746-3 Cell Death and Cell Survival  offered in Spring 2012
An examination of various types of cell death and cell survival mechanisms and their relationship to disease with a focus on cancer and therapeutic strategies. Prerequisite: MBB 322, MBB 331.

MBB 761-3 Comparative Genomics  offered in Spring 2012
Examination of the fundamentals of comparative genomics, identification and activity of functional elements in genomes, inter- and intra-species comparisons, relationship of genomic to phenotypic variation, and personalized genomics are among the topics to be explored. Comparison of genome data has impacts on medicine and many other fields of the life sciences. Prerequisite: MBB 331.

MBB 801-3 Student Seminar in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry I  offered in Fall 2011
Discussion of recent literature through student seminars and written reports. Introduction to professional skills for scientific careers.

MBB 806-3 Ph.D. Graduate Research Seminar  offered in Spring 2012
Oral presentation and defence of a written PhD research proposal. Students will be examined on their progress and grasp of knowledge relevant to the proposed research and their capacity to complete the proposed thesis research. Open only to students in the PhD molecular biology and biochemistry graduate program.

MBB 821/822/823-1 Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium  offered in Spring 2012
Recent research articles on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular activities will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent. Students who have taken BISC 821, 822 or 823 may not receive credit for this course. A student may not take more than 3 units of Cell and Molecular Biology Colloquium courses, including BISC 821, 822, 823.

MBB 829-3 Special Topics in Biochemistry: RNA-Mediated Gene Regulation  offered in Spring 2012
Consideration of recent literature concerning selected contemporary research topics. Can be taken more than once with permission of the instructor.

MBB 833-3 Developmental Genetics
Selected topics in the developmental genetics of Drosophila.

MBB 835-3 Genome Analysis  offered in Summer 2012
Consideration of topics related to the structure and function of the genome with emphasis on genome mapping and sequencing projects, and computational methods for genomic sequence analysis.

MBB 839-3 Special Topics in Molecular Biology: Human Genomics  offered in Fall 2011
Consideration of recent literature concerning selected contemporary research topics. Can be taken more than once with permission of instructor.

MBB 861/2/3-1 Biomolecular Structure and Function Colloquium  offered in Spring 2012
Recent research articles on the structure, function, and interactions of macromolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as their complexes, will be presented and discussed by students and faculty, with an emphasis on critical analysis of the concepts and experimental design and methods. Prerequisite: BISC 331/MBB 331 or equivalent.

MBB 871-1 Directed Readings in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Programs of directed reading and critical discussions offered by faculty or staff members to individual students according to their needs. Study programs must be approved by the molecular biology and biochemistry graduate studies committee.

MBB 872-2 Directed Readings in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Programs of directed reading and critical discussions offered by faculty or staff members to individual students according to their needs. Study programs must be approved by the molecular biology and biochemistry graduate studies committee.

MBB 873-3 Directed Readings in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Programs of directed reading and critical discussions offered by faculty or staff members to individual students according to their needs. Study programs must be approved by the molecular biology and biochemistry graduate studies committee.

MBB 898-6 M.Sc. Thesis

MBB 899-6 Ph.D. Thesis