Topics in Signal Transduction

Signal transduction is one of the most rapidly developing fields in biomedical sciences. Defects in signaling pathways can be responsible for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and psychoses. This course offers students an overview of the molecular pathways that allow cells to receive and process signals from their external environment, with an emphasis on the emerging state-of-the-art techniques used to study signal transduction events. The course will cover the basic molecular steps of receptor-mediated pathways used in signal transduction and a series of applications that will allow students to understand the complexity of this rapidly developing field of research. We will discuss new ideas, mechanisms of disease, and unsolved problems in signal transduction primarily through reading and critical analysis of recent primary literature. Expected background: BIOL 0200 , 0280 , 0470 , or 0500 or other classes that cover similar content.