Topics in Molecular Biology

(3 Credits)

This course provides a broad overview of gene expression, nuclear organization and nucleic acid metabolism. Part I consists of five weekly group discussions covering fundamental methodologies applicable to many areas of cell and molecular biology and introduces students to the art of reading of the primary scientific literature. Part II features nine weeks of intensive lectures and weekly discussion groups organized into timely themes such as control of gene transcription, chromatin structure and epigenetics, telomere biology, DNA replication and recombination, synthesis and folding of functional proteins, and RNA processing. The course emphasizes fundamental molecular processes that underlie almost all aspects of current research in molecular, cellular and developmental biology.