Molecular Biology On the Cutting Edge

2 units

Recent biomedical discoveries have been greatly advanced through the development of innovative, state-of-the-art techniques. For example, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) has proved to be an invaluable tool in both efforts to determine the atomic structure of proteins and small molecules as well as in clinical settings, as MRI to identify tumors that would otherwise go unnoticed. This course will introduce students to a variety of cutting-edge laboratory techniques, and discuss the impact of these techniques on biology and medicine. Students will have the unique opportunity to learn from graduate students employing these approaches in their doctoral studies. Topics to be covered include: high-throughput sequencing of genetic disorders, x-ray crystallography, and single molecule force spectroscopy by AFM. Weekly classes will consist of a 30-45 minute presentation on a particular technique, followed by 60-minute discussion of the assigned readings.