Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes and Experimental Applications of Theory

This course presents the basic fundamentals of modern molecular biology both from the perspective of known molecular mechanisms for regulating fundamental processes in cells and from a theoretical applied perspective for using molecular biology as a laboratory tool. Special emphasis will be placed on molecular mechanisms that relate to chromatin and histone modifications, DNA replication and repair, transposition, microRNAs, meiosis, and splicing. Application of molecular biology as a tool to understand embryonic development, reprogramming, cancer, and stem cells will also be presented. Emphasis will be placed on helping students develop a sophisticated understanding of DNA, RNA, and protein, as well as the capability of interpreting experimental data and designing basic experiments to address fundamental questions in biology.