University of Houston Department of Biology and Biochemistry

Table of Contents

A. Major Professor and Thesis, Study or Dissertation Committee
B. Program of Studies
C. Course Requirements
D. First Year Evaluation
E. Advancement to Candidacy (Ph.D.)
F. Committee Meetings
G. Thesis and Dissertation Research
H. Final Examinations
I. Special Academic Situations
J. Recommended Time Tables
K. Graduate Level Courses Offered

PROGRAM IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Degree Requirements for Master's and Doctoral Degrees

DESCRIPTION OF THE GRADUATE PROGRAM IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES

MASTER OF SCIENCE PLAN I
MASTER OF SCIENCE PLAN II
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

A. Major Professor and Thesis, Study, or Dissertation Committee
1. Selection of Major Professor
	By the end of the second long (fall or spring) semester of residence in the program, each student is required to select, by mutual agreement, a regular or jointly appointed member of the faculty of the Division of Biochemistry as a thesis or dissertation advisor (major professor) who, with the thesis (M.S. Plan I), study (M.S. Plan II), or dissertation (Ph.D.) committee, will supervise the student's graduate studies. A student may also choose a faculty member from the Department of Biology and Biochemistry who does not hold an appointment in the Division of Biochemistry as long as all the following criteria are satisfied: As with any Biochemistry candidate, the student must meet all the Division of Biochemistry requirements, including course work and the biochemistry comprehensive and qualifying examinations. At least one-half the committee must be faculty with regular (not joint) Division of Biochemistry appointments. T The student is choice of major professor must be approved by the Biochemistry Policy Leader. The studentís choice of major professor must be approved by the Chair of the Division of Biochemistry Graduate Committee.
2. Selection of Committee
	In consultation with the major professor, the student shall select, by mutual agreement, faculty members to serve on the thesis, study, or dissertation committee. The committee shall be chosen before the end of the second long semester of residence. The membership of this committee is subject to approval by the Chair of the department and Dean of the college. The major functions of this committee are to approve a program of studies for the student, to administer the necessary oral qualifying examinations and final examinations, and to evaluate the student's progress. In the event that a member of the committee leaves the University or is not available for an examination or thesis/dissertation defense, the committee and student can recommend a suitable substitute. The appointment to committees of faculty members from other institutions is encouraged.
3. Composition of Committee
	A master's thesis (Plan I) or study (Plan II) committee shall consist of at least three members. These shall include the major professor, one other member from the Division, and one member who shall be from outside the Division of Biochemistry. A doctoral dissertation committee shall consist of at least four members. These shall include the major professor, one other member of the Division, one member who may belong to any Division within the Dept., and one member who shall be from outside the Division of Biochemistry. For the purpose of establishing a thesis, study, or dissertation committee, a faculty member holding a joint appointment in the Division of Biochemistry shall be considered to be from outside the Division if his/her primary appointment is not in this Division.
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B. Program of Studies

By the end of the second long semester of residence, a program of studies must be approved at a meeting of the student's thesis, study, or dissertation committee. The written program consists of

a title page with spaces for ap-propriate approval signatures;
a short biographical sketch and a brief statement of the student's career goals;
a list of the science and mathematics courses (both undergraduate and graduate) taken by the individual and the grades obtained;
a statement of the degree objective and a list of the courses the student plans to take to fulfill the course requirements for this degree;
a statement verifying that the student has completed required safety courses (radiation, chemical, and biological safety);
a brief statement of the research project, not more than one page in length, for M.S. Plan I and Ph.D. candidates or a study proposal for M.S. Plan II candidates (any specialized safety considerations pertaining to the proposed work should be de-scribed);
a schedule for completion of the various degree requirements, especially the examinations.

The original copy shall be deposited in the student's file in the department office and a copy furnished to each committee member. Changes in the program of studies shall be in written form and must be approved by the thesis, study, or dissertation committee.

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C. Course Requirements
1. Total Semester Hours
	The minimum semester hour requirements, per University policy, are: M.S. Plan I - 30 semester hours M.S. Plan II - 36 semester hours Ph.D. - 24 semester hours beyond the M.S. Plan I requirement (54 hours) These hour requirements should be met by the time the student has had sufficient time in residence in the program to meet all the requirements for graduation.
2. Course Requirements
	All students must fulfill the core course requirements for the intended degree. M.S. Plan I core requirement (16 hours) Graduate Biochemistry series: BCHS 6226, 6227, 6228, 6229 BCHS 6230 and 6231: Graduate Biochemistry Lab Rotation I and II Four additional hours in formal graduate courses offered by the Division of Biochemistry. M.S. Plan II core requirement (20 hours) Graduate Biochemistry series: BCHS 6226, 6227, 6228, 6229 BCHS 6230 and 6231: Graduate Biochemistry Lab Rotation I and II Eight additional hours in formal graduate courses, of which at least four hours must be in courses offered by the Division of Biochemistry. Ph.D. core requirement (20 hours) Graduate Biochemistry series: BCHS 6226, 6227, 6228, 6229 BCHS 6230 and 6231: Graduate Biochemistry Lab Rotation I and II Eight additional hours in formal graduate courses, of which at least four hours must be in courses offered by the Division of Biochemistry. Course limitations for all graduate degrees For the purpose of fulfilling the above core course requirements, the following courses are not acceptable. BCHS 6113: Graduate Seminar BCHS 6125: Seminar in Nucleic Acids BCHS 6X98: Special Problems BCHS 6X99: Master's Thesis BCHS 8X98: Doctoral Research BCHS 8X99: Doctoral Dissertation Seminar requirements First year graduate students are required to enroll in BCHS 6113: Graduate Biochemistry Seminar both long semesters. Second year students are required to enroll in BCHS 6113 or a one hour seminar course offered by the Division of Biochemistry. Students in their third year and beyond should expect to present seminars on their research to the BCHS 6113 class. Thesis courses for M.S. Plan II candidates MS Plan II students do not enroll for Masterís Thesis hours. Such students should enroll in the appropriate number of Special Problems hours if needed to meet enrollment requirements.
3. Course Transfers
	In general, a maximum of six approved credit hours for the M.S. degrees and a maximum of 18 approved credit hours for the Ph.D. degree may be transferred from another institution. This is normally done for the purpose of establishing that a student has completed the equivalent of certain core courses. Such transfers may be formal in that they, after approval of an appropriate petition, appear on a studentís UH record, or they may be informal in that the studentís committee recognizes, by an appropriately signed memo placed in the studentís folder, that the student has completed the equivalent of the indicated courses.
4. Limitation on Undergraduate Courses
	No undergraduate courses may apply toward the graduate degrees. Exceptions must be petitioned and must have the approval of the studentís committee and the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Committee.
5. Scholastic Requirements
	Per University regulations, graduate students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 in all course work attempted for graduate credit to be considered in good standing. Students not in good standing cannot receive a graduate degree, can be declared ineligible for support as a Graduate Assistant (TA or RA), and will be ineligible for the Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowship. Graduate students who receive grades of C+ or lower in 12 or more semester hours of course work attempted for graduate credit are ineligible for any advanced degree at this institution. Semester hours of "U" grades in S/U-graded courses apply toward the above 12 hour total.
6. Rotation Requirements (BCHS 6230 and 6231)
	Graduate students are required to enroll in two laboratory rotation courses during their first year of study. Each will represent a rotation in a different research laboratory of a regular or jointly appointed Division of Biochemistry faculty member. Each rotation course is to last 7 weeks. The first rotation must begin by week 8 of the first semester. The second rotation course must be started no later than the first week of the second semester. The student will submit a short report describing the purpose and experimental findings at the end of each course. This report will be graded by the faculty member in which the lab rotation was conducted and forwarded to the instructor (coordinator) of the course. A written evaluation of each rotation will be done by the head of the laboratory. Any exceptions to the rotation policy must be pre-approved by the faculty member who is coordinating the course.
7.Courses taken outside the Department
	1. Courses that do not promote the student’s academic development in Biology & Biochemistry, or do not contribute directly to the current research program of the student, will not be allowed 2. Students who wish to take courses outside the Department need the approval of their thesis or dissertation committee. 3. Students may not pursue another degree program concurrently with a M.S. or Ph.D. in Biology and Biochemistry 4. Students taking approved courses at other institutions need to notify the Graduate coordinator prior to the start of the semester in order for the appropriate paperwork to be processed in time by the Registrar’s office and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
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D. First Year Evaluation
	At the end of the second long semester in residence, all students shall undergo a first year evaluation. A positive evaluation must be received for a student to remain in good standing. The evaluation will consider the studentís progress based upon: courses taken and grades reports from rotation advisors the studentís acceptance into a research laboratory (major professor chosen) formation of a thesis, study, or dissertation committee passing score on the comprehensive examination other information as may be required. The evaluation committee shall be comprised of the Division of Biochemistry Policy Leader and the Division of Biochemistry Graduate Committee.
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E. Advancement to Candidacy
1. General Considerations
	The Division of Biochemistry shall consider a student to be a candidate for a degree after successful completion of the pertinent examinations and other requirements. This includes completion of all those requirements which normally precede the qualifying examinations.
2. Comprehensive Examination
	Each student is required to take a comprehensive written examination, which is intended to test mastery of the principles which underlie the biochemical sciences. For students entering in the fall, the examination will be offered within three weeks of the end of the following spring semester. For students entering in the spring, the examination will be offered within three weeks of the end of their second spring semester. A Masterís degree student who has passed this examination shall have advanced to candidacy. The Comprehensive exam will be coordinated by the Division of Biochemistry Graduate Committee.
3. Qualifying Examination
	Each Ph.D. student in the program must take the qualifying examination. The qualifying examination shall be administered by the studentís dissertation committee. The Ph.D. qualifying examination shall consist of a written research proposal followed by an oral examination. For students entering in the fall semester, the examination shall take place in the spring semester of the studentís 2nd year (4th long semester). For students entering in the spring semester, the examination shall take place in the spring semester following the studentís 2nd year (5th long semester). Topics must be approved by the studentís dissertation committee by November 1 and all proposals shall be due to the studentís committee by February 1. The oral examination must be completed by April 1st. During the oral examinations, students will be asked to defend their proposals as well as to demonstrate a broad-based understanding of their field. If a student does not pass the examination he/she may, at the discretion of the dissertation committee, be allowed to retake the exam. All retaken exams must be completed by the end of the spring semester. Advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. shall not occur until a student has written a research proposal and successfully defended it before his/her dissertation committee. Details of the proposal format and expectations are as follows: Purpose of the Research Proposal A student should demonstrate in the research proposal and its defense that he/she: understands fundamental concepts of biochemistry has gained detailed knowledge of a body of scientific literature and the ability to critically evaluate it is able to formulate specific, plausible and testable hypotheses is able to design controlled experiments that distinguish among competing hypotheses is familiar with available biochemical technologies understands the theory underlying the proposed techniques is able to communicate about science orally and in writing. Proposal Subject The proposed research should either test a novel hypothesis (or series of related hypotheses) that is consistent with published data or constitute a novel experimental test of an existing hypothesis. The topic should be distinct from the student's dissertation research project and from research that is ongoing or has been proposed in UH laboratories. The research should be significant, but it needn't be revolutionary. It is preferable to identify and completely fill a small but significant gap in knowledge, rather than to propose a hypothesis that has no basis in current knowledge or is untestable. Studies that are purely descriptive in nature are not acceptable for this proposal. The proposed experiments should be feasible with existing technology, and within a 3 year term. Proposal Format The format of the proposal should be essentially that of an NIH fellowship proposal. The proposal may not exceed 10 single spaced pages, with a font no smaller than 10 point and margins no smaller than 2 cm. The proposal should include the following sections: The Abstract (no more than 1/2 page) should briefly outline the hypothesis to be tested, the overall experimental strategy, and the significance of the proposed research. The Specific Aims (less than 1 page) section should state the hypothesis or hypotheses to be tested and briefly describe the experimental strategies to be used. The Background and Significance (1-3 pages) section should provide sufficient background that every member of the dissertation committee can understand the significance of the proposed research, but it should not include an exhaustive review of the literature. It should state concisely how the research contributes to understanding of the specific issues under investigation, and how this relates to larger issues in the field. If alternative approaches to the problem exist, the choice of approach should be justified. Describe how the proposed research improves upon previously published re-search. The Research Design and Methods (5-7 pages) section should describe the proposed experiments and how the results will be interpreted. The following issues (at least) should be addressed in this section: control experiments that exclude trivial explanations of the results; numbers of observations required and the statistical methods to be used; relevant characteristics of specialized methods and reagents; interpretations of the predicted outcomes; plausible alternative outcomes and their implications; potential technical difficulties and alternative strategies; other issues that may be relevant to specific projects. Minor experimental details (e.g. buffer concentrations) are not required. The Literature Cited (1-2 pages) section should include at least the name of the first author, title, book or journal, volume and page numbers, and year of publication of all literature cited in the proposal. The references should be organized alphabetically by author or by number. All publications listed should be cited in the text, either by author and year or by number. Committee Approval of the Proposal Topic The topic of the research proposal must be approved by the studentís dissertation committee. It is recommended that the title and preliminary abstract or outline (including hypothesis) be submitted to the members of the committee in advance. The student shall formally obtain approval of the topic, no later than November 1 of the semester before the proposal is to be defended. Submission and Defense of the Proposal The written proposal, in final format, shall be submitted to all members of the dissertation committee no later than February 1st of the semester the proposal is to be defended. The student shall orally defend the proposal by the end of the second year, but not later April 1st. The committee shall be polled by the committee Chair within two weeks of submission of the proposal to determine whether the written proposal has sufficient merit to warrant a defense. If the committee agrees, a defense will be scheduled. If more than one member of the committee decides that the written proposal is not sufficient for the defense, the student shall be given one opportunity to revise and resubmit the proposal. The revised proposal must be submitted by March 15th, and this proposal shall be defended. Such a resubmission shall be considered the first attempt at the written portion of the examination. In any case, the oral examination must take place before the end of the Spring semester of the 2nd year to avoid penalties (see below). Examination Evaluation In order for a student to pass the examination, an affirmative vote by the major professor and no more than one negative vote by the other committee members must be recorded.
4. Reexamination
	If the student fails either part of the examination (fails to submit a satisfactory written proposal or fails the oral examination), his/her dissertation committee shall recommend a future course of action. This may include: remedial course work. the repetition of the examination prior to the end of the following Summer semester. termination of the student from the Ph.D. degree program. In the case of the oral qualifying examination, such recommendation shall be given verbally, normally by the major professor, immediately after the examination and followed by a written notification within one week. Each part of the examination may be taken no more than twice. Failure in a second attempt shall result in mandatory dismissal from the Ph.D. program.
5. Penalties for late qualifying examination
	A student who fails to complete the written and oral parts of the qualifying exam within the Spring of the 2nd year will receive a grade of “U” (unsatisfactory) in 2 credit hours of research. Any further delay will result in additional “U” grades” in: 6 research credit hours if the requirement is not completed by the end of the summer of the 2nd year, and 4 additional credit hours if the requirement is not completed by the end of the fall of the 3rd year. By that time, a student who has not yet taken his/her qualifier exam will have accumulated 12 hours of unsatisfactory grades, and will be automatically dismissed from the University. Students who did not pass the qualifying exam in the Spring of the 2nd year and were given the recommendation to retake the exam but were unable to re-schedule within the Spring semester will receive a grade of “I” (incomplete) for 2 credit hours of research in the Spring. The grade will be changed to an “S” or “U” depending on whether the student re-takes or does not re-take the exam in the Summer. Every effort should be made for the student to retake the exam within the Spring semester. Note that the “S” or “U” grades reflect only whether the student has taken or not the exam in the given semester. Failure to pass the qualifying exam will not result in an “F” in these research hours.
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F. Dissertation Proposal and Committee Meetings
	Following successful completion of the qualifying examination, all students should meet periodically with their Dissertation Committee to discuss research progress. A meeting must be held by the end of the third year, at which time each student shall present a written dissertation proposal which defines the research project and outlines specific aims and approaches that the student anticipates performing. Subsequent meetings may be held to evaluate progress towards completion of the degree.
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G. Thesis or Dissertation Research
1. General Considerations
	Each student whose degree objective is the M.S. Plan I or Ph.D. degree is expected to commence graduate research as soon as possible. It should be recognized that research is an integral component of the degree requirements and that failure to maintain an adequate program of research constitutes unsatisfactory progress toward a degree.
2. Safety Requirements and Other Regulations
	As appropriate to their research objectives and as required by University policy, students must attend and pass courses offered by Environmental Safety to assure familiarity with handling of radioactive materials and chemical disposal. Research involving human subjects must be submitted to and approved by the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects. Likewise, use of animals and recombinant DNA must be approved by appropriate University of Houston committees.
3. Research Seminar
	Each M.S. Plan I and Ph.D. candidate shall present a formal research seminar to the department which discusses the student's significant research accomplishments. The seminar shall be presented immediately prior to the final defense on the day of the defense.
4. Nature of Thesis or Dissertation
	The thesis submitted by an M.S. Plan I candidate must give evidence of ability to conduct an independent and original investigation on a defined research problem. The doctoral dissertation must provide clear documentation that the candidate possesses the ability to systematically plan and carry out research on a significant research problem, which constitutes an original contribution to the biochemical sciences. Satisfactory completion of the dissertation shall include a demonstra-tion that the candidate is able to organize data and express research findings in writing in an acceptable manner.
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H. Final Examinations
1. General Considerations
	Each student must submit and defend the thesis/dissertation when it is in final form. Although any member of the University community may attend the final examination, the thesis, study, or dissertation committee has sole responsibility in deciding whether or not the examination is passed. In order for a student to pass the examination, an affirmative vote by the major professor and no more than one negative vote by other committee members must be recorded.
2. M.S. Plan I
	The candidate must defend a thesis. The examination will emphasize research achievements. In addition, competence in the candidate's field of research will be expected.
3. M.S. Plan II
	The candidate shall present and defend a formal report to the study committee after advancement to candidacy. The candidate will critically evaluate and summarize a problem of biochemical interest and will be expected to be knowledgeable of contemporary methods and concepts in the biochemical sciences.
4. Ph.D.
	The candidate must defend a dissertation. The examination will emphasize research achievements. In addition, competence in the candidate's field of research and the biochemical sciences in general will be expected. A candidate who has passed the oral portion of the Ph.D candidacy examination, demonstrated satisfactory progress in research, and completed the formal course requirements for the Masterí Plan II may, upon the approval of the dissertation committee, be granted the M.S. Plan II degree.
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I. Special Academic Situations
1. Change of Degree Objective
	A student who wishes to change from a M.S. plan I to a Ph.D. degree objective before the completion of the M.S. degree shall, after passing the written comprehensive examination, submit a formal petition, current records for graduate course work, and other supporting materials. The request must be supported, in writing, by the studentís major advisor. A decision concerning the petition shall be made by the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Committee. Upon approval, the petitioner shall be subject to all the requirements relevant to the Ph.D. degree plan. If the deadlines for the Ph.D. qualifying examination that would apply had the student entered the program as a Ph.D. candidate have passed, deadlines for the completion of this examination shall be established by the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Committee at the time approval is granted.
2. Off-Site Research Toward a Degree
	A candidate employed full-time in a research capacity in the immediate Houston area can petition that graduate research be carried out jointly under the supervision of the candidate's employer (or immediate supervisor) and a member of the faculty of the Division of Biochemistry. The above supervisor normally is expected to hold a professional appointment in a scientific or educational institution. Such a situation normally requires that support and/or laboratory space is not available for the student within the Division of Biochemistry. The supporting petition requires approval of the employer or supervisor, the Division, and the College. A program of studies must be submitted with the petition. The intent of a thesis or dissertation is not changedóthe need to demonstrate an ability to carry out individual research still exists. This may require a modification of the student's responsibilities to the student's employer, and professional ethics dictate that the student and the student's committee should make certain that the employer understands and accepts this adjustment before petitioning.
3. Return of Former Students
	A former student who has left the graduate program prior to the completion of all degree requirements may resume studies with the approval of the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Committee and the Division of Biochemistry Graduate Committee. Such students shall be subject to any other restrictions imposed by the College or University on students who have ceased to be enrolled.
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J. Recommended Time Tables
1. M.S. Plan I students entering in the Fall
	First Semester (all) Courses: Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6230 Laboratory Rotation I BCHS 6113 Seminar BCHS 6231 Laboratory Rotation II or Graduate elective (two hours)	Second Semester (Spring) Courses: Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) Graduate elective (two hours) BCHS 6231 Laboratory Rotation II (if needed) BCHS 6113 Seminar Choose major professor/research lab Choose thesis committee Committee meeting for Program of Studies Written Comprehensive Exam First year evaluations Begin Thesis Research
	Third Semester (Fall) Courses Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6113 or 6125 seminar Graduate electives if needed Thesis research	Fourth Semester (Spring) Courses Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6113 or 6125 seminar Graduate electives if needed Thesis research Thesis seminar Defense of Thesis
2. Ph. D. students entering in the fall
	First Semester (Fall) Courses: Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6230 Laboratory Rotation I BCHS 6113 Seminar BCHS 6231 Laboratory Rotation II or Graduate elective (two hours)	Second Semester (Spring) Courses: Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) Graduate elective (two hours) BCHS 6231 Laboratory Rotation II (if needed) BCHS 6113 Seminar Choose major professor/research lab Choose dissertation committee Committee meeting for Program of Studies Written Comprehensive Exam First year evaluations Begin Dissertation Research
	Third Semester (Fall) Courses Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6113 or 6125 seminar Graduate electives if needed Proposal topics to committee before November 15. Dissertation research	Fourth Semester (Spring) Courses Graduate Biochemistry (two hours) BCHS 6113 or 6125 seminar Graduate electives if needed Qualifying examination: February 15: Proposal due to committee March: Oral Examination Laboratory research
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3. Students entering the program in the Spring Semester must consult with the Division of Biochemistry representatives the Departmental Graduate Committee or the divisional policy leader for recommended time tables.

K. Graduate-Level Courses Offered

BCHS 6113: Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences Seminar. Prerequisite: graduate standing. May be repeated for credit. Seminars presented by students, faculty, or outside speakers on current research or current biochemical literature.

BCHS 6198, 6298, 6398,6498,6598: Special Problems. Prerequisites: consent of instructor and approval of chair.

BCHS 6201: Methods in Molecular Biology. Prerequisites: BCHS 3305 and BIOL 4320 or BCHS 4306 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Current methods and techniques in molecular biology, bacterial host strains, expression systems, mutagenesis, DNA library construction and screening, DNA mapping and sequencing and polymerase chain reaction methods.

BCHS 6203: Enzyme Mechanisms. Prerequisites: BCHS 3304 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Principles and methods for the evaluation of enzyme reaction mechanisms, established and newly developed biochemical, biophysical and molecular biological approaches.

BCHS 6204: Elements of Protein Structure. Prerequisites: BCHS 3304 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Taxonomy of protein structure with illustration of the common families of protein structure as well as simple protein structural motifs. Examples taken from the crystallographic and NMR literature.

BCHS 6205: Cell Signaling. Prerequisites: BCHS 3305 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Biochemistry of cellular responses to environmental signals at the molecular level.

BCHS 6206: Molecular Modeling of Biological Macromolecules. Prerequisites: BCHS 3304 and CHEM 4370 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Advanced computer-based molecular modeling methods, with emphasis on their practical aspects and limitations. Individual research projects using UNIX-based Silicon Graphics computers.

BCHS 6208: Biochemistry of Organelles. Prerequisites: BCHS 3305 or equivalent and consent of instructor. Organization of mitochondrial and chloroplast membranes. Biochemical and biophysical aspects of electron transfer in photosynthetic organelles. Molecular organization of genes and proteins involved in biochemical energy transduction.

BCHS 6209: Protein Biosynthesis. Prerequisite: BCHS 3304. Aspects of protein synthesis including ribosome structure , ribosomal RNA structure and function, translation inhibitors, identification of tRNAs, and involvement of tRNA in coding/decoding.

BCHS 6210: Mobile DNA and Genome Fluidity. Prerequisites: BIOL 3401 and BIOL 4320 or BCHS 4306 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Mechanisms of transposition and recombination by DNA elements.

BCHS 6211: Advanced Microbial Genetics. Prerequisites: BIOL 3401 and BIOL 4320 or BCHS 4306 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Topics in bacterial and yeast genetics.

BCHS 6216: Biological Membranes. (Also BIOL 6213) Prerequisites: consent of instructor. Structure, metabolism, and biochemical interactions of membrane components. Molecular mechanisms of membrane phenomena.

BCHS 6217: Molecular Mechanisms of Infectious Disease. Host-pathogen interactions, including mechanisms of invasion and intracellular survival. Regulation of virulence gene expression. Host respnses and their manipulation by select pathogens. Current approaches for investigating pathogenesis, engineering bacterial toxins, and designing vaccines and antibiotics.

BCHS 6218: Molecular Mechanisms of Host-Pathogen Interactions. Prerequisites: BIOL 2333 and 4374 and BCHS 3304 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Pathogen molecular mimicry, host response modulation, and design and construction of vaccines. Contemporary approaches for experimental investigation of host-pathogen interactions.

BCHS 6219: Cell Biology of Disease and Immunity. Prerequisites: BIOL 2333 and 4374 and BCHS 3304 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Fundamental cellular processes in disease and immunity, including current experimental techniques. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of exploitation of host functions by microbial pathogens. Cellular and mucosal immunity.

BCHS 6226: Enzyme Catalysis and Kinetics. Prerequisites: BCHS 3305 or equivalent and graduate standing or consent of instructor. Principles of enzymatic catalysis. Methods and principles of enzyme kinetic kinetic analysis.

BCHS 6227: Membranes and Signal Transduction. Prerequisites: BCHS 3305 or equivalent and graduate standing or consent of instructor. Membrane biochemistry: metabolism, properties, and structures of membrane lipids;