BMS - Biomedical Science
Explore the dynamics of gene expression at the level of DNA, RNA and protein. Develop ability to link techniques in molecular biology with appropriate applications in explaining the scientific approach to gene analysis.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Also offered as
BIFX 501
Offered
Fall Semester
Introduces statistical methods used in biological research. Topics include sampling methods, frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, probability, and both parametric and non-parametric tests. A statistical software package is introduced in laboratory exercises. Statistical problems involving global climate change are used throughout the semester.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Also offered as ENV 505
Offered
Spring Semester
Prerequisites: Two semesters of organic chemistry. A study of the structure and function of biological macromolecules, particularly proteins. Topics include acid-base equilibria, protein folding, enzyme catalysis, allosterism and protein engineering.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 411
Offered
Fall Semester
A study of the generation and storage of metabolic energy and of the structure, biosynthesis and function of nucleic acids.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 412
Offered
As Needed
Prerequisite: BMS 511/411. Lab fee. A lecture/lab course addressing the principles and practical aspects of protein purification and characterization. In addition, the course will cover practical aspects of enzymology, including kinetic analysis of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Summer Semester
Prerequisites: Organic Chemistry and Cell Biology. A study of the structure of cellular organelles and the biochemistry of cellular events, including signal transduction, transport, protein synthesis, respiration, secretion and tissue organizations. Emphasis is given to experimental designs used in analyzing cellular structures and/or functions.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Spring Semester
The molecular biology of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Topics include gene mapping, diagnostic screening for genetic anomalies, molecular cloning and genetic regulatory mechanisms. Emphasis on current experimental techniques used to map genes and understand gene expression.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 424
Offered
Fall Semester
Prerequisites: BMS 523 and BMS 524. An introduction to animal viruses with emphasis on classification, structure, the molecular biology of replication and biological activity within eukaryotic cells.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 425
Offered
Fall Semester
Lab fee. The biology of microorganisms including morphological, biochemical, genetic, pathogenic and antigenic attributes, with special emphasis on experimental and theoretical aspects of the mechanisms of pathogenicity and virulence.
Credits
3.0
Offered
As Needed
Prerequisite: BMS 523. Theories and mechanism of the immune response, including structure and function of immunoglobulins, antigen-antibody reactions, immunobiology, immunogenetics, immuno-logic enhancement, immunologic protection, immunologic injury, humoral and cell mediated immunity and experimental methods of analysis of antigen-antibody reactions.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 428
Offered
Spring Semester
This course will teach you the basics of modern drug discovery efforts to target human cancers. Students will survey the tools and techniques used for cutting-edge targeted cancer therapies and explore some of the major successes and failures of oncology drug discovery. Students will have an understanding of the process of drug discovery from target identification, through assay development, compound screening, and entry into the clinic, as well as a better idea of the complexity of the process and the many failure modes experienced.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Fall Semester As Needed
Prerequisite: BMS 525. The role of viruses in human infectious diseases and tumor formation; the host response to viral infection and the epidemiology of viral diseases.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Spring Semester As Needed
Prerequisites: BMS 524 or permission of the instructor. Lab fee. This integrated lab-lecture course provides basic concepts and hands-on experience with common molecular genetics and recombinant DNA methods. Topics include techniques for the isolation of DNA and RNA, gene cloning employing plasmid vectors, DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, expression of fusion proteins in E. coli, and web-based analysis of sequence data.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 434
Offered
As Needed
Prerequisite: BMS 523 or permission of instructor
Lab fee. Explore current methods and instrumentation used in molecular biology research. Methods to study DNA, RNA and proteins, such as RNA sequencing, Chip-sequencing, and CRISPR screens in addition to cell culture techniques.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Summer Semester (As Needed)
Prerequisites: BMS 511 and BMS 524 or permission of the instructor. Lab fee. This is a hands-on, applied course that will introduce students to the use of computer software and Web servers in the analysis of biological sequence data (DNA and protein). Topics include: Pairwise and multiple sequence alignment, BLAST, scoring matrices, phylogenetic analysis, DNA sequence analysis and prediction of 2-D and 3-D molecular structures.
Credits
3.0
Cross Listed Courses
Double-numbered course; offered with undergraduate-level
BIOL 437
Offered
Spring Semester
Prerequisite: BMS 528. Lab fee. This combined lecture and laboratory course discusses Ig gene assembly, rearrangements, regulation and expression; T-cell receptors; antigen processing; and advances in antibody engineering. The laboratory exercises cover techniques such as ELISA, immunoblot, hybridoma preparation and evaluation, immunoaffinity chromatography and phage display of antibody fragments.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Fall Semester
Prerequisite: BMS 534 or permission of the instructor. Lab fee. A study of the techniques used in the cloning, analysis and mapping of genomic DNA. Topics include cloning with cosmid, P1 and YAC vectors, techniques used in linkage analysis and the direct detection of genomic polymorphisms, and strategies to prepare genetic and physical maps. The impact of the combined use of genetic and physical maps in biomedicine will be discussed.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Offered As Needed
This course deals with the structure and activity of genetic material at the molecular level. Topics include, but are not confined to, DNA structure and replication, gene expression (transcription and translation), and gene regulation. Students will also apply their knowledge of molecular genetics and molecular biology to real-life biological problems in an introduction to synthetic biology. Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that applied engineering principles in order to create novel biological systems via the design and either synthesis or assembly of artificial or natural components. The goal is to use such systems to solve biological problems.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Offered As Needed
The course considers the ethical dilemmas one could face in a career in science, including how information gained in the research lab is conveyed to the wider scientific audience. Topics included are the peer review process, the patent process, the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee, the FDA’s role in drug approval, the funding of research and the national research prioritization process.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Fall Semester
Prerequisite: BMS 528 or permission of the instructor. A seminar course offering an in-depth investigation of a prescribed area of immunology. Past topics have dealt with AIDS/HIV, cancer and intracellular signaling, all emphasizing the role of the immune response. Emphasis is placed on the use of current literature to develop a thorough understanding of recent advances.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Summer Semester
This course is recommended for students planning to take
BMS 571 and provides students more exposure and experience with reading primary literature. Discussions and presentations on the experimental approaches, techniques, analysis, and future directions will be critical to students' understanding of the literature. Completion of this course prior to the capstone is strongly encouraged.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Offered As Needed
Prerequisite: BMS 511, BMS 523, BMS 524, BMS 537 and Completion of 21 credits of coursework in the BMS program with a 3.0 GPA average, or permission of the instructor.
Students will choose a specific research problem to address in a grant proposal document. The scientific merit of the proposal will be presented to the faculty.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Both Semesters
Prerequisite: permission of the chair of the department. A maximum of 6 credits may be applied to a degree program. (1-3 credits per independent study) Reading and/or research in a selected field. An approved title for the independent study must be submitted with the registration forms.
Credits
1.0 - 3.0
Offered
Either Semester
Supervision of the master’s thesis. Required of all degree candidates who select the thesis option.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Either Semester
Prerequisite: BMS 580A
Completion of the master’s thesis. Required of all degree candidates who select the thesis option.
Credits
3.0
Offered
Either Semester
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. May require a lab fee. A practical course in newer topics, methods and/or instrumentation used in biomedical research. The course is intended not only for graduate students but also for investigators who are interested in learning about topics outside of their own field that can be useful in their research. This can be a lab/lecture or lecture only class, dependent on the topic to be presented.
Credits
3.0
Offered
As Needed
Prerequisites: Permission of Faculty. Practical training relevant to student's course of study at an approved worksite. Eligible students must have completed at least 18 credits have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher. Worksite and project must be approved by BMS Program Director and BMS faculty. A maximum of 3 credits may be applied to a degree program. This course is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
Credits
1.0-3.0
Offered
Both Semesters