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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
2009-2010
Professors: Ishita
Mukerji, Chair (Fall) Donald Oliver
Associate
Professors: Manju Hingorani, Scott Holmes, Michael McAlear, Chair
(Spring)
Assistant Professors: Amy MacQueen, Rich
Olson
Undergraduate
Program
Departmental Advising Experts
2009-2010: All departmental faculty
Department/Program
Home Page
The disciplines of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biophysics focus
on the
molecular mechanisms of
life
processes
using
a variety of genetic, biochemical, and
spectroscopic approaches.
General education courses. The department offers several courses without prerequisites on a rotating basis for nonmajors: e.g.,
Nutrition in Health and Disease (MB&B101)The Science of Human Health (MB&B107); Biology and Chemistry in the Modern World: A
Survey of Drugs and Disease (MB&B119);
Light and Life: Vision, Photosynthesis, DNA, and Melanoma (MB&B109);
Making the Science Documentary (MB&B140);
Science and Film: Defining Human Identity (MB&B202); Copernicus,
Darwin, and the Human Genome Project (MB&B203). The introductory courses for majors (MB&B181 or 195, 182, 191, 192) are also available for students with appropriate backgrounds (see below).
Major requirements.
We recommend that students begin working toward the major in the first year to be able, in later years, to take advantage of upper-level courses and research opportunities. We note, however, that the major can also be started successfully in the sophomore year.
The following courses are required: Principles of Biology I: Cell Biology and Molecular Basis of Heredity
(MB&B181) or Honors Introductory Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics (MB&B195); Principles of Biology II (MB&B182); and the associated laboratories (MB&B191/192);
Molecular Biology (MB&B208);
either Introductory CHEM141 and 142 or (preferably) CHEM143 and 144; Principles of Organic Chemistry I and II (CHEM251 and 252); the
Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM152); Biochemistry (MB&B383); and two upper-level electives in molecular biology and biochemistry (see
below for details).
MB&B381 Physical Chemistry for
the Life Sciences and
one
semester
of mathematics are
also required. MB&B381 can be replaced with either one year of physics or one year of physical chemistry (CHEM337
and 338). Students are also required to take one semester of an advanced laboratory course
(MB&B294
or MB&B395),
generally recommended in either their junior or senior year.
Students who are considering medical
school or graduate school
should know that most programs require laboratories in
organic
chemistry
(CHEM257
and 258), one year of mathematics, and a course in
physical chemistry.
A typical prospective major, as a first-year student, would probably take MB&B181 or 195 for students with stronger backgrounds, 182, 191, and 192 and either CHEM141/142 or CHEM143/144 and the associated laboratory CHEM152. Students with weak scientific backgrounds are encouraged to take CHEM141/142 or 143/144 and 152 as first-year students and defer MB&B181 or 182, 191, 192, 195 until their sophomore year.
Students who prefer a smaller and more interactive classroom environment
should consider registering for one of the smaller sections of MB&B181.
In the second year, MB&B208 along with CHEM251/252
can
be taken. Students are also encouraged to take a seminar course (Research Frontiers in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, MB&B209) in the
spring
of the first or
sophomore year.
A typical
major might then take Biochemistry (MB&B383) and an upper-level elective in the junior year and the second elective in the senior year. Two electives are required. One of the electives must be a
300-level MB&B
course. The second may be an MB&B course or an approved course from the Biology or Chemistry departments.
Two consecutive semesters of research for credit (in the same laboratory) (MB&B421/422) with an MB&B faculty member
(or a preapproved faculty member in another department conducting research in molecular biology/biochemistry/biophysics) can also be
substituted
for the second
elective.
If a 200-level elective
or research for elective credit is taken, the second elective must be at the 300-level.
Approved courses outside MB&B that can be taken for elective credit include BIOL218 and BIOL323 (if BIOL323 is used for elective credit, then students must
choose MB&B395 for their required advanced lab).
Majors who are interested in a concentration in molecular biology should take MB&B294. MB&B294 is offered in the spring semester and can be taken either in the junior or senior year.
Students
who are interested in a concentration or certificate (see below)
in molecular biophysics should take MB&B395 in the fall semester in either their junior or senior year.
Please note that if you are
interested in taking MB&B395,
you
must
plan ahead because
it is
taught
every other
year.
Details regarding the molecular biophysics Certificate Program are
given below and at the
certificate
Website.
Students are strongly encouraged to pursue
independent research. Independent research is a highly valuable experience
for proper scientific training and it can enhance a student's application to graduate, medical,
or other professional schools.
Research provides a completely different dimension of experience, enabling the student to interact with graduate students and faculty members on a professional level. The research interests of the faculty include a wide variety of topics in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, and molecular biophysics, a description of which can be found on the Web at
the
MB&B Website
and in the departmental office (Room 205, Hall-Atwater).
In conjunction with the Biology Department, the department sponsors a seminar series Thursdays at noon at which distinguished scientists from other institutions present their research. There is also a Wednesday evening Seminar in Biological Chemistry (MB&B587/588) for which credit may be obtained.
Upper-level undergraduates are encouraged to take graduate-level courses and seminars. Undergraduates who choose to do research in a faculty member’s laboratory usually interact closely with the graduate students in that laboratory.
Honors in molecular biology and biochemistry. To be considered for departmental honors, a student must
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Be a MB&B major and be recommended to the department by a faculty member. It is expected that the student will have a B average (grade-point average 85) in courses credited to the major.
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Submit either a research thesis, based upon laboratory research, or a library thesis, based upon library research, carried out under the supervision of a member of the department.
Certificate
program in molecular biophysics Molecular biophysics at Wesleyan is an interdisciplinary program supported by the departments of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Physics. To receive a
certificate
in molecular biophysics, students should major in either the
Chemistry or MB&B departments. Interested students need to
take MB&B395 Structural Biology Laboratory,
MB&B381
or
CHEM337
and 338,
and two upper-level elective
courses in molecular biophysics. Students are also encouraged to join the weekly Molecular Biophysics Journal Club (MB&B307/308). Students are
also strongly encouraged to conduct independent research in the laboratory of a
faculty member in the Molecular Biophysics program.
If students are interested in a certificate
in molecular biophysics, they should contact Professor I. Mukerji.
Certificate
program in Integrative Genomic Sciences (IGS) An integrative program of undergraduate and graduate offerings in bioinformatics, genomics, computational biology, and bioethics,
the integrative genomic science program is intrinsically interdisciplinary, involving faculty and students in
the
life sciences,
physical sciences, information sciences, and philosophy.
Please see the certificate program Website for current and planned
courses. The IGS program is supported by grants from the W. M
.
Keck Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and
the Fund for Innovation Grants from Wesleyan University.
Graduate Program
The MB&B Department supports a graduate
program with
emphasis
in molecular genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and molecular biophysics.The MB&B graduate program is designed to lead to the degree of doctor of philosophy. A master of arts degree is awarded only under special circumstances.
The department currently has 20 graduate students in the department, and the graduate program is an integral part of the departmental offerings. Graduate students serve as teaching assistants in undergraduate courses,
generally during their first two years.
The emphasis of the program is on an intensive research experience culminating in a dissertation. The program of study also includes a series of courses covering the major areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics; journal clubs in which current research is discussed in an informal setting; practica designed to introduce first-year students to the research interests of the faculty; and several seminar series in which
either graduate students or distinguished outside speakers participate. The low student-faculty ratio (2.5:1) allows programs to be individually designed and ensures close contact between the student and the faculty.
A
certificate
in molecular biophysics supported by a training grant
from the National Institutes of Health is available for students with
interest in both the physical and life sciences.
Requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy
Courses. Ideally, incoming students will have completed courses in general biology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry,
and calculus. Deficiencies in any of these areas would normally be made up in the first year. A core curriculum of graduate courses in the following areas is given on a two-year cycle: nucleic acid structure, biosynthesis and its regulation, regulation of gene expression,
regulation of chromosome dynamics, structural mechanisms and energetics of protein-nucleic-acid interactions, protein structure and folding, protein trafficking in cells, physical techniques, molecular genetics, the cell cycle, biological spectroscopy,
bioinformatics and functional gemomics, and molecular, biochemical, and cellular bases of cancer and other human diseases. Additional graduate course electives are also available. Within this general framework,
an individual program of study tailored to fit the student’s background and
interests is designed in consultation with the graduate committee and the student’s advisor.
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Qualifying examinations. The criteria for admission to candidacy for the PhD will be performance in courses, aptitude for research, a written qualifying examination at the end of the third semester, and the oral defense of an original research proposal by the middle of the fourth semester.
Teaching. Normally, three to four semesters of teaching are required.
Research interests of the department. Control of DNA replication; mechanism of protein secretion;
global regulations of ribosomal biogenesis in the yeast
S. cerevisiae; mechanisms of DNA replication and repair; protein-protein and protein-nucleic-acid interactions; the structural dynamics of nucleic acids and proteins; chromosome structure and gene expression;
UV resonance Raman spectroscopy of biological macromolecules; biological
assembly mechanisms; protein fiber formation in disease; enzyme mechanisms; the olfactory system' and new frontiers in genome research;
elucidation of membrane protein function by X-ray crystallography.
.
Molecular biophysics
The departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry offer an interdepartmental
certificate
in molecular biophysics
supported by a training grant from the National Institutes of Health. This program is designed to prepare students for research and careers that combine interests in the physical and life sciences. Interested students are encouraged to consult David Beveridge or Irina Russu in the Chemistry Department or Manju Hingorani or Ishita Mukerji in the MB&B Department.
Last updated:
May 20, 2009.
Contact
wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions.
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