Advanced Topics in Cell Biology

Cell Signal Transduction

Proper intracellular signaling is critical to cell growth and differentiation, and dysregulation of signal transduction underlies a wide variety of human disorders. This course will examine various signal transduction pathways utilized by eukaryotes. A different pathway will be discussed each week, with special emphasis on the biological role(s) of the pathway in cell growth and function. Research papers highlighting one or more aspects of the signal pathway will be assigned for student presentation.
Catalog number: BBS722
Course Coordinator: Stephen Jones
Semester Offered: Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2013

Cancer Biology

This course provides students with a rigorous and comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the genesis and progression of human cancers. It builds on the basic science knowledge acquired in the core curriculum and the appreciation of cancer as a disease obtained from the Pathology and Cancer Medicine courses. The salient topics covered include stem cells, oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, tumor-host interactions, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. A major theme of the course is to integrate the biology of cancer with the clinical behavior of tumors. Faculty from the Department of Cancer Biology and other basic science departments participate in the teaching of this course.
Catalog number: BBS725
Course Coordinator: Arthur Mercurio
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Fall 2011

Principles of Light and Electron Microscopy

This course covers principles and applications of microscopy in biomedical research for graduate students at all levels. Demonstrations and laboratory exercises will be incorporated into some blocks of instruction. This course is designed to teach the biologist how microscopes work and how to optimize image quality. 
Catalog number: BBS732
Course Coordinator: Michael Sanderson
Semester Offered: Spring, Odd Years
Last Taught: Spring 2013

Cytoskeleton and Disease

This course focuses on functions of actin- and microtubule-based cytoskeleton systems in the context of human disease, organized as a series of seminars with presentations by students and faculty. Discussions will include how molecular information contributes to diagnosis and treatment of disease and how clinical phenotypes elucidate protein functioning in whole organisms. 
Catalog number: BBS733
Course Coordinator: Elizabeth Luna
Semester Offered: Fall, Odd Years
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Nuclear Structure and Function in Disease

This course encompasses the relationship of nuclear and chromatin structure to gene function and regulation. Topics will be chosen from the recent research literature to illustrate molecular and cellular aspects of nuclear organization and regulation and how defects contribute to human disease. The format includes student presentations and faculty-student discussions of selected research papers. 
Catalog number: BBS734
Course Coordinator: Anthony Imbalzano
Semester Offered: Spring, Even Years
Last Taught: Fall 2011

Human Genetics

This course focuses strictly on human and clinically relevant genetics with emphasis on the basic underlying scientific mechanisms and concepts. Chromosomal, single gene, multifactorial and non-mendelian inheritance, as well as cancer genetics and human genomics will be covered. Problem solving will involve clinical, molecular and statistical data. A framework for understanding a fast-growing and highly technical field, and an appreciation of how current research impacts diagnostic, prenatal and pre-symptomatic testing, genetic screening and therapy, will be provided. This is a Medical School course. Approval of instructor required for registration. 
Catalog number: BBS736
Course Coordinator: Beverly Hay
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Fall 2012

Mammalian Development and Stem Cells

The potential of stem cells in therapeutic applications has ignited a fiercely competitive field of research aimed at the isolation, maintenance and differentiation of stem cells into specific pathways of differentiation. The use of stem cells in clinical application, however, requires an understanding of the molecular and cellular and epigenetic events that transform pluripotent cells into differentiated ones. Mammalian embryogenesis can be conceived as a sequence of developmental decisions that result in progressive restriction in cell potency. In this course we will use the cellular and molecular mechanisms of mammalian development as a framework for understanding the origin and differentiation of multiple pluripotent cells and their role in stem cell research and human disease.
Catalog number: BBS737
Course Coordinator: Jaime Rivera
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Fall 2012

Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

This course encompasses current research in important areas of eukaryotic gene regulation. The goals are two-fold: to improve skills in reading, presenting, discussing and critically analyzing research articles, and to obtain an up-to-date understanding of some key topics in eukaryotic gene regulation. Format involves student presentations and faculty-student discussions. 
Catalog number: BBS738
Course Coordinator: Michael Green
Semester Offered: Spring, Even Years
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Developmental Biology

This course concentrates on salient papers in areas of developmental biology that are presently under intensive investigation. Probable topics to be covered include maternal inheritance, establishment of the body plan, cell-cell signaling, neurogenesis, limb development and left-right asymmetries. The organisms that are used most extensively for these investigations, including Drosophila, zebrafish, Xenopus, C. elegans and the mouse, will be emphasized. 
Catalog number: BBS739
Course Coordinator: Michael Brodsky
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years

Quantitative Informatics in Biology and Medicine

The goal of this course is to introduce GSBS graduate students to the informatics approaches spanning bioinformatics to medical informatics and epidemiology. The course is structured in 5 week sections covering fundamentals of bioinformatics, applications of bioinformatics and genomics, and clinical research informatics. 
Catalog number: BBS785
Course Coordinator: David Lapointe
Semester Offered: Fall
Last Taught: Fall 2012

Disruption of Cellular Architecture and Human Disease

This course explores the relationships between basic cellular structures, components and processes, from the membrane through the cytoplasm and into the nucleus, and human diseases. Topics will be chosen from the recent literature to illustrate molecular and cellular aspects of cellular architecture and how defects contribute to disease. The format includes student presentations and faculty-student discussions of selected research papers. Topically, this new course represents a fusion of the existing Nuclear Structure and Disease (BBS734) and Cytoskeleton and Disease (BBS733) courses that are offered by the Cell Biology program.
Catalog number: BBS788
Course Coordinator: Hong Zhang
Semester Offered: Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012

Cancer Medicine and Therapeutics

This course is designed to familiarize students with clinical aspects of cancer etiology, diagnosis, treatment and survival. The level of instruction is geared such that clinical background knowledge is not required, but provided where absolutely needed. Where possible, tie-ins with basic science and molecular mechanisms are included. Faculty are based out of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Divisions of the Department of Medicine, and include guest lecturers from nearby institutions where specific expertise is required or desirable. Curriculum includes the following topics: Cancer as a Human Disease (definitions, statistics and epidemiology; psychosocial impact); Concepts of Cancer Medicine (diagnosis, staging, therapeutics and chemoprevention); and Introduction to Medical Oncology (disease-specific epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment). 
Catalog number: BBS830
Course Coordinator: Steven Grossman
Semester Offered: Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2011

Tutorials, Seminars, and Journal Clubs

Cell Dynamics and Development Journal Club

The Cell Dynamics Journal Club covers molecular mechanisms underlying the movements of cells and organelles; morphology, proteomics, and mutagenesis of functional cytoskeletal structures; and the dynamics of actin-, microtubule- and intermediate filament-associated proteins. Related signaling mechanisms and disease processes--including those associated with muscular dystrophies, developmental abnormalities, and the formation and spread of tumors--also are appropriate. To obtain course credit, students read and help discuss the papers covered during the semester and present a paper of their choice. Grades are based on participation and the presentation. The course coordinator and other faculty members in the Cell Dynamics Group guide students through the process, as needed, and provide scientific feedback. This journal club meets throughout the academic year and can be taken for credit either Fall or Spring semester. Auditors welcome. 
Catalog number: BBS802
Course Coordinator: Elizabeth Luna
Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2010

Seminar in Cell Biology

Seminar series in Developmental, Cell and Molecular Biology.
Catalog number: BBS811
Course Coordinator: Jane Lian
Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2011

Tutorial in Cell Biology

Tutorial arranged with individual faculty. 
Catalog number: BBS842
Course Coordinator: Anthony Imbalzano
Semester Offered: Fall, Spring and Summer
Last Taught: Has not been taught within past 2 years