PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY SCIENCES (Biol 10504)
This is a freshman level course for biology majors. It is a prerequisite for all the upper level biology courses. Students generally take this class in the first semester (Fall) of their freshman year. The second part of this course (Biol 10514) is offered in the spring semester. The topics covered in the course will include an overview of the major principles of basic cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology and genetics. In addition to these concepts, you will also be exposed to the history behind these ideas and the factors that led to the development and discovery of these principles. By the end of the semester, you will demonstrate a basic understanding of these principles as well as an understanding of some of the general methods of investigation in the natural sciences. To this end, you will be exposed to some of the important experiments that led to the discovery of fundamental biological processes, e.g., the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA. You will look at the data obtained in the classical experiments and follow the reasoning that led to the formulations of the basic principles underpinning molecular and cellular biology. Where applicable, the course will also relate the principles discussed in class to the general areas of human health. You will also be exposed to some of the ethical questions that are raised by new technological developments in biology.

Textbook: Biology, 7th Edition, by Campbell and Reece. Published by Pearson/ Benjamin Cummings

CELL, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (Biol 30603)
This is a team-taught course co-coordinated by Dr. Phil Hartman. Among the older and wiser Juniors and Seniors it is also referred to as "freshman biology on steroids." It is an in depth survey of the topics indicated in the course title. I teach the molecular biology aspects of this course, including a section on Cell Communication/ Cell Signaling.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF EUKARYOTES (Biol 40133)
This is an upper level lecture and laboratory course. It is a survey of current topics in eukaryotic molecular biology with an emphasis on human molecular biology. The course will begin with an overview and refresher on the basic concepts in molecular biology. This will be followed by a discussion of specific topics in molecular and cellular biology using current research papers. These topics include, RNAi, Proteasomes/ ubiquitination, Apoptosis, CML- the Gleevec story, Small molecule control of gene expression, Bacteriophage Lambda, Enhanceosomes: Combinatorial control of gene expression and Cancer. In addition, you will be expected to read and present papers, using PowerPoint, describing recent discoveries related to the topics discussed in class.

MBOE Laboratory: The laboratory is set up to learn and demonstrate the tools and techniques used in biotechnology. You will start by learning basic bioinformatics tools: data mining and gene and protein analysis using GenBank and BLAST programs. This will be followed by the ‘wet’ portion of the lab, where you will learn to amplify DNA, purify it and insert it into an expression vector. You will purify proteins from these expression vectors and express these proteins in mammalian cells. Some of the techniques you will learn include, PCR, electro-elution, transformation, ligation, western blot, DNA preparation, induction of protein expression in bacteria, column purification of proteins, restriction analysis of DNA, mammalian cell culture and transfection of mammalian cells with DNA to express proteins.

Goals: I) To become familiar with the principles and practice of molecular biology techniques used in research and biotechnology. II) To learn to keep careful notes on the procedures carried out in the laboratory.

Textbook: Genes VIII by Benjamin Lewin, Publisher: Pearson/Prentice Hall (2004) (This textbook will be used as a general guide. A significant portion of the material covered in the class will come from current research literature. Handouts will be used to cover the material not addressed in the text.)

VIROLOGY (BIOL 40603)
A survey of virology, diseases caused by viruses, the molecular biology of the virus life cycle, and gene therapy using viral vectors. In addition we will also discuss prions and prion diseases. By the end of the course you will be able to differentiate a bacteria from a virus, be familiar with the life cycles of DNA and RNA viruses and understand the relationship between the virus and its host as well as the diseases caused by viruses. Again we will read papers from current journals. Students will present these papers using PowerPoint.

Textbook: Viruses and Human Disease, J. H. Strauss and E. G. Strauss, Academic Press 2002. The book will be used as a general guide. Handouts will be used to cover material not addressed in the text.