CHEM 1377: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Abstract

General description: The course combines lecture and lab and is intended to provide a new experience for students by employing a research-based approach, which combines lectures, assignments, lab experiments, data analysis and student presentations. At the beginning of the course, the students will be introduced to new principles (via lectures) and new methods/instruments (in the lab). As the course progresses, the students will be more hands-on in the lab by designing their own experiments in light of their hypotheses and conducting the experiments by themselves.¶ Each week will include a combination of lecture and lab in various capacities, depending on the subject learned that week (see table below) and on the students’ progress.¶ The course will give students tools to measure and analyze biophysical processes, such as crystallization, nucleation, diffusion, fluorescence, bio-luminescence, protein expression and more. Students will use fluorescence microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, temperature-controlled stages, luminometry, chromatography and electrophoresis, and a combination of these techniques to measure and study the biophysical processes.¶ Objectives: By the end of this course, students will be able to:¶ 1. Use unique laboratory techniques such as microscopy, calorimetry and cold-stages. 2. Measure the activity of biological molecules. 3. Analyze quantitative data and present their results. 4. Use the concepts learned to independently solve problems in the lab. 5. Experience Interdisciplinary research by combining biology, chemistry and physics principles.