SPRING 2009 (BIOBM 7940)

Sec. 001 (Course ID # 12554)  Instructor: Paul Soloway.  Methods and Applications of Epigenomic Analyses.  Organizational Meeting:  TBA.
Epigenetic modifications to the genome include DNA methylation, a  host of covalent modifications of histones and the positioning of nucleosomes on DNA.  Remodeling of epigenetic states in the genome is increasingly recognized as a fundamental process influencing normal development and one that can go awry influencing disease states.  This minicourse will examine methods to characterize epigenetic states in the genome and their application.  Some of the discussion will  overlap with the content of BioGD/NS 6080.

Sec. 002 (Course ID # 12555)  Instructor:  Jun Kelly Liu.  The Organization and Functions of the Nuclear Envelope.  Organization Meeting:  January 21, 3-4 PM, 180 Biotech Bldg.
We will discuss the dynamic organization and various functions of the nuclear envelope, especially in light of various genetic diseases caused by mutations in genes encoding nuclear proteins. 

Sec. 003 (Course ID # 13007):  Instructor:  Jeff Roberts.  Enzymatic Mechanisms of Transcription.  Organization Meeting:  TBA.
We will discuss recent structural, biochemical, and biophysical studies of the activity of RNA polymerase.  The focus will be mainly but not exclusively on bacterial RNA polymerase and its regulatory proteins.

Please note BioGD7800 course of interest to BMCB students:

BioGD7800.  Sec. 1.  Instructor:   W. Lee Kraus.    Career Options for Ph.D.s in the Life Sciences.  (1 credit, S/U only).  This course will present a variety of career options for those earning doctoral degrees in the life sciences, including non-traditional career options.  Invited speakers from a broad spectrum of professions will provide first hand accounts of their backgrounds, training and career paths, professional responsibilities, and perspectives on their chosen careers.  Students in the course will participate by asking questions during the meeting sessions and by hosting the speakers for meals and/or social hours. The course will likely have six to eight sessions, one per week, each with one to three speakers.   The course will meet once during the first week of classes to review the schedule of meeting times for the rest of the semester and to select the student hosts.

FALL 2008: (BIOBM 7940): 

Sec. 1 (Course ID # 15851):  Instructor:  Tony Bretscher, Organizing the Cell with the Cytoskeleton.  Organizational Mtg:  9/18/08, 5:00 pm, 421 Weill Hall.
The goal of this course is to discuss some specific cases of how the cytoskeleton, especially microfilaments, contributes to the organization and functioning of cells. I propose to lead a discussion of selected topics from an historical perspective. The first class will be a full-length lecture. The three other classes will consist of a 45 minute lecture and papers assigned to students for discussion. The latter three classes may run over the projected time slot.
October 2: A general overview of microfilaments, microtubules and their motors to review the basic principles.  Roughly at the advanced text-book level so that we are all on the same page.
October 7:  How nucleation of actin by formins contributes to cell function.
October 9:  Myosin-Vs from mice to yeast: the best studied unconventional myosin.
October 14:  How the Arp2/3 complex moves Listeria and drives endocytosis.
Grading:  This is an S/U course. Students will be required to discuss an assigned paper, and then write a one page proposal on future experimental approaches to the problem.
Meeting times and places:

Thursday October 2, 5:30-7:00 in Room 421 Weill Hall
Tuesday October 7, 5:00-6:30 in Room 321 Weill Hall
Thursday October 9, 5:00-6:30 in Room 421 Weill Hall
Tuesday October 14, 5:00-6:30 in Room 421 Weill Hall

Sec. 2 (Course ID #15852):  Instructor:  Tom Fox:  Zen and the Art of Mitochondrial Genetics.  Organizational Mtg:  10/16/08, 5:30 pm, 180 Biotech.

Sec. 3 (Course ID #15853):  Instructor:  Brian Crane:  Scattering and Diffraction by Macromolecules.  Organizational Mtg:  9/22/08, 4:00pm, 371 Biotech.
Course will be an overview of light scattering and diffraction methods and their use with respect to structural biology. Focus will be placed on X-ray crystallography, light scattering and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Appropriate for students not directly pursuing structural studies in their graduate work but who are interested in understanding the physical principles underlying diffraction/scattering and how to evaluate macromolecular structural information. The course will also serve as a good introduction to those beginning research in structural biology labs. As a component of the workshop we will collect diffraction data at the CHESS synchrotron and attempt a structure determination from a novel protein crystal.

• Session 1: The Basics of Light Scattering and Diffraction
• Session 2: Crystals and Symmetry
• Session 3: Phase Determination
• Session 4: Structure Refinement and Evaluation
• Session 5: Solution Scattering, Molecular Weights and More
• Session 6: Analyzing SAXS Data – Generating Molecular Envelopes

SPRING 2009:  

Sec. 1.  Instructor:   W. Lee Kraus.    Career Options for Ph.D.s in the Life Sciences.  (1 credit, S/U only).  This course will present a variety of career options for those earning doctoral degrees in the life sciences, including non-traditional career options.  Invited speakers from a broad spectrum of professions will provide first hand accounts of their backgrounds, training and career paths, professional responsibilities, and perspectives on their chosen careers.  Students in the course will participate by asking questions during the meeting sessions and by hosting the speakers for meals and/or social hours. The course will likely have six to eight sessions, one per week, each with one to three speakers.   The course will meet once during the first week of classes to review the schedule of meeting times for the rest of the semester and to select the student hosts.

FALL 2008:

Sec. 1.  Instructor:  David M. Lin.   MBG Friday Seminar Discussion Class.  Organizational Meeting, Thursday, August 28, 3:00 pm, Room 180 Biotech.  This class will cover research performed in the laboratories of speakers in the fall MBG seminar series.  Students will present and discuss research articles suggested by the seminar speakers.  If you can't make it to this organizational meeting but want to participate, please contact Dave Lin at dml45@cornell.edu. 

Sec. 2.  Instructors:  Mariana Wolfner, Laura Sirot, and Andy Clark.  Sperm Use Patterns.  First meeting Tuesday, September 2, 2:30-4:00pm

Sec. 3.  Instructor:  Andy Clark

FALL 2018: Mariana Wolfner 

FALL 2018: David Deitcher
SPRING 2019:  Andy Clark