Courses

Molecular Biology Courses

Metabolism and Cell Biology Courses

Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry Courses

Journal Clubs and Seminars

Laboratory and Other Courses

Molecular Biology Courses

The course will emphasize biochemical and genetic approaches to understanding vertebrate and particularly mammalian molecular biology, moving from the basic processes of replication, transcription and protein synthesis to signal transduction, the cell cycle, cancer, genomics and developmental genetics.

Course Coordinator: Philip J. Laipis, Ph.D.
Phone: 392-6870
E-mail: plaipis@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6415 Advanced Molecular and Cell Biology
3 credits, Fall semester only

An advanced course in the molecular biology of pro- and eukaryotic organisms, with an emphasis on understanding the experimental approaches which have led to recent developments in the field. Topics include chromosome structure and organization, advances in recombinant DNA technology, DNA replication, RNA transcription and protein synthesis, and selected aspects of the molecular regulation of gene expression. Students who have performed well in one of the following courses, BCH 4024, CHM 4207, or MCB 4303, should be adequately prepared for this course. PCB 3063 or a similar course in genetics will be helpful. Students lacking these prerequisites can be admitted with consent of instructor. For more detailed information, link to BCH 6415.

Course Coordinator: Philip J. Laipis, Ph.D.
Room: R2-254
Phone: 392-6870
E-mail: plaipis@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 7410 Advanced Gene Regulation
1 credit, Spring semester only.

This course will served as a literature-based assessment of the most recent advances in factors governing eucaryotic gene regulation. This course will consist of a series of faculty lectures, group discussions and student presentations at the level of original research papers. 

Course Coordinator: Brian D. Cain, Ph.D.
Room: R3-254
Phone: 392-6473
E-mail: bcain@biochem.med.ufl.edu
 
 

Metabolism and Cell Biology Courses

The reactions of intermediary metabolism with emphasis upon their integration, mechanism. and control. One of the three core departmental courses.

Course Coordinator: Susan C. Frost, Ph.D.
Room: R3-216A
Phone: 392-3207
E-mail: sfrost@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6207 Advanced Metabolism: Role of Membranes in Signal Transduction and Metabolic Control
1 credit, Fall semester only

Fundamentals of membrane biochemistry. The course will include discussions of membrane structure, nutrient and ion transport, protein targeting, signal transduction. Students will learn experimental methods and techniques used to gather and analyze data related to membrane biochemistry and its regulation.

Course Coordinator: Susan C. Frost, Ph.D.
Room: R3-216A
Phone: 392-3207
E-mail: sfrost@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6208 Advanced Metabolism: Regulation of Key Reactions in Carbohydrate and
Lipid Metabolism
1 credit Fall semester only

Lectures will emphasize key reactions in the metabolic pathways of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism with special attention to the exploration of the experimental basis for our current understanding of these processes. Understanding of the interactions between major metabolic pathways and control of these pathways under different physiological conditions are central themes of the course.

Course Coordinator: Susan C. Frost, Ph.D.
Room: R3-216A
Phone: 392-3207
E-mail: sfrost@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6209 Advanced Metabolism: Regulation of Key Reactions in Amino Acid and Nucleotide Metabolism
1 credit, Fall semester only

Lectures will emphasize key reactions in the metabolic pathways of amino acid and nucleotide metabolism with special attention to understanding interactions between major metabolic pathways and control of these pathways under different physiological conditions. Special emphasis will be placed on the structural basis of enzyme function and regulation.

Course Coordinator: Charles M. Allen, Ph.D.
Room: R3-226B
Phone: 392-3366
E-mail: callen@biochem.med.ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6296 Nutrient Control of Gene Expression: Application to Metabolic Diseases
1 credit
 
 

Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry Courses

Physical chemistry of biological molecules and the techniques for their study. Constitutes one of the three core departmental courses.

Course Coordinator: Daniel L. Purich, Ph.D.
Room: R3-126
Phone: 392-1546
E-Mail: dlpurich@biochem.med.ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6746 Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry: Macromolecular Structure, Dynamics, and Interactions
1 credit, Spring semester only

This module will provide instruction in experimental approaches to biological macromolecular structure determination, with emphasis on current understanding of protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid structure motifs, dynamics and aspects of protein folding.

Course Coordinator: Thomas H. Mareci, Ph.D.
Room: LG-183
Phone: 394-0122
E-mail: thmareci@ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6747 Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry: Spectroscopy and
Hydrodynamics
1 credit, Spring semester only 

The first half of the class will focus on the application of spectroscopic techniques (circular dichroism, fluorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance) to determine the structure of biological macromolecules. The second half will cover hydrodynamic approaches including light scattering, molecular diffusion, viscosity and ultracentrifugation.

Course Coordinator: Robert J. Cohen, Ph.D.
Room: R3-206B
Phone: 392-4050
E-mail: rjcohen@college.med.ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 7515 Structural Biology/Advanced Physical Biochemistry: Kinetics and Thermodynamics
1 credit, Spring semester only

This module will provide the student with the fundamentals of chemical kinetics and thermodynamic analysis of equilibria.  The emphasis will be the application of this knowledge to our understanding of  basic enzyme kinetics, pulse-chase kinetics, protein polymerization, DNA dynamics, protein-nucleic acid interactions and cooperative ligand binding.

Course Coordinator: Daniel L. Purich, Ph.D.
Room: R3-126
Phone: 392-1546
E-Mail: dlpurich@biochem.med.ufl.edu
 
 

Journal Clubs and Seminars

Literature of membrane biology, presented by students and faculty, discussed in depth. Emphasis is on current developments, data interpretation and critical analysis. Classes are held informally in small groups.
 
 

BCH 6877 Recent Advances in Structural Biology Journal Club
1 credit, Fall and Spring semesters

Literature on structural biology, presented by students and faculty, discussed in depth. Emphasis is on current developments, data interpretation and critical analysis. Classes are held informally in small groups.

Course Coordinator: A.S. Edison, Ph.D.
Room: LG-187
Phone: 392-4535
E-mail: art@ascaris.health.ufl.edu
 
 

BCH 6878 Recent Advances in Cytoskeletal Processes Journal Club
1 credit, Fall and Spring semesters

Literature on cytoskeletal processes, presented by students and 

Biochemical research in which the student refines research techniques in physical biochemistry intermediary metabolism, molecular biology and cell biology under the supervision of a staff member.
 
 

BCH 6910 Supervised Research
1-5 credits, each semester

Open only to departmental graduate students.
 
 

B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Undergraduate Courses

LECTURE BASED COURSES

RESEARCH BASED COURSES

BMS 4905: Medical Sciences Senior Research
1-5 credits offered every semester (Open to undergraduate students in general)