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The oldest graduate programs at The University of Texas at Dallas are found in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Those in Biology, Physics, and Geosciences are direct outgrowths of the research programs of the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies, the predecessor of the university. The newer programs, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences (including Statistics), and Science Education, share with the others commitments to excellence in scholarship and to the application of knowledge. The Doctor of Chemistry program is unique to this university.
General Course
SCI 6201 Scientific Writing (2 semester hours) Lectures and workshop on the principles of clear scientific exposition and the requirements for preparation of scientific papers for publication. Normally taken by students about to begin writing a thesis or dissertation. (P/F grading) (2-0)
Professors: Rockford K. Draper, Donald M. Gray, Franklyn G. Jenifer, Ronald E. Yasbin
Associate Professors: Gail A.M. Breen, John G. Burr, Ernest M. Hannig, Stephen D. Levene, Robert C. Marsh, Dennis L. Miller, Lawrence J. Reitzer
Assistant Professors: Jeff L. DeJong, Santosh R. D’Mello, Juan E. González
Senior Lecturers: Vincent P. Cirillo, Penelope A. Colbaugh
The Graduate Program offers training in those aspects of molecular and cell biology that are the bases of modern biological and biomedical sciences.
The Master of Science degree is designed for students who wish to learn the methodology of research in molecular and cell biology and the fundamentals of problem solving in these areas.
The Master of Science degree without thesis is intended for students who wish to acquire a working knowledge of biotechnology, for other students who seek to gain knowledge of modern biology without the intent to seek positions as technical laboratory personnel, and for those students who are seeking additional preparation for admission to professional schools.
The Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Science Education with a specialization in Biology is designed to strengthen the knowledge of high school teachers in fundamental aspects of biology and to bring them up to date on advances in this rapidly developing field. The M.A.T. program may be used to meet the requirements for the Professional Teaching Certificate. For further information on this program and for course descriptions, see the Science/Mathematics Education section of this catalog.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in Molecular and Cell Biology is appropriate for students who show a potential for originality in research and is designed to develop a critical and analytical understanding of current developments which will enable them to keep abreast of the rapid advances that are likely to occur in the biological and biomedical fields.
The M.S. and Ph.D. degree plans offer students the opportunity to prepare for academic careers in colleges and universities including medical and dental schools, and for careers in industrial, hospital, public health, environmental and governmental laboratories and organizations.
Specializations
First-year students will normally complete a body of core courses (see page 148) which emphasize fundamental aspects of biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Students may then proceed to advanced course work in any of these four general areas. All elective courses are open to all qualified students as recommended by their supervising committees. First year students are also encouraged to participate in rotations through research laboratories.
In the second year, research is initiated under the supervision of one or more of the Molecular and Cell Biology faculty. The faculty and their research interests are listed below. Prospective students should recognize that it is possible to do research in closely related areas not mentioned in this list, provided a faculty member is prepared to supervise the work.
Gail A.M. Breen, Isolation and characterization of the genes that code for proteins of the mammalian mitochondrion; mitochondrial biogenesis; eukaryotic gene regulation.
John G. Burr, Eukaryotic growth regulation; mechanism of viral oncogenic transformation.
Jeff L. DeJong, Eukaryotic transcription; initiation and activation of RNA polymerase II.
Rockford K. Draper, Membrane traffic; somatic cell genetics; protein toxins.
Juan E. González, Role of exopolysaccharides in nodulation of legumes by rhizobia; molecular genetics of plant-microbe interactions.
Donald M. Gray, Study of nucleic acids and protein-nucleic acid complexes by UV circular dichroism spectroscopy.
Ernest M. Hannig, Control of protein synthesis; genetic and biochemical analysis of translation initiation factors; protein-protein interactions.
Stephen D. Levene, Structure and dynamics of nucleic acids and nucleic acid-protein complexes in solution.
Robert C. Marsh, Molecular architecture and function of nuclear and nucleolar matrices and of mitochondrial and chloroplast nucleoids.
Dennis L. Miller, Structure and organization of mitochondrial DNA; mitochondrial gene expression; RNA editing; mitochondrial biogenesis.
Lawrence J. Reitzer, Regulation of gene expression and metabolism in prokaryotes.
Ronald E. Yasbin, Microbial genetics and pathogenic mechanisms; gene regulation among oral streptococci; SOS system of B. subtilis.
Major items of equipment used by the faculty and available for graduate student research include a Philips 400 electron microscope with Gatan cryo-stage; a Zeiss EM 10CA electron microscope; a Zeiss fluorescence microscope; ultracentrifuges; Applied Biosystems DNA Synthesizer; Joyce-Loebl and LKB-laser microdensitometers; Coulter counters; high-pressure liquid chromatography units; f scintillation counters; gamma counters; spectrophotometers; photon-counting spectrofluorometer; spectropolarimeters; and a Molecular Dynamics Phosor Imager. Thermal cyclers for polymerase chain reaction experiments and microcomputers with access to sequence analysis programs and nucleic acid data banks are also available for student use. In addition, Silicon Graphics workstations with Biosym and Polygen software, molecular modeling studies, and a GE 500 MHz FT multinuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer are located on campus and are available for student research.
There is a modern research animal housing facility and there are complete facilities for mammalian cell culture and virus propagation in the Molecular and Cell Biology Program. Other shared biology facilities include a darkroom with an automated x-ray film developer, environmental chambers, radioactive "hot-rooms," computer application rooms, a staffed media kitchen with autoclaves and washing machines, and
an electronics workshop. In addition to the Eugene McDermott Library, the program has its own library, located near the research area.
The University’s general admission requirements are discussed beginning on page 22.
For full participation in the Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, the student should have a good background in calculus, general physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and general biology, including genetics. Entering students not having this background should take some additional course work in their first year or in the summer immediately preceding entry. A minimum GRE score of 1000 (verbal plus quantitative) is required for admission.
The University’s general degree requirements are discussed beginning on page 26.
Upon satisfactory completion of the core courses (and, for Ph.D. candidates, the written preliminary examination), a Supervising Committee is appointed for each student, except non-thesis M.S. students, based upon mutual agreement between student and faculty. The Supervising Committee, with the Supervising Professor as chairperson, will help the student plan an elective course curriculum and will oversee the student’s research and thesis or dissertation.
All students seeking the Master of Science degree in Biology must satisfactorily complete a total of at least 42 graduate semester hours which must include the following core courses: BIO 5410, BIO 5420, BIO 5430, BIO 5440, BIO 5350, and BIO 5351.
M.S. students intending to submit a thesis must, in addition to the core courses specified above, satisfactorily complete a further 20 hours of Biology courses including BIO 6193 and BIO 8398. These usually reflect experimental research but may also be based on literature research as determined by mutual agreement of the student and Supervising Committee.
M.S. (non-thesis) students must, in addition to the core courses specified, satisfactorily complete BIO 5352-5652, seven hours of Biology general electives, and one to five hours of special electives, or, with approval of the Graduate Adviser, other graduate courses.
All Ph.D. students must satisfactorily complete a total of at least 90 credit hours. Generally, all core courses are mandatory. In special cases the requirement for a core course can be substituted, but only with the permission of the instructor and the graduate adviser, and usually only after examination. Students must include 10 credit hours of general elective courses in Biology. Students seeking the Ph.D. degree are required to pass a written preliminary examination after core courses BIO 5410, BIO 5420, BIO 5430, BIO 5440, BIO 5350 and BIO 5351 have been completed. The preliminary examination is given at the end of the spring semester. An oral qualifying examination must then be taken within five semesters after passing the preliminary examination to determine the student’s fitness for continuation of dissertation research. A dissertation defense will be conducted after the dissertation has been written. All students are required to submit a minimum of one manuscript for publication in an internationally recognized, peer-reviewed scientific journal. There is no foreign language requirement.
BIO 5410 Biochemistry of Proteins and Nucleic Acids (4 semester hours) Chemistry and metabolism of amino acids and nucleotides; biosynthesis of nucleic acids; analysis of the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids and of their interactions including chromatin structure. Prerequisite: biochemistry or equivalent. (4-0) Y
BIO 5420 Molecular Biology (4 semester hours) Genetic analysis of gene structure (mutations and their analysis, complementation, and recombination), gene expression (transcription, RNA processing, translation), and the regulation of gene expression in selected model systems (viral, prokaryotic, organellar, eukaryotic); principles of genetic engineering (cloning and recombinant DNA technology). (4-0) Y
BIO 5430 Macromolecular Physical Chemistry (4 semester hours) Structures and properties of macromolecules, interactions with electromagnetic radiation, thermodynamics of macromolecular solutions, and transport processes. Calculus and general physics required. (4-0) Y
BIO 5440 Cell Biology (4 semester hours) Molecular architecture and function of cells and subcellular organelles; structure and function of membranes; hormone and neurotransmitter action; growth regulation and oncogenes; immune response; eukaryotic gene expression. Prerequisites: BIO 5410 and BIO 5420, or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (4-0) Y
BIO 5V50 Methods in Molecular and Cell Biology I (3-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in biological, biophysical, and biochemical techniques. Supplemental lectures and demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) Y
BIO 5V51 Methods in Molecular and Cell Biology II (3-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in advanced techniques in molecular and cell biology. Supplemental lectures and demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) Y
BIO 5V52 Methods in Molecular and Cell Biology III (3-6 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in advanced techniques in molecular and cell biology. Supplemental lectures and demonstrations. (1-[4-10]) Y
Advanced Study
Work is offered beyond the core curriculum in four major areas that parallel four of the lecture-type core courses. Each area provides elective courses, advanced colloquia, and dissertation opportunities. Electives will usually be offered only one semester per year and in some cases only once every other year.
Topics in Biochemistry
(DeJong, Hannig, Marsh, Miller, Yasbin)General Electives
BIO 6211 Posttranscriptional Regulation of Gene Expression (2 semester hours) Emphasis on current research in regulation of gene expression involving posttranscriptional mechanisms. Topics include translational regulation of gene expression, protein and messenger RNA turnover, regulation of protein folding and localization, protein phosphorylation, and the formation of active and inactive protein complexes. (2-0) T
BIO 6V19 Topics in Biochemistry (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) Y
Special Electives
BIO 7V10 Research Seminar in Biochemistry (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related literature. (P/F grading. May be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) Y
Topics in Molecular Biology
(Breen, DeJong, González, Hannig, Marsh, Miller, Reitzer, Yasbin)General Electives
BIO 6121-6123 Biotechnology I-III (1 semester hour) Gene cloning, nucleotide sequencing and other aspects of genetic engineering. This course has between one and five components, which will be offered sequentially and which may therefore be taken independently (with consent of instructor). (0-2) Y
BIO 6227 RNA World (2 semester hours) The nature of modern RNA suggests a prebiotic RNA world. This course will begin with a presentation of the arguments that a "RNA world" existed before the evolution of protein synthesis. Additional topics will include RNA evolution, the origin and evolution of introns, RNA replication, the evolution and involvement of tRNAs and rRNAs in protein synthesis, the structure and mechanism of large catalytic RNAs such as Group I and Group II introns and the RNAase P RNA, the structure and mechanism of small nuclear RNAs such as hammerheads and hairpins, RNA editing, and the mechanism of telomerase. (2-0) T
BIO 6228 Prokaryotic Gene Expression (2 semester hours) Principles of gene regulation in bacteria are discussed. The readings consist of recent developments described in the research literature. Topics will vary, but will include bacterial chromosome structure, function and structure of RNA polymerase and promoters, the mechanism of action of various repressors and activators, the coordination of gene expression in phage lambda, during nitrogen limitation, and during sporulation. (2-0) T
BIO 6V29 Topics in Molecular Biology (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) Y
Special Electives
BIO 7V20 Research Seminar in Molecular Biology (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related literature. (P/F grading. May be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) Y
Topics In Biophysics
(Gray, Levene)General Electives
BIO 6V30 Biopolymers (2-4 semester hours) Structure and properties of biologically important macromolecules. ([2-4]-0) Y
BIO 6V32 Electron Microscopy (2-3 semester hours) Theory and practice of electron microscopy. The laboratory section includes specimen preparation, operation of the electron microscope, and darkroom work. ([1-2]-2) R
BIO 6V33 Molecular Structure (2-4 semester hours) Use of X-ray diffraction, NMR, and circular dichroism spectroscopy in the study of nucleic acid, protein, and virus structure. ([2-4]-0) R
BIO 6V39 Topics in Biophysics (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) T
Special Electives
BIO 7V30 Research Seminar in Biophysics (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related literature. (P/F grading. May be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) R
Topics In Cell Biology
(Breen, Burr, Draper)General Electives
BIO 6V41 Oncogenes (2-4 semester hours) Survey of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, including an analysis of the role that the unmutated versions of these genes (proto-oncogenes) play in the regulation of normal cell cycle progression, embryological development and cellular differentiation. ([2-4]-0) R
BIO 6V42 Membrane Biology I (2-4 semester hours) Membrane traffic in the secretory pathway. Topics covered include insertion of proteins into membranes, the mechanism of vesicular traffic from the rough endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane, protein sorting during secretion and membrane biogenesis. ([2-4]-0) T
BIO 6V43 Membrane Biology II (2-4 semester hours) Membrane traffic in the endocytic pathway. Topics covered include the structure, function and sorting of membrane receptors, the formation and function of clathrin-coated pits, membrane recycling and the biogenesis of endosomes and lysosomes. ([2-4]-0) R
BIO 6V44 Animal Cell Culture (2-4 semester hours) Theory and practice of the growth of animal cells in culture. Topics include: the isolation and characterization of mammalian cell mutants, chromosome mapping, the use of somatic cell hybrids to investigate eukaryotic gene regulation, gene transfer into animal cells, gene targeting and production of "gene knockouts." ([2-4]-0) T
BIO 6V49 Topics in Cell Biology (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) Y
Special Electives
BIO 7V40 Research Seminar in Cell Biology (2-5 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related literature. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit.) ([2-5]-0) Y
General Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology
General Electives
BIO 5309 Special Topics/ (3 semester hours) (3-0) Y
BIO 6170 Computer Applications in Molecular and Cell Biology (1 semester hour) Demonstrations and utilization of current computer programs useful to students of molecular and cell biology. Programs will include MicroGenie, IntelliGenetics, Reference Update, Biosym, SigmaPlot, and Promodeler. (1-0) R
BIO 6V92 Readings in Molecular and Cell Biology (3-9 semester hours) ([3-9]-0) Y
Special Electives
BIO 6150 Current Research in Molecular and Cell Biology (1 semester hour) Analysis of recent developments in molecular and cell biology. Students will attend presentations of current research literature. Normally required of all degree students. To be taken before the preliminary examination. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit to a maximum of 4 hours.) (1-0) Y
BIO 6252 Current Research in Molecular Biology (2 semester hours) Recent developments in biosynthesis, structure, function and expression of nucleic acids in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Students will participate in a critical analysis of current research publications. (P/F grading, may be repeated for credit to a maximum of 8 hours.) (2-0) S
BIO 6193 Colloquium in Molecular and Cell Biology (1 semester hour) Required for all degree students except non-thesis M.S., to be taken before a Supervising Committee is appointed. (P/F grading) (1-0) Y
BIO 7450 Research Seminar in Molecular and Cell Biology (4 semester hours) Presentation and analysis of ongoing independent research projects, accompanied by evaluation of recent related literature. (P/F grading. May be repeated for credit.) (4-0) Y
BIO 8V01 Research in Molecular and Cell Biology (1-9 semester hours) (May be repeated for credit.) ([1-9]-0) Y
BIO 8V98 Thesis (3-9 semester hours) (May be repeated for credit.) ([3-9]-0) S
BIO 8V99 Dissertation (3-9 semester hours) (May be repeated for credit.) ([3-9]-0) S
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