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The University of Texas at Dallas
Graduate Admissions

Biotechnology Course Descriptions

BIOL 5376 (BMEN 6387) Applied Bioinformatics (3 semester hours) Genomic information content; data searches and multiple sequence alignment; mutations and distance-based phylogenetic analysis; genomics and gene recognition; polymorphisms and forensic applications; nucleic-acid and protein array analysis; structure prediction of biological macromolecules. Prerequisites: STAT 1342 (introductory statistics) and MATH 1325 and MATH 1326 (2 semesters of calculus). (3-0) T

CS 6325 Introduction to Bioinformatics (3 semester hours) The course provides a broad overview of the bioinformatics field.  Comprehensive introduction to molecular biology and molecular genetics for a program of study in bioinformatics.  Discussion of elementary computer algorithms in biology (e.g., sequence alignment and gene finding).  Biological databases, data analysis and management. Prerequisite: Knowledge equivalent to CS 2302. (3-0) T

BIOL 5381 Genomics (3 semester hours) Genome sequence acquisition and analysis; genomic identification; biomedical genome research; DNA microarrays and their use in applied and healthcare research.  (3-0) T

BIOL 6373 (BMEN 6391) Proteomics (3 semester hours) Protein identification, sequencing, and analysis of post-translational modifications by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry; determination of protein three dimensional structure by x-ray crystallography; its use in drug design; understanding protein interactions and function using protein chip microarrays. Prerequisite:  Undergraduate or graduate biochemistry (3-0) T

BIOL 6384 Biotechnology Laboratory (3 semester hours) Laboratory instruction in LC/MS/MS mass spectral analysis of protein sequence, ICAT (isotope coded affinity tag) reagents, and MS analysis of cellular proteomes, PCR and DNA Sequencing, and DNA microarray analysis; fluorescence and confocal microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting.  Instructor may require students to demonstrate adequate laboratory skills in order to enroll.  (1-2) Y

Electives

A sampling of electives available to students in the Biotechnology M.S. program follows:

BIOL 5375 Genes to Genomes (3 semester hours) is an expansive coverage of molecular genetics with emphasis on genomes rather than genes.  Students will gain a new perspective on how genes function together and in concert in living cells, focusing at the genome level.  Students also will learn how to study genomes, inspect genome anatomies, analyze how genomes function and determine how genomes replicate and evolve.  The course is structured to involve students directly in individual topics by class discussions of research papers and reviews, the latest advances in genome science and new and innovative techniques. (3-0) Y

BIOL 6345 Molecular Basis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (3 semester hours) Topics include an analysis of the molecular basis of the infection of target cells by HIV, the intracellular replication of retroviruses, with special attention given to the HIV tat and rev genes, and an analysis of the roles of the HIV accessory genes: vif, vpr, vpu and nef.  The immunological response of the host to HIV is considered, as is the biological basis for the ultimate failure of the immune system to contain this virus, with attendant immune collapse.  The molecular basis of a variety of existing and potential anti-retroviral therapies is considered. (3-0) Y

BIOL 6351 Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Immune System (3 semester hours) Innate and adaptive immunity.  Structure and function of immunoglobulins and MHC molecules, and their role in the adaptive immune response.  Function of the primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, and the role of professional antigen presenting cells.  The molecular basis for the generation of diversity during cellular development of B and T lymphocytes. The role of complement in innate immunity, and details of T cell and B cell mediated immunity. (3-0) Y

BIOL 6352 Modern Biochemistry I (3 semester hours) Structure and function of proteins, including enzyme kinetics and catalytic mechanisms; structure and metabolism of carbohydrates, including oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport mechanisms.  For students who have not had undergraduate biochemistry. (3-0) S

BIOL 6353 Modern Biochemistry II (3 semester hours) Continuation of BIOL 6352. Structure and metabolism of lipids, including membrane structure and function. Nitrogen metabolism: amino acids and nucleotides.  Polynucleotide replication, transcription, and translation.  For students who have not had undergraduate biochemistry. (3-0) Y

BIOL 6356 Eukaryotic Molecular and Cell Biology (3 semester hours) Regulation of cellular activities in eukaryotic cells; structural and molecular organization of eukaryotic cells; molecular basis of cell specialization; membranes and transport.  For students who have not had undergraduate cell biology. (3-0) S

BIOL 6358 (MSEN 6358) Bionanotechnology (3 semester hours) Protein, nucleic acid and lipid structures.  Macromolecules as structural and functional units of the intact cell.  Parallels between biology and nanotechnology. Applications of nanotechnology to biological systems. (3-0) T

BIOL 6359 Medical Cell Biology for MAT (3 semester hours) Organization of cells, structure and function of DNA and proteins, gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and the endocrine system.  Designed for students who are pursuing a MAT degree.   (3-0) S

BIOL 6360 Medical Cell Biology for Biotechnology (3 semester hours) This course will explore cell structure, the structure of DNA, mutations in DNA, gene therapy, stem cells, cell signaling, and the immune system etc.  Emphasis will be placed on understanding the cellular and molecular basis of health and disease.  For students who have not had undergraduate cell biology and/or molecular genetics.  (3-0) S

BIOL 6385 (BMEN 6389) Computational Biology (3 semester hours) Using computational and statistical methods to analyze biological data, and perform mathematical modeling and computational simulation techniques to understand the biological systems.  The course introduces methods in DNA/protein motif discovery, gene prediction, high-throughput sequencing and microarray data analysis, computational modeling gene expression regulation, and biological pathway and network analysis.  Prerequisite: (BMEN 6374 and BMEN 6387) or BIOL 5376 or instructor permission. (3-0) Y

BIOL 6V02 The Art of Scientific Presentation (1-2 semester hours) Students learn how to give an effective seminar by reading scientific articles on a central theme in biology and then delivering a presentation, first to their classmates, followed by another presentation to the Molecular and Cell Biology faculty and students.  While learning the focused theme, students acquire skill sets in critical reading of scientific literature and oral presentation. Required for all Ph.D. students. (P/F grading) ([1-2]-0) Y

BIOL 6V03 Research in Molecular and Cell Biology (1-9 semester hours) (May be repeated for credit.) ([1-9]-0) S

BIOL 6V29 Topics in Molecular Biology (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) Y

BIOL 6V31 Molecular Genetics (3-4 semester hours) A graduate survey of the phenomena and mechanisms of heredity, its cytological and molecular basis, with a focus on bacterial and model eukaryotic systems.  Topics will include fundamentals of Mendelian Genetics, genetic recombination and genetic linkage, as well as gene structure and replication, gene expression and the transfer of genetic information, mutation and mutagenesis, and applications of recombinant DNA techniques to genetic analysis.  For students who have not had undergraduate genetics. ([3-4]-0) Y

BIOL 6V33 Biomolecular Structure (2-3 semester hours) This course includes a discussion of DNA structures, protein structures, the folding and stability of domains, and the binding of proteins to DNA.  Methods used to investigate the relation of structure to function are emphasized.  Types of protein structures whose structure and function are considered include transcription factors, proteinases, membrane proteins, proteins in signal transduction, proteins on the immune system, and engineered proteins. ([2-3]-0) Y

BIOL 6V41 Oncogenes (2-4 semester hours) Properties of cancer cells, in vivo and in vitro.  Telomeres and cellular immortality.  The role of DNA and RNA viruses in human cancers.  Molecular biology of chronic leukemia retroviruses and the acutely transforming retroviruses.  Retroviral oncogenes; the role of mutation, amplification, and chromosomal translocation of cellular oncogenes in human cancer.  Regulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle, and the role of tumor suppressor genes.  The role of oncogenes in growth hormone signal transduction.  The role of apoptosis, and developmental signaling pathways in cancer. ([2-4]-0) Y

BIOL 6V49 Topics in Cell Biology (2-5 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. ([2-5]-0) Y

BIOL 6V50 Internship in Biotechnology/Biomedicine (1-6 semester hours). Provides faculty supervision for a student's internship. Internships must be in an area relevant to the student's coursework for the MS in Biotechnology. ([1-6] - 0) R

BIOL 6V92 Readings in Molecular and Cell Biology (3-9 semester hours) ([3-9]-0) Y

BIOL 6V95 Advanced Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology (Individual Instruction) (1-6 semester hours) May be repeated for credit with permission of the graduate advisor. ([1-6]-0) Y

BIOL 6V98 Thesis (3-9 semester hours) (May be repeated for credit.) ([3-9]-0) S

CS 5343 Algorithm Analysis & Data Structures (3 semester hours) Formal specifications and representation of lists, arrays, trees, graphs, multilinked structures, strings and recursive pattern structures.  Analysis of associated algorithms.  Sorting and searching, file structures.  Relational data models. Prerequisites: CS 5303, CS 5333. (3-0) S

CS 6360 (SE 6360) Database Design (3 semester hours) Methods, principles, and concepts that are relevant to the practice of database software design. Database system architecture; conceptual database models; relational and object-oriented databases; database system implementation; query processing and optimization; transaction processing concepts, concurrency, and recovery; security.  Prerequisite: CS 5343. (3-0) S

CS 6363 (CE 6363) Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms (3 semester hours) The study of efficient algorithms for various computational problems.  Algorithm design techniques.  Sorting, manipulation of data structures, graphs, matrix multiplication, and pattern matching.  Complexity of algorithms, lower bounds, NP completeness.  Prerequisite: CS 5343. (3-0) S

CS 6379 Biological Database Systems and Data Mining (3 semester hours) Relational data models and database management systems; theories and techniques of constructing relational databases to store biological data, including sequences, structures, genetic linkages and maps, and signal pathways.  Introduction to a relational database query language (SQL) with emphasis on answering biologically important questions.  Summary of current biological databases.  Data integration from various sources and security. Novel data mining methods in bioinformatics with an emphasis on protein structure prediction, homology search, genomic sequence analysis, gene finding and gene mapping.  Future directions for biological database development. Prerequisites: BIOL6373/BMEN 6391, BIOL 5381, and CS 5343 or consent of the instructor. (3-0) T

ENTP 6370 Entrepreneurship (3 semester hours) This course provides an introduction to entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on identifying, evaluating and developing new venture opportunities.  Topics include opportunity identification and evaluation, startup strategies, business valuation, business plan development, attracting stakeholders, financing the venture, managing the growing business and exit strategies.  Case studies and guest lectures by entrepreneurs and venture capital partners provide a real-world perspective.  The major deliverable of this course is an early stage feasibility analysis of a venture of the student's choosing.  Prerequisite: ACCT 6201 or ACCT 6305 or consent of instructor.  Topics may vary. (3-0) S

FIN 6301 (SYSM 6312) Systems Financial Management (3 semester hours) Theoretical and procedural considerations in the administration of the finance function in the individual business firm; planning, fundraising, controlling of firm finances; working capital management, capital budgeting and cost of capital. Pre-/Corequisite: OPRE 6301; AND Pre-/Corequisite Acct 6201 OR Prerequisite Acct 6305, OR Consent of Instructor. (3-0) Y

STAT 5351 Probability and Statistics I (3 semester hours) A mathematical treatment of probability theory.  Random variables, distributions, conditioning, expectations, special distributions and the central limit theorem.  The theory is illustrated by numerous examples.  This is a basic course in probability and uses calculus extensively.  Prerequisite: Multivariable calculus (MATH 2451). (3-0) T

STAT 5352 Probability and Statistics II (3 semester hours) Theory and methods of statistical inference.  Sampling, estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, and regression with applications. Prerequisite: STAT 5351. (3-0) T

MATH 6345 Mathematical Methods in Medicine and Biology (3 semester hours) Introduction to the use of mathematical techniques in solving biologically important problems.  Some examples of topics that might be covered are biochemical reactions, ion channels, cellular signaling mechanisms, kidney function, and nerve impulse propagation.  Prerequisites: MATH 2417, MATH 2419. (MATH 2420 recommended). (3-0) T SCI 5V06 Special Topics in Science (1-3 semester hours) May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. [(1-3)-1] S  

Last Updated: July 18, 2012