printer friendly pageBIOS 264: Answering biological questions with Metagenomic Data
Metagenomic datasets capture the full genomic complement of microbial communities within a sample and thus have broad applications in environmental microbiology, human health, and evolutionary biology. In this three-week minicourse, students will learn both the principles and practice of metagenomics, implementing a standard computational workflow that begins with sequencing reads and concludes with basic genome analysis. Students will also gain hands-on experience with the command line, high-performance computing, and common bioinformatic tools/data types. Overall, the course will teach students how to interrogate metagenomic data to answer questions about microbial diversity, abundance, and gene content. It is open to those with any level of programming experience.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 1
Instructors:
Jaffe, A. (PI)
BIOS 265: Introduction to Quantitative Reasoning in Biology
Mini-course. Focus on development of basic skills for quantitative reasoning in biology, including order-of-magnitude estimation and use of the broad spectrum of time scales to enable understanding. Primary examples include going from molecular size and energy scales to functions of single cells and going from mutational and selective processes acting on organisms to evolution of populations on laboratory and global scales. Examples will include processes relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last offered: Winter 2021
BIOS 266: Mini Proposal Bootcamp
In an intensive 1-day format, students learn the fundamentals for writing competitive fellowships, i.e. NIH NRSA fellowships (F30, F31, F32). Topics include developing specific aims; outlining research and career development plans; and using the review criteria to inform writing. Students develop early drafts of the 1-page specific aims, NIH biosketch, and training plan, and receive feedback from instructor. Students are expected to be in the early stages of writing a fellowship proposal.
Terms: Win
| Units: 1
BIOS 267: Proteomics, Protein Interaction Maps, and Systems Biology
This course will teach principles underlying the biochemistry and biophysics of protein-protein interaction, protein purification, proteomics and mass spectrometry and state-of-the-art tools for assembling protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks including Cytoscape. PPI networks provide a broad tool to build maps for modeling and hypothesis generation for biological systems. Adding curated, public and computed metadata to PPI maps will be included in labs. Statistical, logical Boolean, Bayesian, and graph theoretic methods for network analysis will be discussed and used in lab. Experimental methods in high throughput biology and the strengths/limitations of public data to test multiplexed hypotheses from networks will be emphasized.
Last offered: Winter 2021
BIOS 268: Biology and Applications of CRISPR/Cas9: Genome Editing and Epigenome Modifications (GENE 268)
This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the biology and applications of the revolutionary CRISPR/Cas9 system, with detailed exploration of several areas: / / --Basic biology of the CRISPR/Cas9 system / --High-throughput screening using CRISPR/Cas9 / --Epigenetic modifications and transcriptional regulation using dCas9 / --Therapeutic applications of gene editing with CRISPR / --Disease modeling with CRISPR / --Ethical considerations of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 / / The course will be geared toward advanced undergraduates and graduate students, and will assume a basic background in molecular biology and genetics. The course will be lecture-based, with frequent opportunities for discussion and questions.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 1
BIOS 270: Planetary Health: Socioeconomic & Ecological Links Between Human Health & Earth's Natural Ecosystems
Two of the biggest challenges humanity has to face - promoting human health and halting environmental degradation are are strongly connected and too big to be addressed in an incremental, sector-specific way. Breakthroughs can be achieved through a creative, interdisciplinary approach that fully recognizes the complex nature of links between human health and healthy, functioning ecosystems. Through a series of lectures and case-study discussions with experts from multiple Schools and Departments, students will develop an in-depth understanding of the "Planetary Health" concept, its foundation, goals, priority areas of action and methods of investigation, and the most relevant immediate and long-term challenges.
Last offered: Winter 2020
BIOS 271: Writing Graduate Research Fellowships
Initial sessions focus on the basics of grantsmanship, review criteria (i.e. intellectual merit and broader impact), and required materials, with particular focus on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Students draft a 2-page research proposal and 3-page personal, relevant background and future goals statement. During small group peer review sessions, students receive detailed feedback to improve the clarity of their writing.
Last offered: Autumn 2019
BIOS 272: Science and Art
This 3-week mini-course will cover a variety of topics related to science and art including scientific illustration, the visual sensory perception of art, how art impacts the brain, and the similarities and differences between science and art. The class will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and art labs. No previous art experience is necessary.
Terms: Aut, Win
| Units: 1
BIOS 273: Ethics and Justice at the Frontiers of Conservation Biology
This weekend-long retreat-style mini-course introduces students to four distinct types of cross-disciplinary ethical challenges that will face the next generation of conservation biologists and biotech entrepreneurs. Taught over the course of a single long weekend, students will wrestle with vexing questions of scientific ethics, interspecies justice, environmental justice, and policy. We will employ structured debates, stakeholder role-play, site visits to conservation-tech companies, and outings to local conservation areas. This course will be co-taught by guest instructor Ben Wilcox from World Wildlife Fund. We can accept up to 20 students; to be considered, please fill out this form to explain your interest in the course:
http://tinyurl.com/BIOS273
Terms: Aut
| Units: 2
BIOS 276: Drug Discovery in Neuroscience
Disorders of the nervous system are some of the most common and devastating conditions. Our biological understanding of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases has been slow, and the development of drugs has been lagging behind other therapeutic areas. This mini course will provide students with an overview of the principles of drug discovery and the specific issues associated with developing medicines for diseases of the nervous system with a particular focus on recent translational advances. The course will be lecture-based. Several of the lectures will be given by industry experts and leaders. Topics will include an overview of drug discovery and emergent human cellular models of disease, medicinal chemistry approaches, antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics, gene therapies, therapeutic antibodies, cell therapies, and running a drug discovery organization.
Last offered: Winter 2021
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