graduate

GDCB Courses for Graduate students

Schedule of Classes and Complete Iowa State University Catalog

GDCB 508. Biotechnology in Agriculture, Food, and Human Health. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Prereq: Biol 211 and 212. Scientific principles and techniques in biotechnology. Products and applications in agriculture, food, and human health. Ethical, legal, and social implications of biotechnology. A research paper is required for graduate credit.

GDCB 510. Transmission Genetics. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Gen 410 or graduate standing. An in-depth investigation of the modern research practices of transmission genetics. Designed for students interested in genetic research. Topics include: Mendelian genetic analysis, analysis of genetic pathways, mutational analysis of gene function, chromosomal mechanics, gene mapping, extranuclear inheritance, human genetic analysis.

GDCB 511. Molecular Genetics. (Cross-listed with MCDB). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Biol 313 and BBMB 405. The principles of molecular genetics: gene structure and function at the molecular level, including regulation of gene expression, genetic rearrangement, and the organization of genetic information in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

GDCB 512. Plant Growth and Development. (Crosslisted with MCDB, PlBio). (2-0) Cr. 2. S. Prereq: Biol 330 or a course in developmental biology; GDCB 545 or BBMB 404, 405 or GDCB 520. Plant growth and development and its molecular genetic regulation. Hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, and action. Signal transduction in plants.

GDCB 513. Plant Metabolism. (Cross-listed with PlBio). (2-0) Cr. 2. F. Prereq: Biol 330, Phys 111, Chem 331; one semester of biochemistry recommended. Photosynthesis, respiration, and other aspects of plant metabolism.

GDCB 520. Genetic Engineering. (Cross-listed with BBMB, MCDB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2009. Prereq: Gen 411 or BBMB 405. Strategies and methods of gene cloning, restriction endonuclease mapping, southern hybridization, isolation and manipulation of plasmid DNA, and detection of specific genes in bacteria. Genetics, Development and Cell Biology 244 2009-2011

GDCB 528. Cellular Growth and Regulation. (Cross-listed with MCDB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2010. Prereq: Courses in cell biology and BBMB 404, 405. Cell cycle, regulation of cell growth, cell division, membranes, transport processes, and regulation of cellular activities.

GDCB 529. Plant Cell Biology. (Cross-listed with MCDB). (2-0) Cr. 2. Prereq: Biol 313, 314, 330 or BBMB 405. Organization, function, and development of plant cells and subcellular structures.

GDCB 533. Principles of Developmental Biology. (Cross-listed with MCDB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2009. Prereq: Biol 314. Fundamental principles in multicellular development. Emphasis on celluar and molecular regulation of developmental processes, and experimental approaches as illustrated in classical studies and current literature.

GDCB 536. Statistics for Population Genetics. (Cross-listed with Stat). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2010. Prereq: Stat 401, 447; Gen 320 or Biol 313. Statistical models for population genetics covering: selection, mutation, migration, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium. Applications to gene mapping (case-control, TDT), inference about population structure, DNA and protein sequence analysis, and forensic and paternity identification.

GDCB 537. Statistics for Molecular Genetics. (Cross-listed with Stat). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2011. Prereq: 401, 447; Gen 320 or Biol 313. Statistical models, inference, and computational tools for linkage analysis, quantitative trait analysis, and molecular evolution. Topics include; quantitative trait models, variance component mapping, interval and composite-interval mapping, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction.

GDCB 538. Computational Genomics and Evolution. (Cross-listed with BCB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2011. Prereq: Biol 313. Introduction to evolutionary sequence analysis at the genome level. Topics include sequence alignment, phylogenetic inference, molecular clock analysis, ancestral state inference, sequence/structure relation, functional divergence and prediction, evolutionary development, genome duplication, and comparative genomics. Focus will be on data analysis and biological interpretation.

GDCB 539. Statistical Methods for Computational Biology. (Cross-listed with BCB). (2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered 2010. Prereq: BCB 568. Gu. Advanced discussion about statistical modeling of DNA and amino acid sequences, microarray expression profiles and other genome-wide data interpretation.

GDCB 542. Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques. (Cross-listed with B M S, BBMB, BCB, EEOB, FS HN, Hort, NREM, NutrS, V MPM, VDPAM). Cr. 1. Repeatable. F.S.SS. Prereq: Graduate classification. Workshops in basic molecular biology techniques and related procedures. Satisfactory-fail only. A. DNA Techniques. Includes genetic engineering procedures, sequencing, PCR, and genotyping. (F.S.SS.) B. Protein Techniques. Includes fermentation, protein isolation, protein purification, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, NMR, confocal microscopy and laser microdissection, immunophenotyping, and monoclonol antibody production. (S.SS.) C. Cell Techniques. Includes immunophenotyping, ELISA, flow cytometry, microscopic techniques, and image analysis. (F.S.) D. Plant Transformation. Includes Agrobacterium and particle gun-mediated transformation of tobacco, Arabidopsis, and maize, and analysis of transformants. (S.) E. Proteomics. Includes two-dimensional electrophoresis, laser scanning, mass spectrometry, and database searching. (F.)

GDCB 544. Introduction to Bioinformatics. (Crosslisted with BCB, Cpr E, Com S). (4-0) Cr. 4. F. Prereq: Math 165 or Stat 401 or equivalent. Broad overview of bioinformatics with a significant problem-solving component, including hands-on practice using computational tools to solve a variety of biological problems. Topics include: database searching, sequence alignment, gene prediction, RNA and protein structure prediction, construction of phylogenetic trees, comparative and functional genomics.

GDCB 545. Plant Molecular Biology. (Cross-listed with MCDB, PlBio). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Biol 314, 330. Organization and function of plant nuclear and organelle DNA; regulation of gene expression. Methods of generating novel genetic variation. Impact of plant biotechnology on agriculture.

GDCB 556. Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Neuroscience. (Cross-listed with Neuro, B M S). (3-0) Cr. arr. F. Prereq: Biol 335 or Biol 436; physics recommended. Fundamental principles of neuroscience including cellular and molecular neuroscience, nervous system development, sensory, motor and regulatory systems.

GDCB 557. Advanced Neuroscience Techniques. (Cross-listed with Neuro). (2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered 2011. Prereq: Neuro 556 or equivalent course. Research methods and techniques; exercises and/or demonstrations representing individual faculty specialties.

GDCB 568. Bioinformatics II (Advanced Genome Informatics). (Cross-listed with BCB, Stat, Com S). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: BCB 567, BBMB 301, Biol 315, Stat 430, credit or enrollment in Gen 411. Advanced sequence models. Basic methods in molecular phylogeny. Hidden Markov models. Genome annotation. DNA and protein motifs. Introduction to gene expression analysis.

GDCB 570. Bioinformatics IV (Computational Functional Genomics and Systems Biology). (Crosslisted with Com S, BCB, Stat, Cpr E). (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: BCB 567, Biol 315, Com S 311 and either 208 or 228, Gen 411, Stat 430. Algorithmic and Statistical approaches in computational functional genomics and systems biology. Analysis of high throughput gene expression, proteomics, and other datasets obtained using system-wide measurements. Topological analysis, module discovery, and comparative analysis of gene and protein networks. Modeling, analysis, simulation and inference of transcriptional regulatory modules and networks, protein-protein interaction networks, metabolic networks, cells and systems: Dynamic systems, Boolean, and probabilistic models. Ontology-driven, network based, and probabilistic approaches to information integration.

GDCB 590. Special Topics. Cr. arr. Repeatable. Prereq: Permission of instructor. GDCB 596. Genomic Data Processing. (Cross-listed with Com S, BCB). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Some basic knowledge of programming. Study the practical aspects of genomic data processing with an emphasis on hands-on projects. Students will carry out common data processing steps using bioinformatics tools. Topics include base-calling, raw sequence cleaning and contaminant removal; shotgun assembly procedures and EST clustering methods; genome closure strategies and practices; sequence homology search and function prediction; annotation and submission of GenBank reports; and data collection and dissemination through the Internet. Important post-genomic topics like microarray design and data analysis will also be covered.

GDCB 690. Seminar in GDCB. Cr. 1. Repeatable. Research seminars by faculty, invited speakers, and graduate students. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. Guidelines for GDCB Graduate Students.