Advanced Molecular Biology (390-DL-20)
Instructors
Michele M McDonough
847/491-5061
Hogan Hall, Room - 2-100
Michele McDonough is the Assistant Chair in the Department of Molecular Biosciences in Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Professor McDonough joined the NU faculty in 2008 and has been teaching with SPS for the last five years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell University and earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry while studying signaling pathways regulating cytoskeleton rearrangements at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Garth A Fowler
847/491-5521
Hogan Hall, Room 2-160
Dr. Fowler is the Assistant Chair of the Department of Neurobiology. He receivd his PhD from the University of Washington Medical school in Behavioral Neurosceince. He joined the NU faculty in 2007 and teaches numerous classes, including a seminar on Obesity, Advanced Neurobiololgy, and Human Physiology. He enjoys movies, going to concerts (especially the CSO), and training for marathons and
triathlons.
Meeting Info
Online: Mon 6:15PM - 9:15PM
Overview of class
This course expands on topics introduced in Molecular Biology, including techniques, transcriptional and translational regulation, epigenetics, replication, regulatory RNAs, DNA repair, and genetic engineering. Using primary research articles, a subset of these subjects will be explored in more depth as students discuss the articles, evaluate scientific data, and assess evidence-based conclusions in current research. At the end of this course, students will be able to clearly and concisely describe scientific concepts and determine which molecular biology techniques are most applicable to different research questions.
This course meets for required weekly synchronous sessions.
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: BIOL_SCI 215 or BIOL_SCI 201
Learning Objectives
Describe scientific concepts with clear and concise language using oral, written and/or visual modes.
Explain the goals, research methods, results and conclusions included in primary research articles.
Evaluate scientific data.
Draw conclusions supported by evidence.
Synthesize information from a wide variety of sources to better understand the key principles of molecular biology.
Weigh the value and usefulness of available information sources.
Determine which molecular biology techniques should be employed to ask specific questions in biology.
Class Materials (Required)
There is no required textbook for this course. All required readings and media will be posted to Canvas.
Class Attributes
Synchronous:Class meets remotely at scheduled time