Undergraduate Courses offered by The School of Molecular Biosciences

101 [B] Introductory Microbiology 4 (3-3)

Instructors: Consetta Helmick email: helmick@wsu.edu & Kirstin Malm email: kmalm@wsu.edu

Microbiology 101 is a survey course of microorganisms.  This course allows students to appreciate the “unseen microbial world”.  The course shows the relationship between microorganisms, animals, humans, and plants.  Current issues in the areas of disease production, public health, the environment, mass media, education, medicine, and modern technology are addressed.  The lab provides “hands on” experience with bacterial cultures, application of microorganisms and DNA techniques.

301 (GENC) General Genetics 4 Prereq Biol 107; two semesters Chem. Principles of modern and classical genetics. Credit not normally granted for MBioS 301/Biol 301 and Biol 408.

302 General Microbiology 4 (3-3) Prereq MBioS 106, MBioS 107 and Chem 345 or c//.

Instructors: John Dahl email: johndahl@wsu.edu & Phil Mixter email: pmixter@wsu.edu & Kirstin Malm email: kmalm@wsu.edu

MBioS 302 Laboratory is registered concurrently with MBioS 302 (lecture) and a single letter grade is assigned for both integrated activities. MBioS 302 Laboratory students gain proficiency in general microbiological techniques including the use of a microscope, isolation and identification of specific microbes, various diagnostic stains and tests, microbial physiology and some medical microbiology. Students further gain experience in applied microbiology techniques, preparing fermented foods, testing water quality and understanding antibiotic resistance. These are useful skills for any student interested in a health-related career.

303 Introductory Biochemistry 4 Prereq Chem 106; Chem 345. Modern biochemistry for undergraduates in the biological sciences. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (MMBB 380).

304 [M] Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory 3 (1-6) Prereq MBioS 303 or c//.

Instructors: Lisa Gloss email: lmgloss@wsu.edu & Traci Topping email: topping@wsu.edu

The Introductory Biochemistry Lab (MBioS 304) is a course of 6 hours of lab and 1 hour of lecture. The course teaches biochemical techniques, emphasizing protein chemistry, enzymology and quantitative data analysis. Students learn protein extraction and purification methods using column chromatography as well as SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, western blotting, protein concentration determination methods, enyzme kinetics, protein stability and folding, and an introduction to structural proteomics.

320 [B] DNA and Society 3 Prereq one college-level course in biology. The role of DNA in natural processes and diseases; impact of biotechnology on health care, agriculture, industry, and our lives.

340 Medical Microbiology 3 Prereq MBioS 302; MBioS 303 or c//. Microbial pathogens and their relationship to disease.

341 Diagnostic Medical Bacteriology 2 (0-6) Prereq MBioS 340 or c//.

Instructors: Mike Konkel email: konkel@wsu.edu & Kirstin Malm email: kmalm@wsu.edu

Students learn the techniques and tests required for the identification of bacteria that cause disease in humans. Case studies are incorporated into the teaching material to help students understand the relationship between an individual’s clinical presentation and the disease-causing bacteria. The first two-thirds of the lab focuses on becoming proficient in isolating the likely disease causing bacteria from a mixed bacterial “clinical” sample. The last third of the lab introduces students to methods that can be used to assess the disease-causing potential of a given organism.

342 Microbial Ecology 3 Prereq Biol 104; Chem 345 or c//. Discussion of microorganisms behavior in nature and microbial activities influence on ecological balance.

360 [M] Cell and Molecular Laboratory 2 (0-6) Prereq MBioS 301, 303, or c//; one semester organic chemistry. Laboratory methods in cell biology, genetics and molecular biology.

401 Introduction to Cell Biology 3 Prereq MBioS 301 or 303. Cellular structure and function; membrane biochemistry and transport; cell-cell communication; regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis; cell signaling; cancer biology.

402 [M] General Genetics Laboratory 3 (1-6) Prereq MBioS 301/Biol 301.

Instructor: Norah McCabe email: nrmccabe@wsu.edu

This class consists of 6 hours of laboratory work and 1 hour of lecture, in which students work with both prokaryotes and eukaryotes (plants and animals). Students work with Drosophila to study classical Mendelian genetics including performing a three point cross.  Students also karyotype human cells and conduct fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. In addition, students construct plant phylogenetic trees using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.

404 Molecular Genetics 3 Prereq MBioS 301, 302, 303. Introduction of protkaryotic and eukaryotic genome organization and gene expression, modern molecular techniques, experimental approaches, genome and gene function and analysis.

413 General Biochemistry 3 Prereq MBioS 303, junior standing. Structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids and biological membranes; principles of enzymology; biochemical methodology.

414 General Biochemistry 3 Prereq MBioS 413. Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, bioenergetics; photosynthesis; control of metabolic processes.

420 Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics 3 Prereq MBioS 301, 303. Organization and regulation of eukaryotic genes and genomes; recombinant DNA methods and applications. Credit not granted for both 420 and 520.

422 Genetic and Molecular Aspects of Plant Reproduction 2 or 3 Same as Hort 405. Credit not granted for both MBioS 422 and 522.

423 Human Genetics 3 Prereq MBioS 301. Exploration of individual and population genetics leading to critical discussion of current social, medical, and scientific issues.

424 Directed Problems in Cell Biology 1 Prereq MBioS 301 or 303; c// in MBioS 401. Complementary course to MBioS 401.

425 [T] Origins of Life 3 Prereq one Tier II course in biological sciences and completion of one Tier I and three Tier II courses. Origin of life and evolution of genetic structure; critical analysis of molecular evolution.

426 Microbial Genetics 3 Prereq MBioS 301 or 303; MBioS 302. Genetics of bacteria, bacteriophages and plasmids; regulation of gene expression; genetic manipulation of microorganisms.

427 [M] Perspectives in Biotechnology 3 Prereq MBioS 301. Same as A S 488. Credit not granted for both MBioS 427 and 527.

440 Immunology 3 Prereq MBioS 302; organic chemistry. Principles of basic immunology. Credit not granted for both MBioS 440 and 540.

441 [M] Immunology Laboratory 2 (0-6) Prereq MBioS 440 or c//.

Instructors: Nancy Magnuson email: magnuson@wsu.edu & Alberta Brassfield email: brassfie@wsu.edu

The Immunology Lab (MBioS 441) is a course of 6 hours of lab and lecture. The course teaches immunological techniques, emphasizing the use of immunological reagents and data analysis with proper controls. Students learn immune anatomy and how to isolate and identify cells of immunologic importance by morphologic and immunocytochemical characteristics. Multiple uses of antibodies as reagents in various assays are demonstrated. In particular, assays and techniques that are covered include precipitation, agglutination, blood typing, hemolytic plaque assay, ELISA, affinity chromatography, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot, and flow cytometry. The importance of making buffers, precise dilutions for assays and calculating end point titers is emphasized.

442 General Virology 3 Prereq MBioS 301, 303; organic chemistry. The biology of bacterial, animal, and plant viruses. Credit not granted for both MBioS 442 and 542. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (MMBB 414).

443 General Virology Laboratory 2 (0-6) Prereq MBioS 442 or c//.

Instructors: Mary Sanchez Lanier email: sanchez@wsu.edu & Alberta Brassfield email: brassfie@wsu.edu

In this course, students use laboratory techniques to isolate, culture and characterize viruese from bacteria, insects and animals. The life cycle of isolated lytic bacteriophage is examined in a synchronized infection. Temperate lambda virus is induced and DNA isolated and digested by restriction enzymes. Insect cell cultures are grown and used as a host for baculovirus production. Animal cell culture and fertilized eggs are used to characterize and enumerate animal viruses. The importance of making buffers, precise dilutions for assays and calculating end point titers is emphasized.

444 Food and Applied Microbiology 2 Same as FSHN 416.

445 Food Microbiology Laboratory 2 (0-6) Same as FSHN 417.

446 Epidemiology 3 Prereq junior standing. Study of diseases in human populations; concepts of etiology, disease rates, susceptibility and risk factors, screening for disease, and prevention. Cooperative course taught by WSU, open to UI students (MMBB 420).

447 Molecular Mechanisms in Microbiology 2 In-depth discussion of molecular mechanisms and different experimental approaches in microbiology. Cooperative course taught by UI (MMBB 450), open to WSU students.

448 Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry 3 (2-3) Prereq MBioS 101 or 201; SoilS 201. Same as SoilS 431.

450 Basic and Applied Microbial Physiology 3 Prereq MBioS 302, 303. Basic microbial physiology and its relevance to the processes of applied microbiology. Credit not granted for both MBioS 450 and 550.

452 Environmental Microbiology 3 Prereq college-level biology, microbiology, organic chemistry. Microbial contamination and interactions between micro-organisms and the environment, methods and mechanisms of bioremediation. Credit not granted for both MBioS 452 and 552.

454 Techniques in Molecular Biology 3 (1-6) Prereq MBioS 302 or 402.

Instructor: Sue Ellen DeChenne email: sueellen@wsu.edu

This course consists of six hours of lab and one of lecture per week. It is a molecular research techniques class, which covers basic techniques of gene manipulation in prokaryotes.  Techniques taught in the course include:  DNA plasmid isolation, genomic DNA isolation, genetic cloning, Southern blotting, Polymerase Chain Reaction, bioinformatics, and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis.  The lecture focuses on how each technique works at a molecular level and the lab provides the hands-on experience.  The course is taught from a project orientation; therefore the labs build on each other from one day to the next.

455 Biotechnology for High School Teachers 3 (1-6) Prereq high school science teaching experience. Methodologies illustrating the use of microbes to implement laboratory exercises in biotechnology.

465 Principles of Biophysical Chemistry 3 Prereq MBioS 303; Math 140 or 171; Phys 102 or 202. Biochemical reactions and processes, molecular recognition, coupled reactions, enzyme catalysis, analysis of macromolecular structure by electrophoresis, sedimentation, viscosity, and spectroscopy.

466 Physical Biochemistry 3 Prereq MBioS 465, Math 172, Phys 202. Techniques for the study of biological structure and function; spectroscopy, magnetic resonance, diffusion, sedimentation, electron microscopy, diffraction and scattering. Credit not granted for both 466 and 566.

478 Bioinformatics 3 (2-3) Prereq MBioS 301, 303, or Cpt S 355. Computer analysis of protein and nucleic acid sequences, functional genomics and proteomics data; modeling biological networks and pathways. Credit not granted for both MBioS 478 and 578.

490 [M] Genetics and Cell Biology Seminar 2 May be repeated for credit. Prereq MBioS 301. Classical literature in genetics and cell biology; current topics discussed by faculty experts in the field.

492 [M] Senior Projects in Genetics and Cell Biology 1 Prereq senior status in genetics and cell biology major. Written paper and seminar presentation on laboratory research project.

494 [M] Senior Project in Biochemistry 1 Prereq senior biochemistry major. Written paper and seminar presentation on laboratory research project.

495 Internship Training V 2 (0-4) to 4 (0-8) May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 8 hours. Prereq MBioS 301, 302, or 303; by permission only. Experience in work related to specific career interests. S, F grading.

496 Senior Project in Microbiology 1 Prereq senior Microbiology major. Written paper and seminar presentation on laboratory research or library project.

498 Directed Research V 1 (0-3) to 4 (0-12) May be repeated for credit. Prereq MBioS 301 or 303. Introduction to laboratory research.

499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. S, F grading.