Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry
Molecular
Biophysics & Biochemistry courses
Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry department
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Director of undergraduate studies: Michael Koelle, CE 28A SHM, 785-5808, madeline.cavanaugh@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Professors
*Ronald Breaker, *Gary Brudvig, Donald Engelman, Alan Garen, *Sankar Ghosh, Nigel Grindley, *Andrew Hamilton, Mark Hochstrasser, William Konigsberg, *Richard Lifton, *I. George Miller, *Peter Moore, Thomas Pollard, Anna Marie Pyle, Lynne Regan, *Michael Snyder, Dieter Söll, Joan Steitz, Thomas Steitz, Scott Strobel, *William Summers, Patrick Sung, Kenneth Williams (Adjunct)
Associate Professors
Susan Baserga, Mark Gerstein, Michael Koelle, Anthony Koleske, Andrew Miranker, Mark Solomon, Lise Thomas, Vinzenz Unger, *Sandra Wolin
Assistant Professors
Thomas Biederer, João Morais Cabral, Enrique de la Cruz, Yorgo Modis, A. Elizabeth Rhoades, Yong Xiong
Lecturers
Carol Bascom-Slack, Aruna Pawashe
*A joint appointment with primary affiliation in another department.
The programs offered by the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry are planned for students interested in the molecular and chemical basis of biological processes and are well suited to students hoping to attend medical school or pursue graduate studies in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, or biophysics. The B.S. major, designed for those with a strong commitment to research, provides an intensive introduction to laboratory techniques in biochemistry and biophysics. Students in this program usually carry out research projects in faculty laboratories during their junior and senior years. The B.A. major provides the intellectual discipline of biochemistry and biophysics for students who also wish to have sufficient time to pursue in-depth studies outside the major or who are interested in molecular biology as a liberal education; they, too, may engage in research during their junior and senior years.
Basic science prerequisites. The basic science courses required of all majors include one term of introductory biology (MCDB 120a or E&EB 122a or b); a general chemistry course with laboratory (CHEM 113 or 114, and 116L; or 118a and 119La); a year course in organic chemistry with laboratory (CHEM 125 and 126L; or either 220a, 221b or 225b, 227a, and the two-term sequence 222La or Lb, 223La or Lb); one term of physical chemistry (CHEM 328a); two terms of calculus (MATH 112a or b and 115a or b); and one year of physics with laboratory (either PHYS 180a, 181b and 165La, 166Lb, or 200a, 201b and 205La or Lb, 206La or Lb; 150a, 151b are allowed only with permission of the director of undergraduate studies). The B.A. major also requires one term of biology laboratory (MCDB 121La or E&EB 123Lb). Any of these prerequisites may also be satisfied by receiving scores on Advanced Placement tests sufficient to earn acceleration credits in the particular subjects (see chapter II), even if the student does not choose to accelerate.
B.S. degree. Ten courses are required beyond the prerequisites: MB&B 300a, 301b, 302b, 360Lb, and 490b; two additional upper-level MB&B electives, one of which must be a lecture course; one quantitative reasoning elective (MATH 120a or b or above, STAT 105a or above, CPSC 201a or b or above, or ENAS 130b or above); one biology elective at the 200 level or higher; and one elective in the natural sciences at a level higher than required in the prerequisites. Students choose the elective courses in consultation with a faculty adviser (see below). Only two course credits of MB&B 470a, 471b, and 478a, 479b may count toward these electives. Students may substitute CHEM 333b for MB&B 302b. The quantitative reasoning requirement may not be fulfilled by Advanced Placement test scores.
B.A. degree. Seven courses are required beyond the prerequisites: MB&B 251La, 300a, 301b, 302b, and 490b; one additional upper-level MB&B elective; and one quantitative reasoning elective (MATH 120a or b or above, STAT 105a or above, CPSC 201a or b or above, or ENAS 130b or above). Students choose the elective courses in consultation with a faculty adviser (see below). Students may substitute CHEM 333b for MB&B 302b. The quantitative reasoning requirement may not be fulfilled by Advanced Placement test scores.
Senior requirement. The senior requirement for both the B.S. and the B.A. is fulfilled by successful completion of MB&B 490b, The Senior Project. Students enrolled in this course prepare a written report and make an oral presentation of a literature project. Students meet with faculty members in charge of the colloquium during the first two weeks of the spring term to agree on a topic and an approach. It is appropriate for students who took research for credit earlier in their training to write on their research topic. It is inappropriate for students to submit a revised version of a past research report or to resubmit a literature paper prepared for another course. The literature project for the senior requirement should be original work approved by the faculty member overseeing the senior colloquium.
The written report is expected to be 15–25 pages in length (double-spaced, twelve-point font exclusive of figures). A first draft of the paper is due two weeks prior to the date of the oral presentation. Faculty in charge of the program will review the draft and return it to the student with suggestions. A final draft of the paper is due the first day of the reading period in the student's final term.
Students make a fifteen-minute oral presentation during the last three weeks of their final term in a general scientific forum open to the public. Other students in the series are expected to attend all presentations.
Credit/D/Fail option. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.
Recommended courses. All B.S. majors are encouraged to include MB&B 470a or 471b among their MB&B electives. The prerequisites in either general or organic chemistry should be taken in the freshman year.
Students with a strong interest in biophysics, including those planning to attend graduate school, are strongly encouraged to take courses beyond the basic requirements of the major. Such students are advised to take mathematics through differential equations (ENAS 194a or b, MATH 246a or b, or PHYS 301a) and a full year of physical chemistry (CHEM 328a or 332a, and 333b). In place of one term of biophysics (MB&B 302b) they may elect a full year of upper-level biophysics (MB&B 420a and 421b). Such revisions to the basic curriculum must be made in consultation with the faculty adviser.
Typical programs. Programs with the minimal number of science courses required of B.A. and B.S. majors are shown below. Students whose scores on the Advanced Placement tests make them eligible for advanced courses are urged to replace the elementary science courses by more advanced ones in their freshman year, and to complete the required biochemistry and physics courses by the end of their sophomore and junior years respectively. Students are permitted to take the biochemistry sequence (MB&B 300a, 301b) after one term of organic chemistry (CHEM 220a or 225b).
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Freshman
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Sophomore
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Junior
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Senior
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MCDB 120a or E&EB 122b
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CHEM 220a, 221b; 222La, 223Lb
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MB&B 300a, 301b
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CHEM 328a
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CHEM 113 or 114; 116L
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MATH 112a, 115b
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One quantitative reasoning elective
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MB&B 302b
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And, for B.A. major:
MCDB 121La or E&EB 123Lb |
PHYS 180a, 181b; 165La, 166Lb
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One MB&B elective
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And, for B.A. major:
MB&B 251La |
MB&B 490b
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And, for B.S. major:
MB&B 360Lb |
And, for B.S. major:
One biology elective One science elective A second MB&B elective |
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Combined B.S./M.S. degree program. A program leading to the simultaneous award of the B.S. and M.S. degrees is offered to exceptionally able undergraduates. Candidates for the combined degrees normally have entered Yale as freshmen with advanced placement equivalent to the first year of the B.S. curriculum in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry as described in "Typical programs" above. Potential candidates must apply to the director of undergraduate studies for admission to the program no later than the first week of their sixth term, having achieved at the time of application grades of A or A– in at least two-thirds of all course credits as well as in at least two-thirds of all credits in courses directly related to the B.S. major program. B.S./M.S. candidates must complete all the biology, mathematics, physics, and chemistry prerequisites of the B.S. major, as well as the 300-level biochemistry requirements (MB&B 300a, 301b, 302b or CHEM 333b, and MB&B 360Lb) and the quantitative reasoning elective. Prior to acceptance into the program, candidates must complete at least one term of Research in Biochemistry and Biophysics (MB&B 470a or 471b) in the laboratory where the thesis research will be completed. In lieu of the MB&B, biology, and science electives required of B.S. majors, B.S./M.S. candidates must complete two MB&B graduate-level lecture electives and four graduate-level electives that may be in MB&B or in other biological or physical sciences. During the senior year, candidates must complete two terms of Intensive Research in Biochemistry and Biophysics (MB&B 570a and 571b). In lieu of the senior colloquium required of B.S. majors, the B.S./M.S. candidate prepares a master's thesis based on his or her research results and makes a public oral defense of the thesis to a thesis committee and the director of undergraduate studies. The thesis committee is composed of the candidate's adviser and a second faculty member, at least one of whom must be a member of the MB&B department. During the last four terms of enrollment the candidate must take six course credits outside the major (and preferably outside the sciences). Course schedules during the seventh and eighth terms must be approved by the director of undergraduate studies. The master's thesis must be submitted by the last day of the reading period in the eighth term; it is evaluated by the research committee and the director of undergraduate studies. Further information about the program may be obtained from the MB&B undergraduate studies registrar.
MB&B Faculty Committee on the Undergraduate Major. Committee members are available for consultation throughout the year and are the only faculty advisers eligible to approve and sign MB&B majors' course schedules at the beginning of each term. Members acting as faculty advisers are:
Class of 2008:
L. Regan, 322 BASS (432-9843)
T. Biederer, C 127 SHM (785-5465)Class of 2009:
J. Morais Cabral, 434 BASS (436-4893)
M. Gerstein, 432A BASS (432-6105)Class of 2010:
D. Söll, 238 BASS (432-6200)
Y. Modis, 430 BASS (432-4330)Class of 2011:
W. Konigsberg, CE 14A SHM (785-4599)
N. Grindley, 336 BASS (432-3104)Director of B.S./M.S. degree program:
M. Koelle, CE 28A SHM (785-5808)
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites: B.S.—MCDB 120a or E&EB 122a or b; CHEM 113 or 114, 116L (or 118a, 119La); year course in organic chem (CHEM 125, or 220a, 221b, or 225b, 227a, with labs); 1 term of physical chem (CHEM 328a); MATH 112a or b, 115a or b; PHYS 180a, 181b (or 200a, 201b) and associated labs; B.A.—same, plus MCDB 121La or E&EB 123Lb
Number of courses: B.S.—10 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req, for letter grades; B.A.—7 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req, for letter grades
Specific courses required: B.S.—MB&B 300a, 301b, 302b, 360Lb; B.A.—MB&B 251La, 300a, 301b, 302b
Distribution of courses: B.S.—2 addtl MB&B electives, as specified; 1 quantitative reasoning elective, 1 biology elective, and 1 science elective, all as specified; B.A.—1 addtl MB&B elective and 1 quantitative reasoning elective, as specified
Substitution permitted: CHEM 333b for MB&B 302b
Senior requirement: Senior project (MB&B 490b)
Unless otherwise indicated, courses in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry count toward the natural science requirement for the Class of 2008.
