Course Descriptions
Undergraduate
Honors Option - H-Options are an enrichment opportunity for Honors College members and other academically talented students to undertake Honors-caliber study and receive Honors credit for non-Honors courses authorized by the department and the Honors College.
CHM/COM students
Graduate
Undergraduate Courses
For the most up to date list of course offerings by semester, please visit the MSU schedule of courses page: www.schedule.msu.edu
- Course: BMB 101 "Frontiers in Biochemistry" UP
- Description: Topics in Biochemistry research
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year
- Credits: 1
- Restrictions: Open only to freshman and sophomores.
- Prerequisites: None
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
Previous: Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 200 "Introduction to Biochemistry" UP
- Description: Introductions to the major classes of biomolecules and the metabolism of these molecules. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the relationship between the components of food and the components of living organisms. Special attention is paid to biochemistry in the context of human nutrition. This course is especially applicable for students wishing to pursue careers related to human and animal nutrition.
- Semester(s) offered: Summer and Fall of every year
- Credits: 4
- Restrictions: Not for Biochemistry majors.
- Prerequisites: CEM 143 or CEM 251 or CEM 351.
- Recommended Background: CEM 252 or CEM 352.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Previous: Summer 2022 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 370 "Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory" UP
- Description: Basic quantitative laboratory introducing biochemical methods and principles for the study of proteins and nucleic acids using data analysis.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year, Spring of every year
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Open to undergraduate students in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Biotechnology Major or in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major or in the Lyman Briggs Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Coordinate Major or in the Lyman Briggs-Biochemistry/Biotechnology Coordinate Major or approval of department.
- Prerequisites: {(MTH 116 or LB 117) or (MTH 103 and MTH 114) or (MTH 132 or LB 118 or MTH 152H) and (BS 171 or BS 191H or LB 145) and (CEM 162 or CEM 185H or LB 172L)
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 400 "Introduction to Bioinformatics" UP
Interdepartmental with Plant Biology, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Administered by Plant Biology - Description: Bioinformatic theory and practice. How to manage and analyze sequences, structures, gene expression, and other types of biological data.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of odd years (Fall of even years beginning Fall 2016)
- Credits: 3
- Prerequisites: (STT 200 or STT 201 or STT 231 or STT 421) and (PLB 203 or MMG 201 or BMB 200)
- Recommended Background: An introductory biology course covering basic genetics, macromolecules, evolution, energy metabolism, genetic materials, and signal transduction is recommended for non-biology majors. A statistic course covering random variable, distributions, and basic probability theory is recommended for biology majors.
- Course: BMB 401 "Comprehensive Biochemistry" (in person version) UP
- Description: Structure and function of major biomolecules, organization and regulation of metabolic pathways. Special emphasis on eukaryotic systems and the biochemical basis of human disease.
- This four-credit course is especially appropriate for those students preparing for careers in human and veterinary medicine and the allied health professions and fulfills the biochemistry requirements of many majors at Michigan State University. It does not meet the requirements for BMB and BMB/Biotechnology majors.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year
- Credits: 4
- Restrictions: Not open to students in the Biochemistry or Biochemistry/Biotechnology major. Not open to students with credit in BMB 461.
- Prerequisites: CEM 252 or CEM 352.
- Recommended Background: BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145
Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
Previous: Spring 2021 (PDF)
- BMB 401 ONLINE SECTIONS: To access information (and syllabi) for the Online Sections of BMB 401, click here:
BMB 401 Online Course
- Course: BMB 461 "Advanced Biochemistry I" UP
- Description: This course is the first part of a two-semester series designed to provide biochemistry majors with a detailed understanding of the structure, function, and biophysical properties of biomolecules in a wide variety of organisms.. This half of the series focuses on proteins and carbohydrates including enzyme catalysis and kinetics, the central metabolic pathways, and photosynthesis.
- This three-credit course fulfills a portion of the biochemistry requirements for BMB and BMB/Biotechnology majors and is designed to meet the needs of students wishing to pursue research-oriented careers in the life sciences.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year (and Spring of every year beginning 2015)
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Not open to students with credit in BMB 401.
- Prerequisites: (CEM 251 or CEM 351) and (CEM 252 or CEM 352) and (MTH 124 or MTH 132 or MTH 152H or LB 118) and (BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145) and (BS 162 or concurrently) or (BS 182H or concurrently) or (LB 144 or concurrently)
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Previous: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 462 "Advanced Biochemistry II" UP
- Description: Continuation of BMB 461. Structure, function, and biophysical properties of lipids and nucleic acids including membranes, lipid metabolism, signaling and metabolic regulation, DNA replication and repair, transcription, translation, and regulation of gene expression.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year (and Fall of every year beginning 2015)
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: None
- Prerequisites: BMB 461 or BMB 401
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Previous: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 470 (Formerly BMB 472) "Biochemistry Laboratory" UP
- Description: Methods of molecular biology and the underlying principles on which these methods are based.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Open to students in the BMB/Biotechnology major or in the BMB major or in the Lyman Briggs BMB Coordinate Major or in the Lyman Briggs-Biochemistry/Biotechnology Coordinate Major or approval of department.
- Prerequisites: BMB 461 and CEM 262.
- Recommended Background: BMB 462.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Previous: Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 471 "Biochemistry Laboratory UP
- Description: Biochemical methods and principles used in the study of enzymes (proteins), carbohydrates, lipids and cell organelles.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Open to students in the BMB/Biotechnology major or in the BMB major or in the Lyman Briggs BMB Coordinate Major or in the Lyman Briggs-Biochemistry/Biotechnology Coordinate Major or approval of department.
- Prerequisites: BMB 461 and CEM 262
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 490 "Biochemistry Research" UP
- Description: Participation in a laboratory or library research project by arrangement with a BMB faculty member.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year
- Credits: 1-4
- Restrictions: Approval of department. A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course. Total credits in BMB 490 and BMB 499 may not exceed 8.
- Prerequisites: None
- Course: BMB 495 "Undergraduate Seminar (W)" UP
- Description: Extension and synthesis of concepts of biochemistry. Relationships to societal issues.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Open only to students in BMB or Biochemistry/Biotechnology majors.
- Prerequisites: BMB 462 or concurrently and Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 499 "Senior Thesis (W)" UP
- Description: Laboratory research culminating in a thesis.
- A senior thesis is a capstone experience typically conducted over 2 semesters of 2-3 credits per semester. Students will conduct significant laboratory research and write a thesis based on their research. The thesis should be 15-20 pages long and shall include a significant survey of the field (2 page min) with references to original literature in biochemistry, molecular biology, and related fields. The thesis will be assessed by 2 professors (at least 1 from BMB). The research will be presented at the UURAF or a lab meeting/similar event if the UURAF conflicts with the student`s schedule.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year
- Credits: 1-8
- Restrictions: Open to juniors or seniors. Approval of department. A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits BMB 490 and BMB 499. A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Prerequisites: Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
CHM/COM Course Offerings
- Course: BMB 516 "Metabolic Biochemistry: Nutrients and Products" UP
- Description: Basic biochemical principles and terminology. Overview of metabolism of biomolecules of importance to medical biology and human pathophysiology.
- Semester(s) offered: Summer
- Credits: 1
- Restrictions: Open only to graduate-professional students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not open to students with credit in BMB 515 or BMB 527
- Most Recent Syllabus:
- Course: BMB 528 "Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics" UP
- Description: BMB 528 is a 2 credit hour course that provides students with knowledge of basic principles of molecular biology and human medical genetics, storage and expression of genetic information, and transmission of genetic information to progeny.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Open only to graduate-professional students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Course: BMB (PSL) 539 "Principles of Cell Biology and Pathophysiology" UP
- Description: Modern concepts of cell biology as a basis for understanding integration of structure (histology) and function (physiology) in health and disease (pathology). Introductions to adaptive growth response, cell injury, inflammation, hemodynamic disorders, and tissue repair.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year
- Credits: 4
- Restrictions: Open only to graduate-professional students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Interdepartmental With: Human Anatomy, Microbiology
- Administered By: Physiology
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2021 (PDF)
Graduate Course Offerings UP
For the most up to date list of course offerings by semester, please visit the MSU schedule of courses page: www.schedule.msu.edu
- Course: BMB 801 "Molecular Biology" UP
- Description: Organization of genes. Regulation of gene expression, replication, and recombination.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: BMB 462, CEM 383
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Previous: Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 802 "Metabolic Regulation and Signal Transduction" UP
- Description: Molecular basis for metabolic regulation. Molecular signalling mechanisms and mechanisms for allosteric and covalent protein modifications.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: BMB 801
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2021 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 803 "Protein Structure and Function" UP
- Description: Protein structure and relationship of function to structure. Applications of kinetic methods to elucidation of enzyme mechanisms and regulation. (NOTE: This course is to serve students in non-BMB programs who desire a course in protein structure, but who do not require training in enzyme mechanisms. NOT open to Biochemistry majors or students who already have credit in BMB 805.)
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year (1st ten weeks of the semester)
- Credits: Total Credits: 2 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours: 2
- Recommended Background: BMB 462 and CEM 383
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 805 "Protein Structure, Design, and Mechanism" UP
- Description: Protein architecture, dynamics, folding, stability, and evolution. Conformational changes, ligand binding, and kinetics. Elucidation of enzyme mechanisms.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: BMB 462 and CEM 383
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 816 "Integrative Toxicology: Mechanisms, Pathology and Regulation" (Interdepartmental with PHM) UP
- Description: Biochemical, molecular, and physiological mechanisms of toxicology. Functional and pathological responses of major organ systems to chemical insult. Mechanisms of mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and reproductive toxicology. Concepts in risk and safety assessment.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of odd years
- Credits: 3
- Prerequisite: PHM 819
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2019 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 825 "Cell Structure and Function" (Interdepartmental with MMG and PSL) UP
- Description: Molecular basis of structure and function. Cell properties: reproduction, dynamic organization, integration, programmed and integrative information transfer. Original investigations in all five kingsdoms.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: BMB 401 or BMB 461.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022
- Previous:
- Course: NEW VERSION: BMB 829 "Special Problems in Macromolecular Analysis and Synthesis"
- Description: Techniques of isolation and characterization of macromolecules. (Topics may vary)
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of every year (starting Fall 2022)
- Credits: 1 per module (5 modules total)
- Recommended background: BMB 462 or concurrently.
- Module One Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Module Two Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Module Three Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Module Four Syllabus: Fall 2022 (PDF)
- Module Five Syllabus: (Starting Fall 2023)
- Course: BMB 855 "Special Problems" UP
- Description: Laboratory or library research on special problems in biochemistry.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year.
- Credits: 1-4
- Restrictions: Approval of department. A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Course: BMB 856 "Plant Molecular and Omic Biology" (Interdepartmental with PLB, CSS. Administered by PLB.) UP
- Description: Recent advances in genetics and molecular biology of higher plants.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring 2021, and then every Spring semester after that
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: ZOL 341
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Schedule: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 864 "Plant Biochemistry" (Interdepartmental with PLB) UP
- Description: Biochemistry unique to photosynthetic organisms. Photosynthetic and respiratory electron transport, nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide fixation, lipid metabolism, carbon partitioning, cell walls, sulfur and nitrogen metabolism and specialized metabolism including isoprenoids, phenylpropanoids and alkaloids.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring 2022
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: (BMB 401 or BMB 462) and prior undergraduate course in plant physiology.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: COMING SOON: BMB 864 "Biotechnology and Plant
- Biotechnology " (Interdepartmental with PLB) UP
- Description: Biotechnological applications of plant biochemistry. Development of concepts and ideas that may have the potential for commercialization.
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of even years (starting 2024)
- Credits: 3
- Prerequisites: BMB 461 or BMB 462 or (PLB 866 or concurrently)
- Recommended background: (BMB 801 or BMB 961) or Interest in applied biotechnology, basic knowledge in molecular biology, genomics, or biochemistry.
- Most Recent Syllabus: TBA
- Course: BMB 866 "Molecular Plant Physiology" (Interdepartmental with PLB) UP
- Description: PLB 866 is designed for first year graduate students in the molecular plant sciences program but is open to anyone wanting a comprehensive treatment of molecular plant physiology. This is a core course in the MPS program and it is assumed that the student will have taken PLB 856. Topics in that course will not be repeated in this course. The main topics will be molecular (including biochemical) aspects of plant physiology including cell biology, photosynthesis, cell wall metabolism, lipid metabolism and other topics. A quantitative understanding of plant processes will be emphasized through a series of homework exercises.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall 2020, and then every Fall semester after that
- Credits: 3
- Recommended background: Enrolled in a graduate program in plant molecular science. An advanced undergraduate course in biochemistry or plant physiology.
- Most Recent Syllabus: Fall 2021 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 888 "Laboratory Rotation" UP
- Description: Participation in research laboratories to learn experimental techniques and approaches, broaden research experience, and assess research interests prior to selecting a thesis or dissertation advisor.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year
- Credits: 1-4
- Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in Biochemistry. A student may earn a maximum of 12 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Course: BMB 899 "Master's Thesis Research" UP
- Description: Master's thesis research.
- Semester(s) offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer of every year
- Credits: 1-12
- Restrictions: Open only to master's students in Biochemistry. A student may earn a maximum of 36 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Course: BMB 960 "Selected Topics in Biochemistry I" UP
- Description: Selected topics in Biochemistry with substantial student presentations
- Semester(s) offered: Fall and Spring of every year
- Credits: 1-3
- Restrictions: Open to graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or approval of department. A student may earn a maximum of 7 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Course: BMB 960 Sect 301 "Plant Biotechnology Research Forum" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Fall (First 8 weeks of the semester)
Credits: 1 - Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor
- Description:
This is an advanced seminar focusing on reading of the literature and student presentations on topics related to plant biotechnology. Topic areas in general address modern problems in human health and environmental sustainability. Specifically, areas in the past have included the boosting of lipid productivity in oleaginous microalga, synthetic biology and microbial biosynthesis from industrial perspective, abiotic stress tolerance as agronomic trait and its quantification, electronically controlled microorganisms, the organization, function and evolution of plant metabolism and synthetic biology and the future of space exploration. The course is part of the training program in plant biotechnology 'Plants for Health and Sustainability' (https://plantmetabolism.natsci.msu.edu/), though students not participating in the training program are also very welcome to take the course. Confirmed speakers for the associated Annual Symposium on Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability are representatives from the industry, research foundations, national labs and academia.
Goals for the course include increasing competence in reading scientific literature and oral presentation skills, and to prepare students for engagement in the affiliated Plant Biotechnology Symposium (https://plantmetabolism.natsci.msu.edu/posts/save-the-dates-2019-annual-symposium/. IMPORTANT: Attendance of the Symposium taking place October 31 to November 2 will be a required portion of the course.
During each class, two students will give presentations based on 2-3 published works. The topics and papers will be selected based upon the topics contributed by, and relevant for the background of the speakers, and thus will vary each year. The course will meet once each week for 6-8 weeks. The actual day/time/location of the course is Wednesdays 3:00-4:30 pm, in MPS2060. While the instructors will provide the students with suggested topics and papers, students are encouraged to go beyond the suggested publications.
If you are not a declared Biochemistry graduate student, you will need to submit the online override request form (http://bmb.natsci.msu.edu/undergraduate/override-request-special-permissions-form/) and then contact the instructors (Drs Björn Hamberger, hamberge@msu.edu, Greg Bonito, bonito@msu.edu, Rob Last, lastr@msu.edu) for permission to enroll. Enrollment will be limited to 14 students.
The class meeting after the Annual Symposium on Plant Biotechnology for Health and Sustainability, will be used to evaluate the course and the symposium. We hope that each student will participate actively in the symposium.
Format: During each class meeting two students will deliver 25+5 presentations and discussion, based upon the assigned topics. We suggest that you read the papers that we listed to get you started. Please feel free to include other papers, book chapters or online resources in your reading and for the preparation of the presentation.
The suggested overall format is: 5' of introduction, suitable for students familiar with molecular techniques but approachable for students with a variety of backgrounds. 15' of discussion of key experiments, making sure to highlight both basic biological insight and applications when appropriate. 5' of conclusions including ideas for future experimental and engineering approaches, insights and ideas for your research that the work gave you or anything else that might be of interest to the class members. 5’ of open discussion, moderated by the speaker.
Grading will be based upon class participation (30%) and the research presentation (70%).
Course materials will be made available to enrolled students at D2L.msu.edu. - Syllabus: Fall 2019 (PDF)
- Previous: Fall 2018 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 960 001/GEN 800 001 "Genetic Applications for Improving Food Security" UP
- Semester(s) offered: TBD
- Credits: 1
- Description: As the world population is projected to reach 9 billion people by the year 2050, issues of food security are increasingly pressing. In this course, students will be introduced to ways in which genetics and genomics tools are used to enhance crop and livestock production in a changing world. We plan to investigate how -omics and other “big data” studies in particular can provide solutions to relevant issues such as climate change, antibiotic resistance, animal welfare concerns, and human malnutrition. Throughout the semester, students will be asked to present scientific papers related to these topics, prepare questions, and moderate class discussion. In addition, a component of this seminar will be focused on improving students’ science communication skills to the general public and understanding how genetic research has manifested in science policy.
- Syllabus: Fall 2017 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 960 "Photosynthesis" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Spring of every year (May vary in the future. Please visit the schedule of courses page for updates: www.schedule.msu.edu)
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Approval of the Instructor (Limited to 12 students)
- Description: The course will focus on the mechanisms and measurements of photosynthetic energy capture, CO2 fixation and production of energy-rich molecules, as well as the limitations and possible improvements to these processes for food and fuel. The course is designed to meet the needs of MSU graduate students with projects related to photosynthesis and integrate knowledge across a range of disciplines, ranging from chemistry and biophysics of light capture, metabolisms, bioenergy and cell biology, through synthetic biology and gene discovery. Each set of lectures will start with background and move to higher-level discussion based on literature and applications (e.g. scientific measurements, data analyses, etc.). Course evaluation will be by research-related presentations and a final poster session that demonstrates the integration of new knowledge of photosynthesis in on-going research projects.
- NOTE: To reserve a spot in this course, you will first need to contact Dr. David Kramer at kramerd8@msu.edu and you'll also need to complete the BMB Course Override link.
- Syllabus: Spring 2022
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 960 "Intersection of Mitochondrial Science and Medicine " UP
- Semester(s) offered: TBD
- Credits: 1
- Description: BMB and the MSU Center for Mitochondrial Science and Medicine will offer a graduate level seminar course (BMB 960) in Spring Semester 2018 on the topic of “Intersection of Mitochondrial Science and Medicine,” with the objective of exploring mitochondrial biochemistry in the context of the current field of mitochondrial medicine, including clinical correlations. The course will feature a combination of faculty and student presentations and consider topics such as: impact of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutagenesis and variability on organismal function, regulation of respiration and mitochondrial transcription by cell signaling, role of mitochondria in memory and neurodegenerative disease and the general field of mitochondrial health, oxidative stress and stress response, toxicity and disease.
- Syllabus: Spring 2018 (PDF)
- Course: BMB 961 "Selected Topics in Biochemistry II" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Fall and Spring of every year
- Credits: 1-3
- Restrictions: Open to graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology or approval of department.
- Description: Selected topics in Biochemistry with faculty lectures, laboratory, or other instruction
- Course: BMB 961 "Genomics and Proteomics and Complex Genetic Systems" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Fall of even years
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor
- Prerequisites: BMB 801 or instructor approved equivalent
- Description: Coming Soon
- NOTE: If you are NOT a Biochemistry major, you must contact Dr. John Lapres (lapres@msu.edu) for approval. (NOTE: Please fill out this override request form and then contact the instructor: https://bmb.natsci.msu.edu/undergraduate/override-request-special-permissions-form/).
- Syllabus: Fall 2020 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 961 "Metals in Biology" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Varies - please check the schedule of courses page for updates: www.schedule.msu.edu
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor
- Description: Sec 004-Topic: "Metals in Biology" is intended for graduate students with backgrounds in biochemistry, molecular/cellular biology, microbiology, and/or chemistry. (May be cross-listed with the MMG and CMB departments.) In this course we will discuss the roles of metals in biological systems, including metalloenzymes, metallocenter biosynthesis, metal transport, metal toxicity, and metaloregulation. Discussions will focus on the catalytic mechanisms as well as they way in which the different protein environments 'tune' their active site. Student presentations will be an important emphasis in this class.
- Syllabus: Spring 2021
Schedule: Spring 2021 - Previous: Spring 2020
- Course: BMB 961 "Machine Learning for Molecular Dynamics" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Usually offered in Spring (check www. schedule.msu.edu for updates)
- Credits: 2
- Prerequisites: Experience with Python
- Description: For almost 50 years, researchers have used in silico approaches to gain insight into the dynamics of molecular systems. Advances in computational hardware and algorithms have greatly increased the reach of these simulations both in the size of the systems studied and the timescales of the events of interest. Machine learning is bringing transformative changes to the field of molecular dynamics, impacting how initial structures and parameters are generated, how simulations are run, and how they are analyzed. This graduate-level course will provide an introduction to both machine learning and molecular dynamics theory. Students will learn about modern tools for both MD and ML, and apply them to problems in a collaborative, hands-on environment
- NOTE: For more information and permission to enroll, please contact Dr. Alex Dickson by email (alexrd@msu.edu). Please also submit an override request at https://bmb.natsci.msu.edu/undergraduate/override-request-special-permissions-form/
- Syllabus: Spring 2022 (PDF)
- Previous:
- Course: BMB 961 sec 301 "Gaps, Missteps, and Errors in Statistical Data Analysis" UP
- Semester(s) offered: TBD
- Credits: 1
- Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor. If you are not a declared Biochemistry graduate student, please contact the course instructor, Dr. Arjun Krishnan (arjun@msu.edu), and then submit the online override request form found here: https://bmb.natsci.msu.edu/undergraduate/override-request-special-permissions-form/.
- Prerequisites: This is *not* an introductory course in statistics or programming.
We will assume: 1) Familiarity with basic statistics & probability. 2) Ability to
do basic data wrangling, analyses, & visualization using R or Python.
• Strongly recommended MSU courses: CMSE 201 and CMSE 890 Sec 301-or-304 and Sec 302.
- Description:
This is an advanced short (1-credit) course designed to:
1) Discuss common misunderstandings & typical errors in the practice of statistical data analysis.
2) Provide a mental toolkit for critical thinking and enquiry of analytical methods and results.
Classes will involve lectures, discussions, hands-on exercises, and homework about concepts critical to the day-to-day use and consumption of quantitative/computational techniques.
Topics
Underpowered statistics • Pseudoreplication • P-hacking & multiple hypothesis correction • Difference in significance & significant differences • Base rates & permutation tests • Regression to the mean • Descriptive statistics & spurious correlations • Estimation of error and uncertainty • (Others under consideration; Subject to small changes) - Syllabus: TBD
- Course: BMB 961 "Drug Discovery and Medicinal Chemistry" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Please check the schedule of courses page for current information (www.schedule.msu.edu)
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Open to doctoral students in the Departments of Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology or approval of department.
- Description: Fundamentals of pharmaceutical drug discovery including basic chemistry, drug-design principles, high throughput screening, computational modeling, and drug metabolic pathways.
- If you are unable to enroll on your own, or are an undergraduate student, you will
need to submit the BMB online course override form found in the 'Undergraduate' tab
drop down menu on the BMB Dept website homepage: www.bmb.natsci.msu.edu and then contact Dr. Kin Sing (sing@msu.edu) for approval to enroll.
Syllabus: Academic Year 2021-2022 - NOTE: Course is taught in conjunction with PHM 809.
- Course: BMB 961 "Imaging Processing and Analysis of Cryo-EM Data" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Varies - please check the class schedules page here: https://student.msu.edu/search
- Credits: 2
- Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor
- Description: TBD
Syllabus: Spring 2021 - Course: BMB 961 "Cryo Electron Microscopy of Biological Samples Laboratory" UP
- Semester(s) offered: Varies - please check the class schedules page here: https://student.msu.edu/search
- Credits: 3
- Restrictions: Restricted to Biochemistry Graduate Students or Approval of the Instructor
-
Description: First half of the semester involves weekly lectures on cryo-EM theory and hands on training. Second half of the semester involves student projects. In addition to the lectures on Mondays, there will be a lab component during the week, with hours to be arranged. NOTE: Cost is $1,000 to offset perishable items. A midterm will be given on theory. The final exam will be a combination of a practical demonstrating use of the instrument and a presentation to the class of the project progress. Open primarily to graduate students. Undergraduates can also participate, although this will likely be for rare circumstances. There will be 8 spots available in this course but everyone will need instructor permission to enroll. Please contact Dr. Parent at kparent@msu.edu and then submit the Biochemistry online override request form found in the "Undergraduate" tab drop down menu, on the Biochemistry department website homepage: bmb.natsci.msu.edu. Course will be held in the Engineering Research Center East (cryo-EM facility), room D122 for the Monday lectures and the arranged labs .
- Syllabus: Fall 2022
- Previous: Fall 2021
- Course: BMB 978 Seminar in Biochemistry UP
- Semester: Fall of every year, Spring of every year
- Credits: Total Credits: 1
- Reenrollment Information: A student may earn a maximum of 8 credits in all enrollments for this course.
- Restrictions: Open only to graduate students in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- Description: BMB Colloquium seminars on biochemistry research mainly with visiting scientists. Seminars are held on Thursday mornings.