Course Description :
Research progress depends on applying the right technology
and experimental approaches to the problem at hand. This course focuses on building up
the experimental repertoire of students so that they are poised to maximally benefit from
existing and emerging technologies. Students will learn in detail how cutting edge
experiments are performed and how data is analyzed, with particular emphasis on controls
and statistics. A broad range of techniques will be covered in the areas of molecular biology,
biochemistry and genetics. In addition to the primary literature, students will be
introduced to key web-based resources for supplies, protocols, experimental design and
data interpretation. Students will be empowered to independently create research plans that
draw upon appropriate sources of information to assure that the proposed approaches are appropriate,
well described, and include foresight into potential problems and pitfalls.
The theme of the course will initially be on inflammatory stress
and its relationship to human diseases; other themes may be introduced in future
years. Areas that will be covered include sources, defenses, pathological effects
of oxidative stress as well as chemoprevention for mediation of oxidative stress.
Methodology that will be discussed in depth will include molecular, genetic, biochemical,
and imaging techniques.
For this course to be effective in propelling students into
careers as independent researchers, the science must drive the application of appropriate
technology. As such, technology will be taught in the context of important biological
problems. Students will read and analyze primary papers in the literature and discuss
the benefits and limitations of the techniques therein. Didactic lectures and in-depth
discussions of the primary literature will be combined with short student presentations,
home-assignments, team-oriented problem solving. As a final assignment, students will
exploit their new 'tool box' of experimental approaches to independently design research
plans to address current pressing biological problems. |