Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry

Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry courses

Director of undergraduate studies: Joan Steitz, 136E BCMM, 737-4418 [F]; Michael Koelle, CE 28A SHM, 737-5808 [Sp]; madeline.cavanaugh@yale.edu

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Professors   Susan Baserga, †Ronald Breaker, †Gary Brudvig, †Daniel DiMaio, Donald Engelman, Alan Garen, Mark Gerstein, Nigel Grindley, Mark Hochstrasser, Anthony Koleske, William Konigsberg, †I. George Miller, †Peter Moore, †Thomas Pollard, Lynne Regan, †David Schatz, Dieter Söll, Mark Solomon, Joan Steitz, Thomas Steitz, Scott Strobel, †William Summers, Patrick Sung, Kenneth Williams (Adjunct), †Sandra Wolin

Associate Professors   Thomas Biederer, Enrique De La Cruz, Michael Koelle, Andrew Miranker, Yorgo Modis, A. Elizabeth Rhoades, Yong Xiong

Assistant Professors   Christian Schlieker, Chuck Sindelar

Lecturers   Carol Bascom-Slack, Kaury Kucera, 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 for the Class of 2016 and subsequent classes   The basic science courses required of all majors include four half-term units of introductory biology (BIOL 101, 102, 103, 104); a general chemistry course with laboratory (CHEM 112, 113, or 114, 115, and 116L, 117L; or 118 and 119L); a year course in organic chemistry with laboratory (CHEM 124, 125, or 220, 230, and 222L, 223L); one term of physical chemistry (CHEM 328); two terms of calculus (MATH 112 and 115); and one year of physics (PHYS 170, 171, or 180, 181, or 200, 201). The B.A. major also requires one term of biology laboratory (MCDB 121L or E&EB 123L). Some of the prerequisites in chemistry, mathematics, and physics may be satisfied by receiving scores on Advanced Placement tests or placement examinations sufficient to earn acceleration credits in the particular subjects, even if the student does not choose to accelerate.

B.S. degree for the Class of 2016 and subsequent classes   Nine courses are required beyond the prerequisites: MB&B 300, 301, 302, 360L, and 490; two additional upper-level MB&B electives, one of which must be a lecture course; one quantitative reasoning elective (MATH 120 or above, STAT 105, 106, or 230 or above, CPSC 201 or above, or ENAS 130 or above); 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 470, 471, and 478, 479 may count toward these electives. Students may substitute CHEM 333 for MB&B 302. The quantitative reasoning requirement may not be fulfilled by Advanced Placement test scores.

B.A. degree for the Class of 2016 and subsequent classes   Seven courses are required beyond the prerequisites: MB&B 251L, 300, 301, 302, and 490; one additional upper-level MB&B elective; and one quantitative reasoning elective (MATH 120 or above, STAT 105, 106, or 230 or above, CPSC 201 or above, or ENAS 130 or above). Students choose the elective courses in consultation with a faculty adviser (see below). Students may substitute CHEM 333 for MB&B 302. 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 490, 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.

The major for the Class of 2015 and previous classes   Students who have already taken or placed out of either MCDB <120> or E&EB <122> are not required to take BIOL 101, 102, 103, or 104. Beyond the prerequisites, the requirements for the major are the same as those for the Class of 2016, except that the B.S. degree requires one additional biology elective at the 200 level or higher.

Students who have not yet taken or placed out of MCDB <120> or E&EB <122> must either take or place out of at least two of the four introductory biology modules, BIOL 101, 102, 103, 104. Beyond the prerequisites, the requirements for the major are the same as those for the Class of 2016, except that the B.S. degree requires one additional biology elective at the 200 level or higher.

Recommended courses for all classes   All B.S. majors are encouraged to include MB&B 470 or 471 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 194, MATH 246, or PHYS 301) and a full year of physical chemistry (CHEM 328 or 332, and 333). In place of one term of biophysics (MB&B 302) they may elect a full year of upper-level biophysics (MB&B 420 and 421). 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 300, 301) after one term of organic chemistry (CHEM 220).

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 2013:
E. De La Cruz, 423C JWG (432-5424)
W. Konigsberg, CE 14A SHM (785-4599)

Class of 2014:
J. Steitz, 136E BCMM (737-4418) [F]
Y. Xiong, 423A JWG (436-2608) [Sp]
D. Söll, 238A BASS (432-6200)

Class of 2015:
P. Sung, C130A SHM (785-4553)
C. Sindelar, CE 25 SHM (737-4752)

Class of 2016:
T. Biederer, CE 127 SHM (785-5465)
M. Hochstrasser, 224 BASS (432-5101)

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

Prerequisites   All classes—CHEM 112, 113, or 114, 115, and 116L, 117L (or 118, 119L); CHEM 124, 125, or 220, 230, and 222L, 223L; CHEM 328; MATH 112, 115; PHYS 170, 171, or 180, 181, or 200, 201; Class of 2016 and subsequent classes—B.S.—BIOL 101, 102, 103, 104; B.A.—BIOL 101, 102, 103, 104; MCDB 121L or E&EB 123L; Class of 2015 and previous classes—B.S.—MCDB <120> or E&EB <122>; B.A.—MCDB <120> or E&EB <122>, MCDB 121L or E&EB 123L

Number of courses   Class of 2016 and subsequent classes—B.S.—9 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req; B.A.—7 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req; Class of 2015 and previous classes—B.S.—10 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req; B.A.—7 term courses beyond prereqs, incl senior req

Specific courses required   All classes—B.S.—MB&B 300, 301, 302, 360L; B.A.—MB&B 251L, 300, 301, 302

Distribution of courses   All classes—B.S.—2 addtl MB&B electives, 1 quantitative reasoning elective, and 1 science elective, all as specified; B.A.—1 addtl MB&B elective and 1 quantitative reasoning elective, as specified; Class of 2015 and previous classes—B.S.—1 addtl biology elective at 200 level or higher

Substitution permitted   CHEM 333 for MB&B 302

Senior requirement   Senior project (MB&B 490)