Biochem 710 - EXPLORING BIOCHEMICAL FUNCTIONS OF MACROMOLECULES

    

Spring 2008-2009



 
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Course Description:

Section 001 (Class Number: 62217 )
Instructor(s): Brow,David A.; Rayment,Ivan
TA(s):
Credits: 2
Day: T   Time: 01:30 PM - 03:30 PM
Location: Rm 585 MSC   Website: http://www.biochem.wisc.edu/courses/biochem710/

Description:

This course focuses on topics and approaches applicable to an in-depth understanding of fundamental biochemical research, and is designed to provide graduate students with a solid foundation for the research phase of their careers. The course was developed with the four following goals in mind:

1. Consideration of research approaches that lead to a detailed understanding of fundamental biochemical processes and provide exposure to broad range of experimental strategies.

2. Class assignments that develop skills in critically reading and evaluating the scientific literature.

3. Exercises designed to promote problem solving skills.

4. Subject selections and lecture presentations designed to ensure that students have a broad exposure to a number of key areas of biochemistry, and that their understanding of the selected subjects is greater than would be possible from a typical survey course in general biochemistry.


The sessions will generally be organized in the following format:
A review article or other general reading will be distributed in the week prior to Session 1.

Session 1 (“Didactic Session”). Presentation by professor of problem, experimental approaches, etc.
(2 hours with student questions and discussion). Assignment of experimental research papers w/ questions, take home problems, etc for session 2.

Session 2 (“Discussion Session”). Group discussion of research papers, problem sets, assigned questions, etc.


Student Evaluation and Grading:

Student evaluation will be based on: 1) the instructor’s critiques of written homework assignments (and the ensuing oral discussion, weighted according to the instructor’s discretion), and 2) a final examination. For each unit, the instructor’s critiques will include a numerical grade from 1 to 10, 10 being best.

The final exam will consist of 7 “essay” questions (one from each two-week unit), only 4 of which should be answered. The exam will be “open-book”, and will last 2.5 hours. A brief study guide will be provided one week before the exam.

The score from the homework assignments (and class participation) will contribute two-thirds of the total score, and the exam score one-third. The course will be graded on an A-F scale.


Instructor Evaluation:

Students will have an opportunity at the end of the semester to anonymously evaluate each instructor and the course overall. The students’ evaluations will be distributed to the course faculty. Student feedback on the course is highly valued by the course faculty.
    


 

 

 

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