Graduate Catalog

GPLS 750 TOPICS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE

This course is aimed at developing skills necessary for understanding and discovering how changes in gene function cause human disease. The course revolves around a series of topics that use inherited disease processes to illustrate the physiological consequences of molecular, cellular, genetic phenomena. Recent breakthroughs in the identification of disease-related genes are presented and extended to a discussion about their impact on cell and organ function. Critical reading and discussion of landmark and/or timely papers are stressed. In this way, students learn interesting state-of-the-art material while developing skills and expertise in integrative biology and molecular medicine. Topics change yearly, but have included: paralysis, malignant hyperthermia, cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, glomerulitis-Alport's, cystic fibrosis, Liddle's syndrome, hyperinsulinemia of infancy, type II diabetes mellitus, influenza, migraine headache and neurogenic inflammation, and Duchenne dystrophy. Two or three one-hour classes per topic consist of interactive discussions following assigned readings and brief lectures. Required for all molecular cell biology and physiology students, open to others.

Credits

2

Offered

200606