Graduate Courses

Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
(Interdepartmental Graduate Major)
Program Executive Committee: Janice Buss, Chair; L. Ambrosio, R. Robson
Participating Faculty: Jan Buss, Chair; L. Ambrosio, I. L. Anderson, A. Andreotti, R. E. Andrews,
D. Bassham, G. Beattie, P. Becraft, J. Beetham,
D. C. Beitz, M. Bhattacharyya, D. Birt, A. Bogdanove, B. Bonning, J. Buss, S. Carpenter, P. Chitnis,
C. Coffman, D. Dobbs, C. F. Ford, R. Hamilton,
D. Hannapel, E. R. Henderson, T. Huiatt,
T. S. Ingebritsen, J. Johansen, K. M. Johansen,
R. Jurenka, C. Komar, M. Lee, C. Link, J. E. Mayfield, M.A. McCloskey, W. A. Miller, F. C. Minion,
A. M. Myers, B. J. Nikolau, M. Nilsen-Hamilton,
A. Norris, D. Oliver, G. Phillips, J. Powell-Coffman,
J. Reecy, R. M. Robson, S. R. Rodermel,
R. F. Rosenbusch, D. S. Sakaguchi, P. S. Schnable,
S. S. Shen, M. H. Spalding, M. H. Stromer,
R. W. Thornburg,C. K. Tuggle, D. F. Voytas,
E. S. Wurtele

Undergraduate Study
A special program in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology is not offered for the baccalaureate. Undergraduates wishing to prepare for graduate study in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology should elect courses in biochemistry, botany, genetics, microbiology, and zoology; mathematics through calculus; chemistry through organic; and one year of physics. Biol 301, 301L, 302, and 302L are recommended to undergraduates desiring an introduction to this area.

Graduate Study
Work is offered for the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees with a major in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology in several cooperating departments: Agronomy; Animal Science; Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology; Biomedical Sciences; Botany; Entomology; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Horticulture; Plant Pathology; Veterinary Microbiology & Preventive Medicine; Veterinary Pathology; Zoology and Genetics.

Facilities and qualified faculty are available in these departments for conducting fundamental research in the various aspects of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Ongoing research projects include molecular and cellular studies of viral, prokaryotic, plant, and animal systems.

Students may enter the MCDB major in one of two ways: they may apply to and be accepted into the major directly or they may formally apply to the major after being accepted by a participating department. Students admitted into MCDB will take MCDB 697 in their first two semesters and choose a major professor from the participating faculty by the end of their second semester. Students admitted by a department will choose a major professor from the participating faculty in that department. All Ph.D. students take a core curriculum consisting of the following courses: one year of biochemistry (BBMB 404, 405 or BBMB 501, 502), molecular genetics (MCDB 502, 511, 545, or 676), cell biology (MCDB 528 or 529 or 540), developmental biology (MCDB 512, 533), and seminar in MCDB (MCDB 698). In seminar, students will make journal and research presentations and attend MCDB seminars. M.S. students take the above core but may delete either the molecular genetics, cell biology, or developmental biology component. Additional coursework is selected to meet departmental requirements and to satisfy individual student research interests. The foreign language requirement is determined by the student's major department. All graduate students are required to teach as part of their training for an advanced degree.

Students minoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the Ph.D. level must meet the following requirements: one year of biochemistry (BBMB 404, 405, or BBMB 501, 502; one course in each of two of the following three areas: molecular genetics (MCDB 502, 511, 545, or 676), cell biology (MCDB 528 or 529 or 540), developmental biology (MCDB 512, 533); and a semester of MCDB 698 (seminar in MCDB) each year.

Courses for Graduate Students
MCDB 502. Microbial Genetics. (Same as Micro 502.) See Microbiology.

MCDB 511. Molecular Genetics. (Same as Gen 511.) See Zoology and Genetics.

MCDB 512. Plant Growth and Development. (Same as Bot 512.) See Botany.

MCDB 520. Genetic Engineering. (Same as Gen 520.) See Zoology and Genetics.

MCDB 528. Cellular Growth and Regulation. (Same as Zool 528.) See Zoology and Genetics.

MCDB 529. Plant Cell Biology. (Same as Bot 529.) See Botany.

MCDB 533. Principles of Developmental Biology. (Same as Zool 533.) See Zoology and Genetics.

MCDB 540. Signal Transduction. (Same as Zool 540.) See Zoology and Genetics.

MCDB 545. Plant Molecular Biology. (Same as Bot 545.) See Botany.

MCDB 590. Special Topics. Cr. arr.

MCDB 645. Molecular Endocrinology; Hormones and Growth Factors. (Same as BBMB 645.) See Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.

MCDB 676. Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes. (Same as BBMB 676.) See Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.

MCDB 697. Graduate Research Rotation. (0-3 to 0-18) Cr. 1 to 6 each time taken. F.S. Graduate research projects performed under the supervision of selected faculty members in the molecular, cellular, and developmental biology program.

MCDB 698. Seminar in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. (Same as An S 698, BBMB 698, Bot 698E, Gen 698, Micro 698, V MPM 698, Zool 698.) (2-0) Cr. 1 to 2 each time taken. F.S. Student and faculty presentations.

MCDB 699. Research.