Course Focus:

Advanced study of Proteogenomics as a tool for elucidating functional mechanisms in the whole organism. Bioinformatics as an approach to analyze and interpret genome/proteome data, and animal models for testing hypotheses on the function of specific gene products. Use of genome and proteome data for targeted drug development. State-of-the-art analytical and synthetic experimental approaches to biomedical problems will be presented. The lab portion will include sample preparation and analysis, using the various technologies identified.

Course Goals:

The course will provide students with

• an understanding of genomics and proteomics as a tool for elucidating functional mechanisms in the whole organism
• introduction to modern high through-put methods,
• basic knowledge of bioinformatics as an approach to understanding genome data
• an appreciation for the value of animal models for testing hypotheses on the roles of specific genes and for drug development

Prerequisites:

• Biochemistry (Bioc 7300) or equivalent level course
• Molecular Cell Biology (ANAT 7202/MCBI 7410) or equivalent level course
• Consent of course director

The class will meet for 4 x 50 minute lectures per week, or 8 hours of laboratory or small group sessions per week. Lectures will present basic information, broad overviews and specific examples from the published literature and texts.

Laboratories will be used to study material in depth. Laboratories will have format of group session, computer exercise, problem solving, and methods demonstration.

Students will do assigned reading, participate in informal class discussions, and write two research papers on subjects chosen in consultation with the instructor. During laboratory hours students will be introduced to state-of-the-art experimental methods including Bioinformatics tools and software.

Below are three texts for background reference (limited parts of these will be covered in this course). Recent articles will constitute the main readings. Reading will be assigned from specific articles chosen for their appropriateness in terms of both subject matter and level of presentation.

	A Primer in Genome Science, Gibson and Muse, 2nd ed., Sinauer Associates Inc., 2004.
	Genomes, Brown, TA, 2nd ed., BIOS Scientific Publishers, Ltd. , 2002
	Proteomics : From Sequence to Function, Pennington and Dunn, Springer-Verlag, New York, 2001.