Faculty of Arts & Sciences

An integrated and quantitative introduction to the principles of molecular biology with an emphasis on the experimental underpinning of key concepts. This course covers the biochemistry and structure of DNA; the Central Dogma of molecular biology (DNA replication and repair, transcription and RNA processing, and translation); and an overview of gene regulation and systems biology. The weekly section emphasizes problem solving and the scientific method. The investigative, discovery-based laboratory research project is optional.

This course provides an introduction to the principles of molecular and cellular biology and their connections to biomedicine. We explore how medical syndromes provide insights into biological processes and how biological mechanisms underlie human disease and physiology. Topics range from DNA repair, protein folding and vesicle transport to metabolism, cell migration and cancer. Lectures focus on the experimental evidence for key concepts, and the weekly sections combine a discovery-based laboratory research project with discussions that emphasize problem solving and primary literature.

The course integrates an introduction to the structure of macromolecules and a biochemical approach to cellular function. Topics addressing protein function will include enzyme kinetics, the characterization of major metabolic pathways and their interconnection into tightly regulated networks, and the manipulation of enzymes and pathways with mutations or drugs. An exploration of simple cells (red blood cells) to more complex tissues (muscle and liver) is used as a framework to discuss the progression in metabolic complexity. Students will also develop problem solving and analytical skills that are more generally applicable to the life sciences.

This course teaches fundamental concepts in cell biology in the context of individual life histories drawn from different parts of the world. Each life case focuses on key aspects of human development, growth, aging and disease while providing a nuanced view of the interplay between the life sciences, geography and culture. For example, a comparative discussion of aging in the United States and Japan is used to explore diet, cellular metabolism and its relationship to protein damage and turnover, while the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and AIDS in South Asia is used to explore mucosal immunity and the basis for estimating relative infection risk. Each case delves into the cell biology of major biological events across the life history of the human

The course aims to develop fundamental concepts of biochemistry as they apply to macromolecules, including protein and nucleic acid structure, thermodynamics and kinetics, ligand interactions and chemical equilibria. The course will also emphasize how these concepts are used in studies of the structure and function of biological molecules, including examples from metabolism. In the weekly section, students will undertake a discovery-based laboratory research project in which they will apply these concepts toward understanding the structure and function of the ATPase domain from the ABC transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP).

MCB 68 explores three fundamental fields of eukaryotic cell biology: chromosome segregation, cell motility, and neuroscience. Each topic is approached from a historic and technical perspective. Students will discover these systems as the scientific field did, learning how each successive advance in microscopy revealed new biological details. Students will come away with a theoretical and hands-on understanding of microscopy as well as a grasp of the biological findings each technology revealed.

An introduction to the ways in which the brain controls mental activities. The course covers the cells and signals that process and transmit information, and the ways in which neurons form circuits that change with experience. Topics include the neurobiology of perception, learning, memory, language, emotion, and mental illness.

Laboratory research in topics related to the Molecular and Cellular Biology Concentration under the direction of, or approved by, members of the Board of Tutors.

For honors candidates writing a thesis in Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Genomic information is accelerating the discovery and characterization of the molecular and cellular basis of human health and disease. This new lecture/discussion course will explore how knowledge from new technologies is used to advance our understanding of human biology. Topics will include personal genomics, understanding genome-wide associated studies, epigenetics, gene-environment interactions, and complex traits, the importance of model organisms to investigate molecular mechanisms, and the prospects for cancer genomics and gene/genome therapy. This lecture/discussion course will rely extensively on primary literature and contemporary review articles. Students will actively participate in class discussions and prepare four written summaries of assigned articles and two literature-based research projects (one in the middle of the term and one at the end of the term) that critically assess the scientific basis of popular news articles and consumer-targeted genomics information.

The neuronal basis of sensory processing and animal behavior will be explored in many different model systems as diverse as honeybees, weakly electric fish, and humans. Special emphasis is placed on the role of activity dependent modulation of neuronal connections in the context of learning, memory, and development of the nervous system.

Develops the mathematics needed for quantitative understanding of biological phenomena including data analysis, simple models, and framing quantitative questions. Topics include probability, transforms and linear algebra, and dynamical systems, each motivated by current biological research.

The essential function of a neuron is to processes complex signals derived from the external world. To accomplish this function, neurons employ diverse mechanisms that respond to chemical and electrical signals with incredible sensitivity and plasticity. In this course, we will study these electrical, molecular, and cellular processes using biophysical and biological approaches. Specifically, we will explore topics on excitable membranes, neurotransmission, ion channels, dendritic integration, intracellular signaling, and synaptic plasticity in the context of various model circuits in the brain.

The multidisciplinary application of epidemiology, molecular biology and genetics, pathogenesis, drug discovery, immunology and vaccine development, and economic analysis to understanding and combating major threats to human health in developing countries. Emphasis will be on critical readings and scientific writing. Grades will be based on papers in which students will propose the application of multidisciplinary approaches to global health threats not covered in lecture.

This general microbiology course will focus on the genetics, cell biology, and physiology of microorganisms. The goal of this course is to give the students a broad overview of microbial physiology in the context of disease and environmental applications. The course will primarily consist of lectures with problem sets; we will also incorporate current and classical literature.

A lecture and discussion course on how the brain develops, employs plasticity to adapt to its environment and undergoes functional decline with aging. Topics include the birth, death and identity of neurons, axon guidance and synaptic specificity, adult neurogenesis, developmental disorders of synaptic function and memory, including autism and Alzheimer's Disease. We explore how the brain loses function with aging. Course assignments emphasize critical evaluation of the primary literature, experimental design and scientific writing.

Follows trends in modern brain theory, focusing on local neuronal circuits as basic computational modules. Explores the relation between network architecture, dynamics, and function. Introduces tools from information theory, statistical inference, and the learning theory for the study of experience-dependent neural codes. Specific topics: computational principles of early sensory systems; adaptation and gain control in vision, dynamics of recurrent networks; feature selectivity in cortical circuits; memory; learning and synaptic plasticity; noise and chaos in neuronal systems.

How are biological patterns like spots and stripes generated? How do cells keep time? How do viral capsids self-assemble? In this course, these questions and many others are addressed through the lens of systems biology, an interdisciplinary field which explores general principles underlying complex biological phenomena. Key scientific skills like primary literature review, experimental design, and data interpretation will be introduced through weekly discussion sections and problem sets. Students from other disciplines are welcome.

"The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain." Lord Byron. Molecular basis of normal and pathological sensory perception, formation and modulation of sensory circuits during development and in the adult brain. Topics will include the mechanisms of sensory detection and discrimination, the discovery of key genes, cellular pathways and neural circuits affected in human disorders, molecular and genetic strategies for restoring normal sensation, coding of sensory information by the brain, establishment of appropriate connections in the developing brain, epigenetic influences on sensory function. Molecular, genetic and epigenetic approaches to normal and pathological sensing and associated behavior will be discussed.

MCB 142 aims to develop an understanding of the conceptual development of classical and molecular genetics, starting with Mendel and Darwin. Course work includes critical reading of selected papers on the chromosomal and molecular basis of heredity, student presentations, group discussion, and submission of written answers to problem sets. Participation in class discussion of readings is essential. A substantial essay on a mutually agreed topic is due at end of reading period.

An advanced treatment of heredity, including genetic, epigenetic and evolutionary aspects, as manifested in organisms from bacteria to man. Emphasis will be placed on how analytical genetic thinking and approaches can be applied to fundamental biological questions. Course format will include lectures, reading of the primary literature, student group projects and a final paper. Suitable for students in either the physical or biological sciences.

One of the current goals of neuroscience is to understand neuronal circuits underlying perception and behavior. Recent advances in neuroscience have allowed us to glimpse neuronal processes that link perception and decision making. How is sensory information processed in the brain? How does an animal choose its action? How does an animal learn from ever-changing environments and adjust their behavior? The course will examine neurophysiological studies in perception and decision-making.

At no time in life does the surrounding environment so potently shape brain function as in infancy and early childhood. This course integrates molecular/cellular biology with systems neuroscience to explore biological mechanisms underlying critical periods in brain development. Understanding how neuronal circuits are sculpted by experience will motivate further consideration of the social impact on therapy, education, policy, and ethics.

This course will survey primary research papers describing topics in molecular and cellular biology. We will focus on areas of disagreement, reading pairs of papers that come to antithetical conclusions. Which is correct? Can both points of view be right? What experiments or controls would bolster the hypotheses of one or the other paper? Topics will focus on seminal findings in cell and developmental biology. Each week a different area will be covered through a combination of paper discussions, an introductory lecture and a quiz.

An advanced course that emphasizes the scientific logic and technical innovations behind the discoveries of certain well-established cell and molecular mechanisms. Topics will include nuclear transport, ribosomal protein synthesis, protein folding, protein targeting to membranes, and protein degradation. The course will be taught by combining lecture material with student presentations and criticism of seminal papers with emphasis on experimental design, the importance of complementary in vivo and in vitro systems, and defining unanswered questions in the field.

This course presents a detailed examination of macromolecular structure and function based on insights obtained from using modern biophysical techniques. To demonstrate concepts, the course will follow the interplay between the human immunodeficiency virus and its host cell as the virus attempts to complete an infectious cycle.

Our goal is for students to gain a fundamental understanding of the genetic control of development in four genetically accessible animal models; the nematode C. elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the zebra fish Danio rio, and the mouse Mus musculus. A focus of the course is to compare and contrast genetic analysis of and the genetic control of developmental processes and mechanisms in these four organisms. The course consists of lectures, student presentations, and written assignments.

MCB 162 aims to develop an understanding of the major conceptual and experimental advances to our present understanding of heredity and evolution, connecting today's science with its history and some of the personalities involved. Course work includes critical reading of original literature, student presentations, group discussion, and submission of written answers to weekly problem sets. Participation in class discussion of readings is essential. A substantial essay on a mutually agreed topic is due at the end of reading period.

This course provides a foray into virology, advanced cell biology, biochemistry and structural biology topics through the lens of viruses as they invade their hosts. To demonstrate concepts, a particular emphasis is placed on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which provides well-studied examples of intricate virus-host interactions that occur throughout its complex life cycle.

The immune system is frontier at which molecular biology, cell biology, and genetics intersect with the pathogenesis of disease. The course examines in depth the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development and function of the immune system and also analyzes the immunological basis of human disease including AIDS and other infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, allergic disorders, primary immunodeficiency syndromes, transplantation, and cancer.

The brain has evolved a unique but very effective system to protect itself from invaders. In this course, we will explore the specific defenses that the nervous system uses to protect itself. We will also examine how some pathogens evade or breach those defenses and the impact of those invasions. Finally, we will explore how scientists have been able to translate their understanding of these pathogenic mechanisms into technologies for research and therapeutic applications.

A course on the properties of biological membranes, essential elements for cell individuality, communication between cells, and energy transduction. Topics include: membrane structure; membrane protein synthesis, insertion in the bilayer and targeting; transporters, pumps and channels; electron transport, H+ gradients and ATP synthesis; membrane receptors, G proteins and signal transduction; membrane fusion.

A course on the properties of protein complexes that serve as supports, machines and motors. Topics include : hemoglobin, actin filaments, myosin function, microtubules, kinesin, metabolon, photosynthesis, rotary motors, nuclear pores and transport, proteasome. Lecture on Monday is followed by student presentations on Wednesday. The course involves reading two research papers per week, and writing a research proposal.

Properties, mechanisms, and functional roles of circadian (daily) rhythms in organisms ranging from unicells to mammals. Cellular and molecular components, regulation of gene expression and physiological functions, genetic and biochemical analyses of circadian rhythms, and neurobiology of the mammalian circadian pacemaker. Mathematics and modeling of oscillatory systems and applications to circadian rhythms. Experimental studies of human rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle and hormone rhythms, with applications to sleep disorders.

This course will provide a comprehensive and cutting-edge primer on the burgeoning field of targeted genome editing. Topics discussed will include foundational science, recent rapid technological advances, and research and therapeutic applications of engineered zinc-finger nucleases, TALENs, and CRISPR-Cas nucleases. The class will meet twice per week, including a one-and-a-half hour lecture and a two-hour section in which students will discuss and critique original scientific papers relevant to that week's subject.

Chromosome morphogenesis in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Topics will include chromosome structure, interactions between chromosomes (sisters and homologs), DNA recombination and repair, topoisomerases, transposable elements and site-specific recombination, epigenetic inheritance. Genetic, cytological, and biochemical approaches will be integrated. Lecture, reading, and discussion of classical and current literature and consideration of future experimental directions.

This interdisciplinary course will examine the process of drug discovery and development through disease-driven examples. Topics include: the efficacy/toxicity balance, the differences between drugs and inhibitors, and the translation of cellular biochemistry to useful medicine.

This course builds an understanding of design principles in biology. We will ask why biological circuits are built the way they are and answer using mathematical models. Topics: elementary circuits in biological networks, robustness, pattern-formation in embryos, error-correction, and evolutionary optimization.

How do we find biologically meaningful patterns in a large amount of data? How do animals learn to use patterns in the environment to infer information despite the ignorance of the underlying laws? The course will introduce Bayesian analysis, maximum entropy principles, hidden markov models and pattern theory in order to study DNA sequence, gene expression and neural spike train data. The relevant biological background will be covered in depth.

Course seeks to develop an understanding of thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, with applications to quantitative problems in biology such as configurations of biopolymers, equilibrium states of matter, chemical reactions and protein transport, using the concepts of entropy, free energy, adsorption, chemical kinetics and molecular diffusion.

Focuses on how the tools of connectomics (nanoscale imaging, nanoscale and microscale cutting, fluorescent and electron-dense staining, image analysis algorithms) generate data about neural connectivity. Case studies: C. elegans, neuromuscular junction, retina, cortex.

Teaches advanced students how to give a good research talk while exposing them to seminal scientific discoveries. Emphasis will be on speaking style, lecture organization, and use of video projection tools.

Motility and sensory transduction; chemotaxis in bacteria; flagellar motility; prokaryotic and eukaryotic motor molecules.

This class teaches students how to publicly present scientific papers to a diverse audience with emphasis on contextualizing the scientific problem under discussion, critically presenting the essential data, and using an engaging presentation style.

This course covers the fundamentals of classical genetics, molecular genetics, macro- and microevolution, phylogenetics, and developmental evolution. The emphasis is on major concepts and terminology, reading landmark primary literature, and acquainting students with research techniques.

The biology of the individual cell lies at the heart of multi-cellular phenomena such as development and neural function. This course will emphasize critical evaluation of the primary literature, experimental design and scientific writing.

This course will introduce basic principles in general, organic and physical chemistry, including kinetics and thermodynamics, as well as macromolecular structure. Concepts will be illustrated with examples taken from the visual system.

Physical biology can be defined as a discipline that seeks to understand biological processes through the lens of physics and engineering. Faculty and students will unite to review current research with the aim of identifying and pondering interesting emerging questions in this area. Combination of lecture and discussion format. Comprises a series of two-week modules, most of which are given by a one or a pair of faculty drawn from MCB, Physics and SEAS.

MCB 350qc is a discussion forum on scientific integrity using case studies to examine basic ethical and regulatory requirements for conducting research, and fulfills the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) requirements for formal Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) instruction. Students are required to complete a pre-course assignment, attend all lectures including the final lecture in February, participate in class discussions, and complete a final course evaluation. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the course.

MCB 351qc is a refresher course in the Responsible Conduct of Research which must be completed by graduate students in the MCO PhD program every 4 years, and fulfills the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) requirements for formal Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) instruction.

This course presents the fundamental concepts that underlie modern light microscopy in a rigorous but non-mathematical way for biological applications. The students will learn about the four major frameworks for light (ray optics, wave optics, electromagnetism, and quantum optics). The ways lenses work, the theory of resolution, and the optical design of the compound microscope will be described. The course will also describe the photo-physical principles that underlie fluorescence and genetically encoded fluorescent proteins, and light detector and imaging strategies. Scanning (confocal and 2P), light sheet and super-resolution microcopies will also be described. We will end with a tour of the Harvard Center of Biological Imaging.