Elective Courses

BMCDB Advisor-Approved Electives

This list of advisor-approved electives is not comprehensive, especially when new classes are added to the course catalog. 
BMCDB students are encouraged to consult their academic advisors if they wish to take an elective course that is not listed here.

Offered in Fall Quarter

  • BCB 251, Molecular Mechanisms in Early Development (3 units)
  • This elective is only offered every other year; it will next be offered in Fall 2025. 

    Analysis of the early events of development including: germ cells and other stem cells, gametogenesis, meiosis, imprinting, fertilization, genetically-engineered organisms, egg activation and establishment of embryonic polarity with focus on cellular events including gene regulation and cell signaling.
  • BCB 257, Cell Proliferation and Cancer Genes (3 units)
  • Genetic and molecular alterations underlying the conversion of normal cells to cancers, emphasizing regulatory mechanisms and pathways. Critical reading of the current literature and development of experimental approaches.
  • BIM 242, Biomedical Imaging (4 units)
  • Basic physics and engineering principles of image science. Emphasis on ionizing and nonionizing radiation production and interactions with the body and detectors. Major imaging systems: radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and optical microscopy.
  • CHE 238, Introduction to Chemical Biology (3 units)
  • Synthesis of complex molecules in nature. Use of biosynthetic pathways in synthesis of new chemical entities. Applications of small molecules in chemical genetics and structural biology. Solving biological problems using synthetic biomolecules.
  • CHE 245, Mechanistic Enzymology (3 units)
  • Advanced topics in chemical kinetics relevant to enzymes, enzyme kinetics, theory of enzyme catalysis, and the analysis of a selection of organic enzyme reaction mechanisms by the tools introduced in the first part of the course.
  • CLH 212, Introduction to Stem Cell Biology (3 units)
  • Each week will focus on different aspects of stem cells, including general concepts, stem cells in lower organisms, embryonic stem cells and cellular reprogramming.
  • FST 201, Food Chemistry and Biochemistry (4 units)
  • Advanced topics in food chemistry and biochemistry, emphasizing the application of the basic principles of chemistry and biochemistry to food composition, properties, preservation and processing. Chemical structures, interactions, reaction mechanisms and experimental methods are stressed. 

    Undergraduate course in food chemistry is recommended.
  • GGG 201A, Advanced Genetic Analysis (5 units)
  • Fundamentals of genetic analysis and chromosome structure using model organisms including mutation, transmission, complementation, suppression, and enhancement as well as epigenetic phenomena at the whole organism and molecular levels.
  • IMM 201, Introductory Immunology (4 units)
  • Comprehensive introduction to the principles of immunology.
  • MCP 210A, Advanced Physiology (4 units)
  • Advanced course on fundamental principles of cell physiology, transport physiology, signal transduction, physiology of excitable cells, and muscle physiology.
  • MIC 215, Recombinant DNA (3 units)
  • Application of recombinant DNA technology to modern problems in biology, biochemistry, and genetics, emphasizing molecular cloning strategies, choice of vectors, preparation of insert DNA, and selection procedures.
  • MIC 262, Advanced General and Molecular Virology (3 units)
  • Advanced integrated presentation of animal, bacterial, and plant viruses, including their structure, modes of regulation, expression and replication, and effects on host cells and organisms.
  • NSC 221, Cellular Neurophysiology (4 units)
  • Physiological aspects of cellular and subcellular organization of the nervous system. Neuronal cell biology, the structure and function of ion channels, electrical excitability, signaling cascades, sensory transduction and, mechanisms of synaptic transmission, and the cellular basis of learning and memory.
  • NSC 226, Molecular And Developmental Neurobiology (4 units)
  • Key issues in developmental and molecular neurobiology. Topics include neural induction and patterning, neurogenesis, axon guidance, synapse development and remodeling. Discussion emphasis on critical evaluation of the experiments and methods described in primary seminal research papers and current literature.

Offered in Winter Quarter

  • BCB 255, Molecular Mechanisms in Pattern Formation & Development (3 units)

  • This elective is offered every other year; it will next be offered in Winter 2027.

    Genetic and molecular analysis of mechanisms that control animal development after fertilization. Establishment of embryonic axes, cell fate and embryonic pattern; induction, apoptosis, tissue patterning. Critical reading of current literature in C. elegans, Drosophila, and mouse genetic model systems.

  • BCB 256, Cell & Molecular Biology of Cancer (3 units)

  • This elective is offered every other year; it will next be offered in Winter 2026.

    Analysis of the pathologic alterations of cancer cells and therapeutic opportunities; with emphasis on animal models, tumor immunotherapy, stress response, metabolism, epigenetics, microRNAs and non-coding RNAs, and microbiota and inflammation.

  • CLH 230, Congestive Heart Failure, Mechanism of Disease (3 units)
  • Genetic and molecular alterations underlying the conversion of normal cells to cancers, emphasizing regulatory mechanisms and pathways. Critical reading of the current literature and development of experimental approaches.
  • FST 211, Lipids: Chemistry and Nutrition (3 units)
  • Chemistry of lipids as it pertains to research in food and nutrition. Relations between lipid structure and their physical properties in tissues and foods. Regulation of absorption, transport, and metabolism of lipids. Implications of dietary fats and health.
  • GGG 201B, Genomics (5 units)
  • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Experimental strategies and analytical challenges of modern genomics research and the theory and mechanics of data analysis. Structural, functional, and comparative genomics. Related issues in bioinformatics.
  • MCP 210B, Advanced Physiology (5 units)
  • Advanced course in general principles of physiology, surveying homeostasis, cellular and selected topis, and neurophysiology.
  • MIC 200B, Advanced Bacteriology (3 units)
  • Intended for first-year graduate students in Microbiology and closely-related fields. Advanced topics in phylogeny, physiology and diversity of bacteria.
  • MIC 276, Advanced Concepts in DNA Metabolism (3 units)
  • DNA damage checkpoints, homologous recombination, and meiotic recombination. An advanced treatment of the clinical and current literature to discuss emerging principles and current models in these research areas.
  • MMI 200D, Mechanisms for Microbial Interactions with Hosts (3 units)
  • Study of mechanisms involved in microbial interactions within a host environment. The following principles are basic to understanding these interactions: host recognition, invasion, competition and growth, and host defense.
  • NSC 201, Neuroanatomy (3 units)
  • Mix of lectures, demonstrations, and dissections, emphasizing functional significance of neuroanatomy from a biological perspective, with comparisons between human and non-human brains. Emphasis placed on functional anatomy of the nervous system, integrated with cellular, molecular, cognitive, and developmental concepts.
  • NUT 252, Nutrition and Development (3 units)
  • Relationship of nutrition to prenatal and early postnatal development.
  • PBI 214, Higher Plant Cell Walls (3 units)
  • Lectures focus on the structure, analysis, synthesis, and development-related metabolism of cell walls. Discussions center on analysis of scientific papers related to lecture topics.
  • PHA 207, Drug Discovery and Development (3 units)
  • Survey of the process by which a drug is discovered, developed and made available to the public. Topics include drug identification and optimization, safety testing, clinical evaluation, regulatory issues, intellectual property, formulation, and the global pharmaceutical industry.
  • PTX 202, Principles Of Pharmacology And Toxicology II (4 units)
  • Second of three courses presenting fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology. Principles of pharmacodynamics and mechanisms of drug/toxicant actions.

Offered in Spring Quarter

  • BPH 231, Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (3 units)
  • Principles and applications of magnetic resonance in biomedicine. Fundamental concepts and the biophysical basis for magnetic resonance applications in areas of tissue characterization/imaging, metabolic regulation, and cellular bioenergetics.
  • BPH 241, Membrane Biology (3 units)
  • Advanced topics on membrane biochemistry and biophysics. Relationship of the unique properties of biomembranes to their roles in cell biology and physiology.
  • CHE 217, X-Ray Structure Determination (3 units)
  • ntroduction to x-ray structure determination; crystals, symmetry, diffraction geometry, sample preparation and handling, diffraction apparatus and data collection, methods of structure solution and refinement, presentation of results, text, tables and graphics, crystallographic literature.
  • CHE 241C, Mass Spectrometry (3 units)
  • Mass spectrometry and related methods with emphasis on ionization methods, mass analyzers, and detectors. Related methods may include ion-molecule reactions, unimolecular dissociation of organic and bio-organic compounds, and applications in biological and environmental analysis.
  • FST 204, Advanced Food Microbiology (3 units)
  • Principles and recent developments in food microbiology. Mechanisms of foodborne disease, pathogen detection, parameters of microbial growth and control in foods, intestinal microbiology including probiotics and prebiotics, and the microbiology of food and beverage fermentations.
  • MCP 210C, Advanced Physiology (6 units)
  • Graduate level instruction in the general principles of physiology and the neural and humoral control of the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal, sensory, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems.
  • MCP 220, General and Comparative Physiology of Reproduction (3 units)
  • Basic phenomena of sexual and asexual reproduction and comparisons of processes in a wide variety of animals; gamete formation, structure, and metabolism; fertilization; neuroendocrine mechanisms in maturation and reproductive cycles; behavioral aspects.
  • MCP 222, Mammalian Gametogenesis and Fertilization (4 units)
  • Emphasizes our current understanding of events in mammalian gametogenesis and the fertilization process. Published results, conclusions drawn from these results, and their contribution to our understanding are discussed.
  • MIC 263, Principles of Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions (3 units)
  • Physical basis of protein-nucleic acid interaction. Topics include nucleic acid recognition by proteins, thermodynamics of protein-nucleic acid stability, and kinetics of binding process for both non-specific and sequence-specific nucleic acid binding proteins. Emphasis on systems that represent paradigms in protein-nucleic acid interactions.
  • MMI 280, The Endogenous Microbiota in Health and Disease (3 units)

  • This elective is offered every other year; it will next be offered in Spring 2026.

    Recent insights into the microbial communities inhabiting mucosal surfaces, and will discuss how the composition of these communities contributes to normal development, metabolism, education of the immune system, and disease susceptibility.

  • PHA 225, Gene Therapy (3 units)
  • Gene therapy from basic concepts to clinical applications. Topics include the human genome and genetic variation, genetic diseases, methods to manipulate gene expression, viral and non-viral delivery vectors, history and progress of gene therapy, case studies, and ethical issues.

Not Regularly Offered

These courses have been approved by advisors in the past, but are not being offered on a reliable schedule (e.g., every other year). It's worthwhile to look them up, in case they are offered again! Once a course has not been offered in 5 years, it is removed from this list.

  • BIM 228, Skeletal Muscle Mechanics: Form, Function, and Adaptability (4 units, last offered Fall 2024)
  • Basic structure and function of skeletal muscle examined at the microscopic and macroscopic level. Muscle adaptation in response to aging, disease, injury, exercise, and disuse. Analytic models of muscle function are discussed.
  • CHE 221D, Special Topics in Organic Chemistry (3 units, last offered Spring 2022)
  • Selected topics of current interest in organic chemistry. Topics will vary each time the course is offered, and in general will emphasize the research interests of the staff member giving the course.
  • GGG 201D, Quantitative And Population Genetics (5 units, last offered Fall 2023)
  • Basic concepts of quantitative and population genetics including gene and genotypic frequencies, multiple factor hypothesis, phenotypic and genotypic values, heritability, selection, genetic variation, the detection of quantitative trait loci and evolution in populations. Experimental and analytical methods are discussed.
  • MCP 200L, Animal Cell Culture Laboratory (4 units, last offered Winter 2021)
  • Techniques of cell culture, with emphases on cell physiology and the actions of drugs and toxicants on cultured somatic cells. Design, performance and interpretation of experiments with animal cells in vitro.
  • NPB 270, How to Write a Fundable Grant Proposal (3 units, last offered Spring 2023)
  • Teaches the do’s and don’ts of writing grants in the biomedical sciences and the mechanisms of the review process.
  • PBI 220, Plant Developmental Biology (4 units, last offered Spring 2023)
  • A survey of the concepts of plant development and organization. Examines plant cells, tissues, and organs with special emphasis on experimental evidence for mechanisms regulating developmental processes.
  • PHA 208, Advanced Cardiac Physiology and Pharmacology (3 units, last offered Spring 2023)
  • Detailed characterization of the mechanisms involved in cardiac excitation–contraction coupling, alterations that occur in heart disease and pharmacological interventions. Topics include cardiac contractile apparatus, action potential, Ca cycling, excitation–transcription coupling, cardiac inotropy, heart failure and arrhythmias.
  • PSC 209A, Introduction to Programming: Matlab (4 units, last offered Fall 2021)
  • The Matlab programming environment as a means of organizing, analyzing, and visualizing scientific data. Basic programming concepts such as variables, loops, conditional branching, and efficient programming techniques will be emphasized.
  • STA 237A, Time Series Analysis (4 units, last offered Fall 2023)
  • Advanced topics in time series analysis and applications. Models for experimental data, measures of dependence, large-sample theory, statistical estimation and inference. Univariate and multivariate spectral analysis, regression, ARIMA models, state-space models, Kalman filtering.