Molecular and Cell Biology

University of California, Berkeley

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 guide. To access the most recent version of the guide, please visit http://guide.berkeley.edu.

About the Program

The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology offers a program of graduate study leading to the PhD in molecular and cell biology. This program provides advanced training in the research methods and concepts of the study of the molecular structures and processes of cellular life. The training is intellectually focused, but at the same time offers unusually wide opportunities for varied disciplinary specialization.

The teaching and research activities of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) concern the molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms.

This agenda covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, including biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, structural biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, cell biology, developmental biology, tumor biology, microbiology, immunology, pathogenesis, and neurobiology.

The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary specializations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks to fish, amphibia, and mammals.

The faculty of the department is organized into five divisions: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Cell and Developmental Biology; Genetics, Genomics and Development; Neurobiology; and Immunology and Pathogenesis.

Visit Department Website

Admissions

Admission to the University

Minimum Requirements for Admission

The following minimum requirements apply to all graduate programs and will be verified by the Graduate Division:

  1. A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
  2. A grade point average of B or better (3.0);
  3. If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, 230 on the computer-based test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these); and
  4. Sufficient undergraduate training to do graduate work in the given field.

Applicants Who Already Hold a Graduate Degree

The Graduate Council views academic degrees not as vocational training certificates but as evidence of broad training in research methods, independent study, and articulation of learning. Therefore, applicants who already have academic graduate degrees should be able to pursue new subject matter at an advanced level without need to enroll in a related or similar graduate program.

Programs may consider students for an additional academic master’s or professional master’s degree only if the additional degree is in a distinctly different field.

Applicants admitted to a doctoral program that requires a master’s degree to be earned at Berkeley as a prerequisite (even though the applicant already has a master’s degree from another institution in the same or a closely allied field of study) will be permitted to undertake the second master’s degree, despite the overlap in field.

The Graduate Division will admit students for a second doctoral degree only if they meet the following guidelines:

  1. Applicants with doctoral degrees may be admitted for an additional doctoral degree only if that degree program is in a general area of knowledge distinctly different from the field in which they earned their original degree. For example, a physics PhD could be admitted to a doctoral degree program in music or history; however, a student with a doctoral degree in mathematics would not be permitted to add a PhD in statistics.
  2. Applicants who hold the PhD degree may be admitted to a professional doctorate or professional master’s degree program if there is no duplication of training involved.

Applicants may apply only to one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission cycle.

Any applicant who was previously registered at Berkeley as a graduate student, no matter how briefly, must apply for readmission, not admission, even if the new application is to a different program.

Required Documents for Applications

  1. Transcripts:  Applicants may upload unofficial transcripts with your application for the departmental initial review. If the applicant is admitted, then official transcripts of all college-level work will be required. Admitted applicants must request a current transcript from every post-secondary school attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes as issued by the school(s) attended. 
    If you have attended Berkeley, upload your unofficial transcript with your application for the departmental initial review. If you are admitted, an official transcript with evidence of degree conferral will not be required.
  2. Letters of recommendation: Applicants may request online letters of recommendation through the online application system. Hard copies of recommendation letters must be sent directly to the program, not the Graduate Division.
  3. Evidence of English language proficiency: All applicants from countries or political entities in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and Quebec (Canada). However, applicants who, at the time of application, have already completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a US university may submit an official transcript from the US university to fulfill this requirement. The following courses will not fulfill this requirement: 1) courses in English as a Second Language, 2) courses conducted in a language other than English, 3) courses that will be completed after the application is submitted, and 4) courses of a non-academic nature. If applicants have previously been denied admission to Berkeley on the basis of their English language proficiency, they must submit new test scores that meet the current minimum from one of the standardized tests.

Where to Apply

Visit the Berkeley Graduate Division application page . 

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Normative Time Requirements

Normative Time to Advancement

Normative time to advancement is two years.

Normative Time in Candidacy

Normative time in candidacy is 3.5 years.

Total Normative Time

Total normative time is 5.5 years

Time to Advancement

Curriculum

MCELLBI 200AFundamentals of Molecular and Cell Biology3
MCELLBI 200BFundamentals of Molecular and Cell Biology3
MCELLBI 291AIntroduction to Research2-12
MCELLBI 291BIntroduction to Research2-12
MCELLBI 293AResearch Seminar2
MCELLBI 293CResponsible Conduct, Rigor and Reproducibility in Research1
MCELLBI 380Teaching of Molecular and Cell Biology (2 courses)1-2
Two MCELLBI advanced topics electives6-8
MCELLBI 290Graduate Seminar (3)1
MCELLBI 292Research3-12

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Courses

Molecular and Cell Biology

MCELLBI 200A Fundamentals of Molecular and Cell Biology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
The goal of this course is to provide graduate-level instruction on molecular and cellular biosciences from a highly-integrated systems perspective, rather than using a more classic, techniques-oriented format. A collection of approaches, and a focus on critical thinking and problem solving, will be used to show how fundamental, highly-significant biological problems are "cracked open." Reading will be assigned from a mix of classic and current peer-reviewed papers selected by the instructors.

MCELLBI 200B Fundamentals of Molecular and Cell Biology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
The goal of this course is to provide graduate-level instruction on molecular and cellular biosciences from a highly-integrated systems perspective, rather than using a more classic, techniques-oriented format. A collection of approaches, and a focus on critical thinking and problem solving, will be used to show how fundamental, highly-significant biological problems are "cracked open." Reading will be assigned from a mix of classic and current peer-reviewed papers selected by the instructors.

MCELLBI 206 Physical Biochemistry 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Application of modern physical concepts and experimental methods to the analysis of the structure, function, and interaction of large molecules of biological interest.

MCELLBI 210 Macromolecular Reactions and the Cell 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
General course for first-year graduate students. Covers our current understanding of, methodological approaches for analyzing, and recent advances in the function of cellular macromolecules and macromolecular complexes in DNA replication, recombination, transposition and repair, gene expression and its regulation, mRNA splicing, genome organization, noncoding RNAs, signal transduction, protein synthesis, folding and degradation, growth control, and other life processes.

MCELLBI C212A Chemical Biology I - Structure, Synthesis and Function of Biomolecules 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will present the structure of proteins, nucleic acids, and oligosaccharides from the perspective of organic chemistry. Modern methods for the synthesis and purification of these molecules will also be presented.

MCELLBI C212B Chemical Biology II - Enzyme Reaction Mechanisms 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will focus on the principles of enzyme catalysis. The course will begin with an introduction of the general concepts of enzyme catalysis which will be followed by detailed examples that will examine the chemistry behind the reactions and the three-dimensional structures that carry out the transformations.

MCELLBI C212C Chemical Biology III - Contemporary Topics in Chemical Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course will build on the principles discussed in Chemical Biology I and II. The focus will consist of case studies where rigorous chemical approaches have been brought to bear on biological questions. Potential subject areas will include signal transduction, photosynthesis, immunology, virology, and cancer. For each topic, the appropriate bioanalytical techniques will be emphasized.

MCELLBI C214 Protein Chemistry, Enzymology, and Bio-organic Chemistry 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
The topics covered will be chosen from the following: protein structure; protein-protein interactions; enzyme kinetics and mechanism; enzyme design. Intended for graduate students in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular and cell biology.

MCELLBI C216 Microbial Diversity Workshop 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
This workshop for graduate students will parallel C116, Microbial Diversity, which should be taken concurrently. Emphasis in the workshop will be on review of research literature and formulation of paper pertinent to research in microbial diversity.

MCELLBI 218A Mapping Metabolic Drivers of Disease using Chemoproteomic and Metabolomic Platforms 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
We will discuss current research in the following three areas: 1) mapping metabolic drivers of human diseases using
chemoproteomic and metabolomic platforms; 2) expanding the druggable proteome through mapping and pharmacologically interrogating proteome-wide
hyper-reactive and ligandable hotspots; 3) mapping proteome-wide targets of environmental and pharmaceutical chemicals towards understanding novel
toxicological mechanisms.

MCELLBI 218C Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Synthetic Biology and Cellular Enzymology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, systems biology, enzyme mechanism, and gene discovery.

MCELLBI 218D Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Gene Regulation at the RNA Level 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
RNA elements involved in alternative splicing and other co-transcriptional mechanisms of regulation. Specific areas of interest include riboswitches and other structured RNA elements involved in gene regulation.

MCELLBI 218E Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Viruses as Models for Eukaryote Gene Expression and Replication 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Recent developments in eukaryote viral and cellular regulation. New concepts in transcription and RNA replication, with particular emphasis on virus-cell interactions.

MCELLBI 218F Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Energy-dependent Proteases and Molecular Machines 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Our goals are to decipher the fundamental principles that govern substrate engagement, de-ubiquitylation, unfolding, and translocation by the proteasome.

MCELLBI 218H Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Protein Synthesis in Bacteria and Mammals 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The mechanism of protein synthesis in bacteria and human cells. Specific areas of interest include the structure and function of the ribosome and the regulation of protein synthesis.

MCELLBI 218I Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Chemical Biology and Inorganic Chemistry 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research and literature topics in chemical biology and inorganic chemistry relevant to human health and disease and energy science will be discussed.

MCELLBI 218J Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Advanced 20th Century Perspectives on Cancer Cell Genetics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Transduction of cellular sequences and genetic regulation of transformation by oncogenic retroviruses as models for natural carcinogenesis, including a critical review of the current research.

MCELLBI 218K Gene Editing for Fundamental Biology and Therapeutics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The use of genome engineering to study cellular signaling (especially ubiquitin-mediated signals) and develop potential new therapeutics and diagnostics will be covered in research reports and reviews of the current literature and in discussion of current experiments in the field.

MCELLBI 218O Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Chemical Biology and Enzymology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Topics at the interface of chemistry and biology with a particular focus on mechanisms of enzyme catalysis.

MCELLBI 218P Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Chemical Biology and Neuroscience 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular approaches to designing and deploying tools for voltage imaging and brain mapping.

MCELLBI 218Q Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Single Molecular Imaging of Macromolecular Enzymes 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Yildiz laboratory combines molecular biology and single molecule biophysical techniques to understand mechanisms that underlie cellular organization and motility. Specific focuses of the lab are to dissect 1) the mechanism of cytoplasmic dynein motility, 2) the regulation of intraflagellar transport, and 3) the protection and maintenance of mammalian telomeres.

MCELLBI 218R Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: The Protein Folding Problem 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Protein structure, stability, design, and the pathway of protein folding.

MCELLBI 218S Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Cryo-Electron Microscopy of Macromolecules 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Structure-function studies of the cytoskeleton and large molecular machines by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction.

MCELLBI 218T Electron Cryo-tomography of Macromolecular Complexes 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2003, Spring 2001
Different methods for determining how the in situ structure and arrangement of macromolecular complexes influence cell morphology and
function will be discussed via literature review and implemented through lab-based research and discussions.

MCELLBI 218V Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Biophysics of Macromolecule Transport Across Membranes 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Fall 2014, Spring 2014
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 218W Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Enzyme Catalysis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Fundamental aspects of enzyme catalysis, as probed by kinetic, spectroscopic, and molecular biological approaches.

MCELLBI 218X Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Chemical Reactions of Metabolism 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Define how metabolic reactions function in the context of the cellular system in order to elucidate the so-called design principles of metabolic function.

MCELLBI 218Z Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Nutrient Sensing 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
In our laboratory, we study the molecular mechanisms of nutrient sensing and growth control. Specific areas of interest include the mTOR pathway, energy sensing, lysosomal biology and translational control.

MCELLBI 219A Structural Membrane Biology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The mechanisms by which protein complexes use their structures to bud, bend, and sever membranes will be covered in research reports and reviews of the current literature and in discussion of current experiments in the field.

MCELLBI 219B Regulation of Translation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Understanding the molecular basis and physiological role of translational regulation in gene expression with an emphasis on global profiling and functional genomics.

MCELLBI 219F Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Eukaryotic Gene Expression 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Protein-DNA interactions and the control of gene expression in eukaryotes.

MCELLBI 219G Virus-Host Interactions 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Understanding the creative strategies viruses use to manipulate gene expression in host cells, with a focus on RNA-based regulation of gene expression.

MCELLBI 219H Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Molecular and Cell Biology of <Listeria monocytogenes> Pathogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Discussion of recent research on the genetics, cell biology, and immunology of the model facultative intracellular bacterical pathogen,

MCELLBI 219J Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Structure and Function of RNA 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
RNA structure, folding, and function. Specific topics include ribozyme mechanisms, RNA-mediated translation initiation, and protein targeting and secretion.

MCELLBI 219S Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Structural Biology of Signaling and Replication 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Mechanisms and structure in DNA replication and eukaryotic cell signaling.

MCELLBI 219T Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Signal Transduction Mechanisms 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Discussion of recent research on various aspects of signal transduction mechanisms in eukaryotic cells, including G protein-coupled receptors, protein kinase cascades, synthesis and mobilization of lipid mediators, calcium sensing and response pathways, activation and inhibition of gene expression, and the biochemical basis of signal desensitization and physiological adaptation, with strong emphasis on genetic and molecular analysis of these systems, especially in the yeast

MCELLBI 219U Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Single Molecule Biophysics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Methods of single molecule manipulation and visualization that are used to characterize the structure and mechanochemical properties of translocating DNA binding protein such as RNA polymerase and to investigate the mechanical denaturation of single protein molecules will be covered in research reports and reviews of the current literature and in discussion of current experiments in the field.

MCELLBI 219X Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Cell Surface Glycoconjugate Interactions 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Investigations of cell surface glycoproteins as mediators of cell-cell interactions. Development of new methods for engineering cell surface structures.

MCELLBI 219Y Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Regulation of HIV Gene Expression 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Regulation of HIV gene expression by viral proteins and cellular cofactors will be covered in research reports and reviews of the current literature and in discussion of current experiments in the field.

MCELLBI 219Z Research Review in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: Telomere Synthesis and Dynamics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Emphasizes a study of the replication of eukaryotic telomeric DNA. Special focus on techniques in protein biochemistry and molecular biology.

MCELLBI 230 Advanced Cell Biology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Advanced treatment of topics in cell biology.

MCELLBI 231 Advanced Developmental and Stem Cell Biology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Principles of animal development will be set forth from the classical and recent experimental analysis of induction, localization, patterning mutants, axis formation, regional gene expression, and cell interactions. Early development of selected vertebrates and invertebrates will be examined, and emerging topics in microRNA and stem cell biology will be highlighted. A weekly discussion section with readings from the research literature is required.

MCELLBI 236 Advanced Mammalian Physiology 5 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Principles of mammalian (primarily human) physiology emphasizing physical, chemical, molecular, and cellular bases of functional biology. The following topics will be covered: cellular and membrane ion and nonelectrolyte transport; cell and endocrine regulation; autonomic nervous system regulation; skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle; cardiovascular physiology; respiration; renal physiology; gastrointestinal physiology. Discussion section will study advanced physiological topics, including: presentations by the faculty; problem sets; discussion of the primary literature and of reviews; two presentations by each student on topics in current physiological research.

MCELLBI C237 Stem Cells and Directed Organogenesis 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2014, Spring 2013
This course will provide an overview of basic and applied embryonic stem cell (ESC) biology. Topics will include early embryonic development, ESC laboratory methods, biomaterials for directed differentiation and other stem cell manipulations, and clinical uses of stem cells.

MCELLBI 239B Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Regulation of the Cell Cycle 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239BB Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Mechanics and Dynamics of Cell Movements 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research in our laboratory is focused on the mechanics and dynamics of cell movements on the purified protein, single cell, and tissue levels. For these studies, we are developing new instruments to quantify cell and molecular mechanics bases on optical microscopy, force microscopy, and microfabrication.

MCELLBI 239C The Regulation of Meiotic Gene Expression and Cellular Morphogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The mechanisms that link cellular differentiation programs and dynamic gene regulation in complex eukaryotic systems remain mysterious. Such programs drive diverse and central biological processes including organismal development, immune function, disease progression, and meiosis. This course is focused on the molecular basis for the cellular remodeling accompanying meiosis, the highly conserved process by which gametes are produced.

MCELLBI 239D Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Epithelial Function, Structure, and Regulations 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239EE Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Cell Morphogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239F Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Nucleocytoplasmic Transport 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2014
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239FF Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Signal Transduction and Tumor Suppressor Genes 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239H Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Cell Division 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239HH Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Mechanisms of Control of Growth and Cell Proliferation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Identifying pathways that restrict growth and cell proliferation in vivo.

MCELLBI 239I Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Cytoskeleton and Cell Motility 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239J Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Steroid Hormone and Growth Factor Action 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239K Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Secretion and Cell Membrane Assembly 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Cell surface growth with emphasis on the unicellular eukaryote S. cerevisiae.

MCELLBI 239KK Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Assembly and Subcellular Organization of Bacterial Organelles 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239M Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: MicroRNA Functions in Cancer Development, Mouse Tumor Models 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Malignant transformation represents the endpoint of successive genetic lesions that confer uncontrolled proliferation and survival, unlimited replicative potential, and invasive growth.

MCELLBI 239N Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Biophysics of Cell Motility and Morphogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239O Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Cancer Biology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Inheritance, chromatin structure, gene expression, and the organization of chromosomes in the nucleus.

MCELLBI 239Q Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Regulation of Cell Polarity in Drosophila 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of cellular organization in epithelia and other cell types.

MCELLBI 239R Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Telomere Biology of Human Stem Cells 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The goal of our laboratory is to understand the key functions of telomeres and telomerase in tissue homeostasis, tumorigenesis, and aging. To this end, we generate genetically engineered human pluripotent and adult stem cell models to measure telomere and telomerase function during cellular differentiation and tumor formation.

MCELLBI 239T Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: The Cell Biology of Fertilization 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research in our lab is focused on the cell biology of mammalian fertilization. Our lab uses biophysical, biochemical, and molecular genetics methods to study sperm ion channels and transporters that regulate sperm motility, chemotaxis, and the acrosome reaction. A better understanding of these processes will eventually lead to the development of effective tools to control and preserve male fertility, improve the reproductive health of human population worldwide, and advance family planning.

MCELLBI 239U Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: The Cytoskeleton and Morphogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of current research.

MCELLBI 239V Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Mechanisms of Transduction in Touch and Pain Receptors 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of current research. Current research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms of somatosensory mechanotransduction.

MCELLBI 239W Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Leech Embryology and Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 239X Malignant Transformation 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2015
Malignant transformation by retroviruses and the role of protein phosphorylation in growth regulation.

MCELLBI 239Z Research Review in Cell and Developmental Biology: Chromosome Remodeling and Reorganization During Meiosis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
How chromosomes are reorganized during melosis to accomplish the pairing, recombinatin, and segregation leading up to successful gamete production.

MCELLBI 240 Advanced Genetic Analysis 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Principles and practice of classical and modern genetic analysis as applied to eukaryotic organisms, including yeast, nematodes, , mice and humans; isolation and analysis of mutations; gene mapping; suppressor analysis; chromosome structure; control of gene expression; and developmental genetics.

MCELLBI C243 Seq: Methods and Applications 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2015, Spring 2014
A graduate seminar class in which a group of students will closely examine recent computational methods in high-throughput sequencing followed by directly examining interesting biological applications thereof.

MCELLBI C244 Discrete Mathematics for the Life Sciences 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2013
Introduction to algebraic statistics and probability, optimization, phylogenetic combinatorics, graphs and networks, polyhedral and metric geometry.

MCELLBI 249BB Research Review in Genetics and Development: Aging and Protein Homeostasis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Central to the aging process is the unfolding of the proteome. Specific areas under study include cellular responses to protein misfolding and coordination of these responses across an organism.

MCELLBI 249C Research Review in Genetics and Development: Nucleic Acid-Protein Interactions and Control of Gene Expression 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Biochemical and molecular genetic aspects of eukaryotic messenger RNA splicing and transposition, with an emphasis on as an experimental system.

MCELLBI 249D Research Review in Genetics and Development: Mechanisms of Genetic Regulation in Yeast 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Genes, gene products and molecular mechanisms that control cell types in the unicellular eukaryote .

MCELLBI 249E Research Review in Genetics and Development: Molecular Genetics of <Drosophila> 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2005, Fall 2004, Spring 2004
Gene regulation and developmental neurobiology.

MCELLBI 249F Research Review in Genetics and Development: Neuronal Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular and genetic approaches to the problem of how neurons develop, with emphasis on and .

MCELLBI 249G Research Review in Genetics and Development: Developmental and Evolutionary Genetics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
We study how genes control pattern formation during development and pattern modification during evolution.

MCELLBI 249H Investigating Cellular Aging and Chromosome Segregation during Gametogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
This course focuses on understanding 1) how cellular aging is affected during gametogenesis, the developmental program that produces gametes for sexual reproduction and 2) how chromosome segregation is regulated during meiosis, the specialized cell division that generates gametes.

MCELLBI 249J Research Review in Genetics and Development: Developmental and Molecular Genetics of <C. elegans> 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular and genetical analysis of sex determination and dosage compensation in the nematode .

MCELLBI 249K Research Review in Genetics and Development: Animal Origins 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Evaluation of current research on choanoflagellates, sponges, and animal origins. Intended to complement ongoing research for graduate students.

MCELLBI 249L Imaging Single Molecules: Fashion or Game Changer? 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research review in genetics, genomics and development. We will explore how the detection of single particles
(DNA, RNA, proteins) can help with understanding cellular organization and
enzymatic processes dynamics and kinetics. Most of the experiments
described will be drawn from the gene expression and nuclear organization
literature.

MCELLBI 249M Research Review in Genetics and Development: Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Microtubule Cytoskeleton 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of current research.

MCELLBI 249MM Physical Biology of Living Organisms 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research review in genetics, genomics and development. In development a single cell goes through a series of repeated divisions
and these cells read the program encoded in their DNA in order to become
familiar cell types such as those found in muscle, liver, or our brains. The
goal of our lab is to uncover the rules behind these decisions with the
objective of predicting and manipulating developmental programs from just
 looking at DNA sequence. In order to reach this predictive understanding we
combine physics, synthetic biology, and new technologies to query and
control developmental decisions in real time at the single cell level in
the fruit fly embryo.

MCELLBI 249N Research Review in Genetics and Development: Gene Regulation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Current literature and research in gene regulation will be covered in research reports and reviews of the current literature and in discussion of current experiments in the field.

MCELLBI 249O Research Review in Genetics and Development: Genome Sequences 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Biochemistry, cancer biology and virology, cell biology, computational biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular and cell physiology.

MCELLBI 249Q Research Review in Genetics and Development: Computational Genomics 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Recent developments in computational methods for genomics and their application for understanding the structure and function of genes encoded in completely sequenced genomes.

MCELLBI 249S Research Review in Genetics and Development: Evolution of Development Mechanisms 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Evolution of development mechanisms with a focus on the genes that regulate segmentation and regionalization of the body plan.

MCELLBI 249T Research Review in Genetics, Genomics and Development: Evolution of Genomes 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Comparative analysis of eukaryotic genomes to inform the origins and diversification of animals and plants.

MCELLBI 249U Research Review in Genetics and Development: Assembly of Eukaryotic Chromosomes 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2005, Fall 2004
Biochemical and genetic characterization of proteins that assemble histones onto DNA. Analysis of the relationship of chromatin assembly to DNA replication and gene expression.

MCELLBI 249V Research Review in Genetics and Development: Induction in Vertebrate Development and ES Cell Differentiation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The Roelink laboratory is interested in the mechanisms of embryonic induction, the phenomenon in which a group of cells changes the developmental fate of neighboring cells via the release of inducers.

MCELLBI 249X Research Review in Genetics and Development: Comparative Genomics and Computational Biology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The fundamental problem of comparative genomics: the determination of the origins and evolutionary history of the nucleotides in all extant genomes. My work incorporates various aspects of genomics, including the reconstruction of ancestral genomes (paleogenomics), the modeling of genome dynamics (phylogenomics and systems biology), and the assignment of function of genome elements (functional genomics and epigenomics).

MCELLBI 249Y Research Review in Genetics and Development: Mechanisms of Gene Control in Vertebrate Animals 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
This course will focus on mechanisms of gene control in vertebrate animals, particularly in the area of vertebrate development. Amphibian egg formation, mesoderm induction, neural induction, and patterning of the nervous system at the molecular level. Control of transcription, post-transcriptional control of gene expression (including control of RNA turnover and RNA localization).

MCELLBI 249Z Research Review in Genetics and Development: Chromosome Structure and Integrity, Genome Evolution 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Use of genetic, cell biological, and biochemical approaches in budding yeast to understand genome integrity, genome evolution, and most recently desiccation tolerance.

MCELLBI 250 Advanced Immunology 4 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Molecular and cellular analysis of the immune response emphasizing concepts and methodology. Innate immunity, pathogen sensors, antibodies and T cell receptors, lymphocyte activation, tolerance and selection. Antigen processing, T cell subtypes, and T regulatory cells. NK cells, tumor surveillance, and AIDS.

MCELLBI 251 The Regulation of Immune System Development and Function 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
This is an advanced seminar course which will consider current research questions and experimental approaches in molecular and cellular immunology. Each registrant will present a 30-minute research talk describing the problems they are studying, the approach they are taking, their preliminary data, and technical problems. Other course participants (including basic immunology faculty) will provide criticism and suggestions.

MCELLBI 259A Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2016, Spring 2006, Fall 2005
The TB field has entered a new era with the convergence of genetic tools, genome sequencing, bioinformatics, advanced imaging techniques, animal models of infection, and high-throughput assays that allow us to study this multi-faceted interaction between Mtb and its host. We use all of these tools to probe the molecular and cellular events that enable M. tuberculosis to evade host defense mechanisms.

MCELLBI 259B Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Specificity of T Lymphocytes 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Mechanisms of immune surveillance by T lymphocytes.

MCELLBI 259C Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Nuclear Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Neuroinflammation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
In this course we will discuss our research as well as recent literatures focusing on understanding of 1) How is homeostasis in the CNS regulated by innate immune functions of microglia? 2) How can we intervene in dysfunction of microglia-mediated immune functions using NRs signaling and transcription?

MCELLBI 259D Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Mycobacterial Biology and Host-Pathogen Interactions 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
We will discuss macrophage biology and innate immunity in the context of infection with *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* through
discussion of current research from the Stanley Lab and both cutting edge and classic literature in relevant fields.

MCELLBI 259E Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Regulation of T Cell Receptor Genes Expression 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular biology of T cell receptor genes and their transcription controlling proteins/genes. Programmed cell death during thymocyte differentiation.

MCELLBI 259F Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Natural Killer (NK) Cell and T Cell Receptors 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular and biological basis for recognition by natural killer cells and T cells.

MCELLBI 259G Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: T Cell Development 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Molecular and cellular aspects of thymocyte differentiation.

MCELLBI 259H Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: B Cell Differentiation 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
Molecular basis of terminal B cell differentiation. Role of transcription factors in B cell activation.

MCELLBI 259J Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Immune Evasion by Viruses 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The mechanisms used by viruses to counteract the pressure of the immune system.

MCELLBI 259M Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Innate Immunity and Innate Control of Adaptive Immunity 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Innate immunity and innate control of adaptive immunity.

MCELLBI 259N Research Review in Immunology and Pathogenesis: Immunology, Microbiology, and Genetics of Bacterial Pathogenesis 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Role of innate host responses in defense against intracellular bacterial pathogens.

MCELLBI C261 Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology 3 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016, Spring 2016
This course covers the molecular/cellular basis of neuron excitability (membrane potentials, action potential generation and propagation, ion channels), synaptic transmission and plasticity, sensory receptor function, and developmental neurobiology.

MCELLBI C262 Circuit and Systems Neurobiology 3 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Fall 2015, Fall 2013
Advanced coverage of current research problems in systems-level neuroscience, and experimental and computational techniques used for these studies.

MCELLBI 269A Research Review in Neurobiology: Special Topics in Neuroplasticity 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Fall 2015
Molecular and cellular studies of nerve growth, axon guidance, synaptic formation, and synaptic plasticity using electrophysiological and optical imaging techniques.

MCELLBI 269B Research Review in Neurobiology: Synaptic Transmission and Neuromodulation 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 269C Research Review in Neurobiology: Molecular Mechanisms of Neuronal Plasticity 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research in our laboratory focuses on understanding how neurons use biochemical pathways to integrate diverse types of information in order to adjust synaptic strength and modulate neuronal excitability, and how these interactions go awry in disease. To investigate this we are taking a multi-disciplinary approach incorporating molecular, biochemical, imaging, and electrophysiological analyses in mouse and human cells.

MCELLBI 269D Research Review in Neurobiology: Signaling Within and Between Neurons 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of recent research in molecular mechanisms involved in intracellular and extracellular signaling in the nervous system.

MCELLBI 269E Molecular and Biophysical Neuroscience 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Spring 2009
Review of research in molecular and biophysical aspects of sensory transduction and electrical signaling in the nervous system.

MCELLBI 269F Optogenetic Dissection of Neural Circuits 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Research review in neurobiology. Review of recent optogenetic strategies for dissecting neural connectivity, function, and dysfunction in the rodent and primate brain.

MCELLBI 269H Research Review in Neurobiology: Recent Advances in Retinal Neurobiology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 269I Research Review in Neurobiology: Stem Cells and Gene Therapy in the Nervous System 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The basic investigation of neural differentiation of stem cells, as well as the
use of stem cells and gene delivery for neuroregeneration.

MCELLBI 269J Research Review in Neurobiology: Taste Recognition in Drosophila 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The molecular and cellular basis of taste perception in the model organism .

MCELLBI 269M Research Review in Neurobiology: Insect Neurophysiology 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Drosophila mutants that have behavioral abnormalities to unravel new and basic features of nervous system structure and function.

MCELLBI 269O Research Review in Neurobiology: Neural Circuits for Sensory Processing and Behavior 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Microcircuitry of the cerebral cortex that underlies sensory processing and adaptive behavior.

MCELLBI 269Q Research Review in Neurobiology: Sensory Processing and Plasticity in Cerebral Cortex 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
How the cerebral cortex processes sensory input and stores information about the sensory world. We focus on the rat's primary somatosensory (S1) cortex.

MCELLBI 269R Research Review in Neurobiology: Potassium Channels and Synaptic Plasticity 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 269S Research Review in Neurobiology: Molecular Mechanisms of Olfaction 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 269T Research Review in Neurobiology: Processing of Visual Information in the Mammalian Brain 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Review of current literature and discussion of original research.

MCELLBI 269U Research Review in Neurobiology: Diseases/Retina 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Evaluation of current research in molecular mechanisms underlying diseases of the retina.

MCELLBI 269W Research Review in Neurobiology: Neural Activity Affecting the Assembly of Neural Circuits 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
How neural activity affects the assembly of neural circuits.

MCELLBI 280A Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 280B Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 280C Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 280D Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 280E Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 280F Selected Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
The course will focus on fundamental principles, essential concepts, and recent advances in select topics in molecular and cell biology. Topics include genomics and computational biology, molecular evolution, neurons and synapses, microbi ology and immunology, macromolecular structure and function, and scientific writing. Courses are taught in tandem and maybe taken individually.

MCELLBI 290 Graduate Seminar 1 Unit

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Graduate student presentations on selected research topics in molecular and cell biology. Several sections covering different topics offered each semester. Concurrent enrollment in more than one section is permitted. List of topics to be announced before each semester.

MCELLBI 291A Introduction to Research 2 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Closely supervised experimental work under the direction of an individual faculty member; an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in particular areas of molecular and cell biology.

MCELLBI 291B Introduction to Research 2 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
Closely supervised experimental work under the direction of an individual faculty member; an introduction to experimental methods and research approaches in particular areas of molecular and cell biology.

MCELLBI 292 Research 3 - 12 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Individual research under the supervision of a faculty member.

MCELLBI N292 Research 3 - 6 Units

Terms offered: Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Summer 2016 8 Week Session, Summer 2015 8 Week Session
Individual research under the supervision of a staff member.

MCELLBI 293A Research Seminar 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Fall 2016, Fall 2015
Seminar on presentation and evaluation of results in area of student's individual research interests.

MCELLBI 293C Responsible Conduct, Rigor and Reproducibility in Research 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
The purpose of this course is to ensure that research trainees are well versed with respect to training in Responsible Conduct, Rigor, and Reproducibility in Research. Students also gain an understanding of federal, state, and UC Berkeley policies and resources available to further support their research endeavors. This course will cover topics in responsible conduct, rigor and reproducibility in research drawing from case studies of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the NIH. Students will review case studies in preparation for class discussion. Required of all MCB graduate and post doctoral students funded on NIH training grants. One session will probably feature a guest lecturer on a topic relevant to the course.

MCELLBI 295 Careers for Life Sciences Ph.D's 1 Unit

Terms offered: Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015
This course is designed to assist graduate students in the biological sciences with planning their postgraduate careers. Weekly guest speakers will present their experiences on a variety of topics. Postdoctoral students are invited. Topics may include academia; job searches; setting up a laboratory; patent law/technology transfer; public policy/regulatory affairs; bioinformatics; science writing/technical support; forensic science; postdoctoral positions in industry; teaching, and other topics of interest.

MCELLBI 380 Teaching of Molecular and Cell Biology 1 - 2 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Teaching laboratories and/or discussions for Molecular and Cell Biology courses: analysis of specific format and problems. Two units of credit for those with 50% teaching appointment; one unit of credit for those with 25% teaching appointment.

MCELLBI 481B Instrumentation in Molecular and Cell Biology: Transmission Electron Microscopy 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Spring 2017
Individualized laboratory instruction.

MCELLBI 481C Instrumentation in Molecular and Cell Biology: Scanning Electron Microscopy 1 - 4 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Spring 2017
Individualized laboratory instruction.

MCELLBI 601 Individual Study for Master's Students 1 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Summer 2017 8 Week Session, Spring 2017
Individual study for the comprehensive or language examinations in consultation with the field adviser.

MCELLBI 602 Individual Study for Doctoral Students 1 - 8 Units

Terms offered: Fall 2017, Spring 2017, Fall 2016
Individual study in consultation with the major field adviser. Intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required of candidates for the Ph.D.

Faculty and Instructors

Faculty

Hillel Adesnik, Assistant Professor.

Georjana Barnes, Professor. Biochemistry, genetics, cancer, biology, microtubule cytoskeleton, cell cycle controls, cellular imaging.
Research Profile

Gregory M. Barton, Professor. Immunology, cell biology, infectious disease, innate immunity.
Research Profile

Helen Bateup, Assistant Professor. Molecular and cellular neuroscience, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, epilepsy.
Research Profile

Diana Bautista, Associate Professor. Ion channels, sensory physiology, chemosensation, touch, thermosensation, somatosensory system.
Research Profile

Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Professor. Molecular basis of cell surface interactions, eukaryotic genomes, glycosylation.
Research Profile

David Bilder, Professor. Genetics, cancer, Drosophila, cell biology, cell polarity, tumor suppressor, epithelial architecture, polarity, and proliferation control.
Research Profile

Michael R. Botchan, Professor. Eukaryotic gene expression, drosophila chromosomes, papilloma viral DNA, chromosomal dynamics.
Research Profile

Gloria Brar, Assistant Professor. Meiosis, translation, sORFs, stress responses.
Research Profile

Carlos J. Bustamante, Professor. Nanoscience, structural characterization of nucleo-protein assemblies, single molecule fluorescence microscopy, DNA-binding molecular motors, the scanning force microscope, prokaryotes.
Research Profile

Jamie Cate, Professor. Molecular basis for protein synthesis by the ribosome, RNA, antibiotics, a thermophilic bacterium, escherichia coli.
Research Profile

Christopher J. Chang, Professor. Chemistry, inorganic chemistry, neuroscience, bioinorganic chemistry, general physiology, organic chemistry, new chemical tools for biological imaging and proteomics, new metal complexes for energy catalysis and green chemistry, chemical biology.
Research Profile

Michelle Chang, Associate Professor.

Kathleen Collins, Professor. RNA, telomerase, Telomere function, Telomere replication.
Research Profile

Jacob E. Corn, Assistant Adjunct Professor.

Laurent Coscoy, Associate Professor. Immunology, viruses, viral infection, immune responses, immune evasion.
Research Profile

Jeffery S. Cox, Professor.

Yang Dan, Professor. Neuronal circuits, mammalian visual system, electrophysiological, psychophysical and computational techniques, visual cortical circuits, visual neurons.
Research Profile

Xavier Darzacq, Assistant Professor.

Abby Dernburg, Professor. Genomics, chromosome remodeling and reorganization during meiosis, Down syndrome, DNA.
Research Profile

Andrew Dillin, Professor.

Jennifer A. Doudna, Professor. RNA machines, hepatitis C virus, RNA interference, ribosomes.
Research Profile

David G. Drubin, Professor. Cellular morphogenesis, plasma membrane dynamics, microtubule cytoskeletons, cytoskeletal proteins, morphological development.
Research Profile

Peter H. Duesberg, Professor. Genetic structure of retroviruses, carcinogenesis, aneuploidy, virology, HIV-AIDS.
Research Profile

Michael B. Eisen, Professor. Genomics, genome sequencing, bioinformatics, animal development.
Research Profile

Dan Feldman, Associate Professor. Neurobiology, learning, neurophysiology, sensory biology.
Research Profile

Marla B. Feller, Professor. Neurophysiology, developmental neuroscience.
Research Profile

Gary L. Firestone, Professor. Cancer, steroid hormones, molecular endocrinology, tumor biology, growth factors, dietary compounds, tumor cells, glucocorticoids.
Research Profile

John Gerard Flannery, Professor. Neurobiology, optometry, vision science, cell and molecular biology of the retina in normal and diseased states.
Research Profile

Hernan G. Garcia, Assistant Professor.

Gian Garriga, Professor. Developmental neurobiology; molecular genetics, development of nervous systems, cell division, cell migration, axonal pathfinding, caenorhabditis elegans.
Research Profile

Britt Glaunsinger, Associate Professor. Virology, gene expression, herpesvirus.
Research Profile

Ming Chen Hammond, Assistant Professor. Molecular biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, synthetic biology, chemical biology.
Research Profile

Iswar Krishna Hariharan, Professor. Growth regulation, regeneration, cancer.
Research Profile

Richard M. Harland, Professor. Molecular biology, early vertebrate development, Xenopus, embryo development.
Research Profile

Lin He, Associate Professor.

Rebecca Heald, Professor. Cell division, Xenopus, mitotic spindle assembly and function, size control of intracellular structures.
Research Profile

Dirk Hockemeyer, Assistant Professor.

James Hurley, Professor.

Nicholas Ingolia, Assistant Professor. Ribosome Profiling, translation, genomics.
Research Profile

Ehud Y. Isacoff, Professor. Ion channel function, synaptic plasticity, neural excitability, synaptic transmission, the synapse.
Research Profile

Gary H. Karpen, Adjunct Professor. Gene expression, cell biology, chromosome structure and function, drosophila melanogaster, centromere identity and function.
Research Profile

Nicole King, Professor. Genetics, developmental biology, biology, choanoflagellates, multicellularity, evolution of animals, comparative genomics, eukaryotes, host-microbe interactions, bacterial signals.
Research Profile

Douglas E. Koshland, Professor. Higher order chromosome structure, genome integrity, sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, desiccation tolerance, microbial genetics.
Research Profile

Richard H. Kramer, Professor. Cells, synaptic transmission, chemical signaling between neurons, ion channels, electrical signals, chemical reagents, synapses.
Research Profile

John Kuriyan, Professor. Structural and functional studies of signal transduction, DNA replication, cancer therapies, phosphorylation.
Research Profile

Stephan Lammel, Assistant Professor. Neuroscience, Optogenetics, dopamine, addiction, depression.
Research Profile

Michael S. Levine, Professor. Regulation of enhancer-promoter interactions, gene networks, animal development and disease, drosophila embryo, immune response in drosophila larvae, differentiation of the notochord and heart in the sea squirt, whole-genome analysis.
Research Profile

Polina Lishko, Assistant Professor. Reproductive and Developmental Biology, ion channels, Physiology of Fertilization and Early Embryo Development.
Research Profile

Kunxin Luo, Professor. Signal transduction pathways, mechanisms controlling the receptor kinases, regulation of mammary epithelial cell differentiation, breast carcinogenesis.
Research Profile

Terry Machen, Professor. Physiology pathophysiology secretory epithelial cells, airway, ion transport, cell regulationm, imaging microscopy, calcium pH redox, electrophysiology, green fluorescent protein, genetic targeting, innate immune defense.
Research Profile

Michael A. Marletta, Professor. Chemical biology, molecular biology, structure/function relationships in proteins, catalytic and biological properties of enzymes, cellular signaling, nitric oxide synthase, soluble guanylate cyclase, gas sensing, cellulose degradation, polysaccharide monooxygenases.
Research Profile

Susan Marqusee, Professor. Amino acids, determinants of protein structure and folding, biophysical, structural and computational techniques, translocation, protein synthesis.
Research Profile

Andreas Martin, Associate Professor. Proteasome.
Research Profile

G. Steven Martin, Professor. Cell biology, signal transduction pathways, tumor virology, cell division cycle, viral and cellular oncoproteins, breast cancer.
Research Profile

Barbara J. Meyer, Professor. Developmental biology, gene expression, genetic determination of sex, regulatory genes, chromosome dynamics, X-chromosome.
Research Profile

Craig Miller, Assistant Professor. Genetics, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, evolution, quantitative genetics, developmental genetics, evolutionary genetics, craniofacial development.
Research Profile

Evan W. Miller, Assistant Professor.

John Ngai, Professor. Nervous system, molecular and cellular mechanisms of olfaction, detection of odors, odorant receptors, olfactory neurons, DNA microarray technologies, genome-wide patterns of gene expression.
Research Profile

Eva Nogales, Professor. Biochemistry, complex biological assemblies, structure and regulation of the cytoskeleton, microtubule dynamics, human transcriptional initiation machinery, biophysics.
Research Profile

George Oster, Professor. Computational biology, developmental biology, mathematical modeling of molecular and cellular systems, protein motors, cell motility, spatial pattern formation in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, neural pattern formation.
Research Profile

Lior Pachter, Professor. Mathematics, applications of statistics, combinatorics to problems in biology.
Research Profile

Nipam Patel, Professor. Genetics, evolution, crustaceans, insects, arthropods, homeotic (Hox) genes, segmentation, embryonic pattern formation, neural patterning.
Research Profile

Mu-Ming Poo, Professor. Neurobiology, cellular and molecular mechanisms, axon guidance, synapse formation, activity-dependent refinement of neural circuits.
Research Profile

Daniel A. Portnoy, Professor. Mammalian cells, molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenesis, defense against infection, listeria monocytogenes, cell biology of infection, mechanisms of secretion.
Research Profile

Michael Rape, Professor. Cancer, protein degradation, siRNA, Berkeley Screening Center.
Research Profile

David H. Raulet, Professor. Biology, pathogens, viruses, T-cell development and function, natural killer (NK) cells, lymphocyte receptors, microorganisms, cancer cells, tumor immunity.
Research Profile

Jasper D. Rine, Professor. Biology, cell biology, DNA replication, gene regulation, saccharomyces cerevisiae, genetic analysis, genome, cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, modification of proteins, prenylated proteins.
Research Profile

Donald C. Rio, Professor. Molecular genetics, drosophila melanogaster, transposable elements, RNA splicing, nucleic acid rearrangement reactions, P elements and their cellular host, HIV, proteomic diversification, nucleoprotein complexes.
Research Profile

Ellen Robey, Professor. Fate determination in the T-lymphocyte lineage, T cell development in the mouse, thymic development, cellular maturation, parasitic infection, chronic infection, host-pathogen interactions, Toxoplasma gondii.
Research Profile

Henk Roelink, Associate Professor. Stem cells, neural development, embryonic induction.
Research Profile

Daniel S. Rokhsar, Professor. Biology, collective phenomena and ordering in condensed matter and biological systems, theoretical modeling, computational modeling, behavior of quantum fluids, cold atomic gases, high temperature superconductors, Fermi and Bose systems.
Research Profile

Kaoru Saijo, Assistant Professor.

David Savage, Assistant Professor. Synthetic biology and metabolism.
Research Profile

David Schaffer, Professor. Neuroscience, biomolecular engineering, bioengineering, stem cell biology, gene therapy.
Research Profile

Randy W. Schekman, Professor. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, organelle assembly, intracellular protein transport, assembly of cellular organelles, Alzheimer's Disease.
Research Profile

Kristin Scott, Professor. Nerve cell connectivity in developing nervous systems, taste perception in the fruit fly, taste neural circuits, sensory maps in the brain.
Research Profile

Bill Sha, Associate Professor. B cell gene regulation, fate determination, gene regulatory pathways, antibody-secreting plasma cells, memory B cells, apoptotic cells, B7 costimulatory ligands.
Research Profile

Nilabh Shastri, Professor. Cancer cells, mechanims of immunesurveillance, microbial pathogens, antigen genes, autoimmunity.
Research Profile

Sarah Stanley, Assistant Professor.

Jeremy W. Thorner, Professor. Biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology, signal transduction mechanisms, protein kinase function and regulation, GPCRs, membrane biology, control of cell growth/morphology and division, regulation of gene expression by extracellular stimuli.
Research Profile

Robert T. Tjian, Professor. Eukaryotic molecular biology; biochemistry, cellular differentiation, chromatin function, RNA synthesis, single cell imaging, single molecule imaging.
Research Profile

Elcin Unal, Assistant Professor.

Fyodor Urnov, Associate Adjunct Professor.

Russell E. Vance, Professor. Immunology, microbiology, infectious disease, molecular and cell biology.
Research Profile

David A. Weisblat, Professor. Annelid developmental biology, leech embryo, evolution & development, cell fate determination, lineage tracingt.
Research Profile

Matthew D. Welch, Professor. Biology, cell motility, the role of the actin cytoskeleton in cell locomotion, shape change, actin filament assembly, bacterial and viral pathogens.
Research Profile

Astar Winoto, Professor. Cancer, genomics, apoptosis, innate immunity and infectious diseases, cell cycle, signal transduction, immune tolerance.
Research Profile

Ahmet Yildiz, Assistant Professor. Single molecule biophysics, molecular motors, telomeres.
Research Profile

Qiang Zhou, Professor. Biochemistry of HIV gene expression, transcriptional elongation, Tat activation, stage of transcriptional elongation, HIV replication, anti-HIV therapy.
Research Profile

Roberto Zoncu, Assistant Professor.

Lecturers

Robin W. Ball, Lecturer.

P. Robert Beatty, Lecturer.

Natalia Caporale, Lecturer.

Isabelle Le Blanc, Lecturer.

Helen Lew, Lecturer.

David E. Presti, Senior Lecturer SOE.

Steve Takata, Lecturer.

Gary Joseph Wedemayer, Lecturer.

Visiting Faculty

Tamira M. Elul, Visiting Associate Professor.

Emeritus Faculty

Mark Alper, Professor Emeritus.

Bruce N. Ames, Professor Emeritus. Molecular biology, cancer, aging, mitochondrial decay, oxidants and antioxidants, micronutrient deficiencies and DNA damage, chronic inflammation and cancer.
Research Profile

Giovanna F.-L. Ames, Professor Emeritus.

Clinton E. Ballou, Professor Emeritus.

Steven K. Beckendorf, Professor Emeritus. Genetics, biology, organogenesis, Drosophila, salivary morphogenesis.
Research Profile

David R. Bentley, Professor Emeritus.

Phyllis B. Blair, Professor Emeritus.

Beth Burnside, Professor Emeritus. Cell biology of photoreceptors, cytoskeletal motors, morphogenetic events, photomembrane turnover.
Research Profile

Richard Calendar, Professor Emeritus. Listeria monocytogenes, phage-based integration vector, Bacillus anthracis, vaccine.
Research Profile

W. Zacheus Cande, Professor Emeritus. Genetics, cell biology, microbial biology, plant biology.
Research Profile

M. J. Chamberlin, Professor Emeritus.

Alvin J. Clark, Professor Emeritus.

Thomas W. Cline, Professor Emeritus. Drosophila melanogaster, developmental genetics, sex determination.
Research Profile

R. David Cole, Professor Emeritus.

Walter J. Freeman, Professor Emeritus. Brain dynamics, consciousness, electroencephalogram (EEG), field potentials, limbic system, sensory cortex, synchronization.
Research Profile

John Gerhart, Professor Emeritus. Developmental biology, Xenopus laevis, Spemann's organizer, cortical rotation, cell cycle after fertilization, vegetal materials, blastula stage, egg cytoplasm.
Research Profile

Robert M. Glaeser, Professor Emeritus.

Alexander N. Glazer, Professor Emeritus. Photosynthetic systems, phycobiliproteins, design of fluorescent probes, protein structure-function relationships, macromolecular complexes, environmental sciences, natural resource management.
Research Profile

Stuart M. Linn, Professor Emeritus. Biology, enzymology of DNA metabolism, DNA repair and replication in mammalian cells, mechanisms of DNA damage by reactive oxygen species, structure of iron: DNA complexes, DNA damage and repair, DNA polymerases.
Research Profile

Robert I. Macey, Professor Emeritus.

Howard C. Mel, Professor Emeritus.

Hsiao-Ping H. Moore, Professor Emeritus.

Satyabrata Nandi, Professor Emeritus.

Alexander V. Nichols, Professor Emeritus.

Hiroshi Nikaido, Professor Emeritus. Membrane biochemistry, bacterial physiology, bacteria, channel-forming proteins of the outer membrane, the diffusion of lipophilic compounds, mechanism and regulation of multidrug efflux transport systems, mycobacterial cell wall.
Research Profile

W. Geoffrey Owen, Professor Emeritus. Biology, nervous system, membrane biophysics, retinal neurophysiology.
Research Profile

Edward E. Penhoet, Professor Emeritus. Public health, health policy and management.
Research Profile

Gerald M. Rubin, Professor Emeritus. Molecular genetics, molecular neurobiology, mapping and sequencing of the drosophila genome, genome organization and function, development and evolution.
Research Profile

Harry Rubin, Professor Emeritus. Tumor biology, cell biology, regulation of neoplastic development, epithelial cells, oncogenic mutations, tumor development, RNA and DNA tumor viruses.
Research Profile

Howard K. Schachman, Professor Emeritus. Physical biochemistry, biological macromolecules, aspartate transcarbamylase, revisiting allostery, holoenzyme, mutations, polypeptide chains, helical regions.
Research Profile

Herbert H. Srebnik, Professor Emeritus.

Frank S. Werblin, Professor Emeritus. Retina, biological image processing, visual neuroscience.
Research Profile

Gerald Westheimer, Professor Emeritus. Neurobiology; psychophysics, primate visual cortex, neural circuits, brain mechanisms, response modifications, active perception, learning, stereoscopic vision, optometryoptics of the eye, ophthalmic instrumentation.
Research Profile

Fred H. Wilt, Professor Emeritus. Molecular embryology; cell biology, the regulation of gene expression, of sea urchin embryos, blastomeres, endoskeletal spicule of the larva, glycoproteins, immunoelectron microscopy, fluorescent labeling.
Research Profile

Leon Wofsy, Professor Emeritus.

Robert S. Zucker, Professor Emeritus. Synaptic transmission, cellular neurophysiology; synaptic biophysics, properties of neural circuits, photolysis, vital dyes of vesicle membrane, electrophysiological techniques, neuromodulator.
Research Profile

Contact Information

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

497 Life Sciences Addition

Phone: 510-642-2651

Visit Department Website

Department Co-Chair

David Raulet, PhD

481A Life Sciences Addition

Phone: 510-642-9521

raulet@berkeley.edu

Department Co-Chair

Richard Harland, PhD

571A Life Sciences Addition

Phone: 510-643-9872

harland@berkeley.edu

Head Graduate Adviser

Matthew Welch, PhD

301A Life Sciences Addition

Phone: 510-643-9019

welch@berkeley.edu

Graduate Advising

Graduate Affairs Office

299 Life Sciences Addition

Phone: 510-642-5252

mcbgao@berkeley.edu

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