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Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology

Subject abbreviation: CMDB
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Anthony Norman, Ph.D., Director
Graduate Program, 1001 Batchelor Hall North
(800) 735-0717 or (951) 827-5621; cell.ucr.edu

Faculty E-mails

Professors
Michael Adams, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Entomology)
Peter W. Atkinson, Ph.D. (Entomology)
Julia Bailey-Serres, Ph.D.(Botany and Plant Sciences)
James Baldwin, Ph.D. (Nematology)
Nancy Beckage, Ph.D. (Entomology/Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Katherine Borkovich, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
Richard Cardullo, Ph.D. (Biology)
Wilfred Chen, Ph.D. (Chemical and Environmental Engineering)
Carl Cranor, Ph.D. (Philosophy)
Darleen DeMason, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Shou-Wei Ding, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
David Eastmond, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Brian Federici, Ph.D. (Entomology)
Daniel Gallie, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Sarjeet S. Gill, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Andrew Grosovsky, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Leah Haimo, Ph.D. (Biology)
Glenn Hatton, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Robert Heath, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Helen Henry, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Anthony H.C. Huang, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Bradley Hyman, Ph.D. (Biology)
Howard Judelson, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
Elizabeth M. Lord, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Charles F. Louis, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Thomas Miller, Ph.D. (Entomology)
Eugene Nothnagel, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Michael Pirrung, Ph.D. (Chemistry)
Alexander Raikhel (Entomology)
Natasha Raikhel (Botany and Plant Sciences)
A.L.N. Rao, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
Neal L. Schiller, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Jerome S. Schultz, Ph.D. (Bioengineering)
John Y.-J. Shyy, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Stephen Spindler, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
B. Glenn Stanley, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience/Psychology)
Daniel Straus, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Prudence Talbot, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Linda L. Walling, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Shizhong Xu, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Zhenbiao Yang, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Raphael Zidovetzki, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Jian-Kang Zhu, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)

Professors Emeriti
Richard A. Luben, Ph.D. (Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences)
Anthony W. Norman, Ph.D. (Biochemistry/Biomedical Sciences)

Associate Professors
Monica J. Carson, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Margarita Currás-Collazo, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Scott N. Currie, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Isgouhi Kaloshian, Ph.D. (Nematology)
Xuan Liu, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Christian Lytle, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Manuela Martins-Green, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Dmitri Maslov, Ph.D. (Biology)
Vladimir Parpura, M.D., Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Frank Sauer, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Frances Sladek, Ph.D. ‘(Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Patricia S. Springer, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)

Assistant Professors
Jeffrey B. Bachant, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Christopher Bardeen, Ph.D. (Chemistry)
Quan Cheng, Ph.D. (Chemistry)
Kathryn DeFea, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Douglas W. Ethell, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences)
Iryna M. Ethell, Ph.D. (Biomedical Sciences
Thomas Eulgem, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Hailing Jin, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
Paul Larsen, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
Karine G. Le Roch, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Stefano Lonardi, Ph.D. (Computer Science and Engineering)
Morris F. Maduro, Ph.D. (Biology)
Changxuan Mao, Ph.D. (Statistics)
Ernest Martinez, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)
James Ng, Ph.D. (Plant Pathology)
Constance I. Nugent, Ph.D. (Cell Biology and Neuroscience)
Mihri Ozkan, Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering)
Harley Smith, Ph.D. (Botany and Plant Sciences)
Yinsheng Wang, Ph.D. (Chemistry)
Laura Zanello, Ph.D. (Biochemistry)

The Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Program is an interdepartmental program offering M.S. and Ph.D. degrees to students seeking advanced training in these disciplines. The program focuses on the bridge between basic and applied research and on the interface between cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Participating faculty are drawn from numerous biological sciences departments whose research interests in cell, molecular, and developmental biology span biomedical to agricultural problems, and students in the program benefit from unique training opportunities.

Students seeking admission into the program should meet all general requirements of the Graduate Division as printed in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog.

Graduate Program

The Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology.

Admission Applicants should have adequate undergraduate course work in chemistry (two years), physics (one year), calculus (one year), statistics (one course), biochemistry (one course), and biology (two years, including a course in genetics and two courses among cell, molecular, or developmental biology). Applicants with strong academic records but with deficiencies in preparation for graduate training may be admitted and must rectify undergraduate deficiencies early in the first two years of residence. Applicants must submit GRE General Test scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical).

Course Work All students must complete the following core of course work:

1.    One graduate-level course in cell biology (BIOL 200/CMDB 200, BPSC 237, or NRSC 200A/PSYC 200A)

2.    One graduate-level course in molecular biology (BIOL 201/CMDB 201, BCH 211, BPSC 231/BCH 231, BMSC 202, or NRSC 200B/PSYC 200B)

3.    One graduate-level course in developmental biology (BPSC 232, CMDB 202)

Each student must enroll in the program seminars (CMDB 257, CMDB 258) each time they are offered. Upon entry into the program, each student meets with a guidance committee, which recommends a course of study commensurate with the student’s interests and background.

Master’s Degree

The Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program offers an M.S. degree.

Plan I (Thesis) Students complete the course work above, enroll in one graduate seminar course in cell, molecular, or developmental biology (BIOL 281/CMDB 281, BPSC 240, NRSC 289), and undertake a research project leading to a thesis.

Each student must complete 36 units of course work, of which at least 24 units must be in the graduate series (200 level) in the biological sciences. No more than 12 units in courses numbered 290-299 may be taken to fulfill the 24-unit requirement. Candidates for the M.S. degree must defend their thesis at a public oral presentation.

Normative Time to Degree Two years

Doctoral Degree

The Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology program offers a Ph.D. degree.

Degree Requirements

1.    Completion of the course work listed above

2.    One additional graduate course in cell, molecular, and developmental biology

3.    Two graduate seminar courses in cell, molecular, or developmental biology (BIOL 281 (E-Z)/CMDB 281 (E-Z), BPSC 240, BCH 289/BIOL 289/CHEM 289/ENTM 289/NRSC 289/PSYC 289)

4.    A research project leading to a dissertation

5.    Oral public defense of dissertation

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations Doctoral students are advanced to candidacy following successful completion of written and oral qualifying examinations. Students write a proposal detailing the rationale, specific aims, and approaches to be undertaken for their proposed dissertation research prior to taking the oral qualifying examination.

Dissertation Candidates must successfully defend their dissertation research in a public oral presentation.

Teaching Requirement Students must fulfill a two-quarter teaching requirement.

Career Opportunities

There is a high demand in industry and academia for scientists with training in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Students matriculating from the program are well trained in this field and successfully obtain positions in biotechnology, including biomedical and agricultural industries, and at colleges and universities nationwide.

Normative Time to Degree Five years

Graduate Courses

CMDB 200. Cell Biology (4) F Lecture, 3 hours; seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BCH 110A or BCH 110B or equivalent (may be taken concurrently); BIOL 102 or equivalent; BIOL 113 or BIOL 114 or CBNS 101 or equivalent. An examination of the structure and function of eukaryotic cells and their components with emphasis on the key experiments that provide the foundation for our current knowledge. Covers topics such as cell membranes, intracellular trafficking, cell-to-cell interactions, motility, and the cytoskeleton. Cross-listed with BIOL 200.

CMDB 201. Molecular Biology (4) W Lecture, 3 hours; seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BCH 110A or BCH 110B or equivalent (may be taken concurrently); BIOL 102 or equivalent; BIOL 107A or equivalent. Covers the structure and inheritance of genetic material, the regulation of gene expression at the cellular and molecular level including molecular mechanisms for regulation of gene transcription, posttranscriptional regulation at the level of messenger RNA stability, processing, editing and translation, methods for gene mapping, and positional cloning. Cross-listed with BIOL 201.

CMDB 202. Developmental Biology (4) S Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): CBNS 101 or equivalent. An examination of development, beginning with the principles that underlie developmental studies of all multicellular organisms. Focuses on plants, insects, and fungi but introduces other model systems. Topics are taken from the current literature.

CMDB 204. Genome Maintenance and Stability (4) S Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): BCH 110C or BIOL 107A; BIOL 113 or BIOL 114 or CBNS 101; BIOL 102 is strongly recommended. Emphasizes chromosome-based processes that maintain genome integrity and ensure accurate genome transmission during cell division. Topics are drawn from the primary literature and include chromatin structure and composition, DNA repair and recombination, telomere function and chromosome maintenance, mitotic chromosome segregation, and checkpoint surveillance mechanisms. May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Cross-listed with BCH 204 and ENTX 204.

CMDB 205. Signal Transduction Pathways in Microbes and Plants (4) S Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in the biological sciences, BIOL 107A or BIOL 113 or BIOL 114 or CBNS 101; or consent of instructor. Advanced topics in signal transduction pathways that regulate growth and development in plants and prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes. Areas covered include two-component regulatory systems; quorum sensing; signaling via small and heterotrimeric G proteins; mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades; cAMP signaling; photoreceptors; plant hormone signaling; responses to low-oxygen stress; calcium signaling; and plant pathogenesis. Cross-listed with BCH 205, GEN 205, BPSC 205, MCBL 205, and PLPA 205.

CMDB 206. Gene Silencing (3) Lecture, 2 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing, BIOL 107A or CBNS 101; or consent of instructor. An in-depth coverage of mechanisms, functions, and applications of RNAi and related gene regulatory pathways guided by small RNAs such as siRNAs and miRNAs in plants and animals. Cross-listed with GEN 206 and MCBL 206.

CMDB 207. Stem Cell Biology (4) Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): CBNS 101 or equivalent, graduate standing; or consent of instructor. Introduces animal and human stem cell biology and the application of stem cell biology to medicine.

CMDB 208. Bioethics (1) Discussion, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Introduces bioethics, with an emphasis on the medical and social implications of stem cell biology. Cranor in charge

CMDB 210. Molecular Biology of Human Disease Vectors (3) Lecture, 2 hours; seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Covers the molecular aspects of vectors transmitting most dangerous human diseases. Involves lectures and student presentations about current issues in molecular biology and genomics of vector insects and pathogens they transmit. May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Cross-listed with ENTM 210 and MCBL 210. Raikhel

CMDB 220. Chemical Genomics Design Studio (2) Lecture, 1 hour; practicum, 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Course work in cell biology, genetics, combinatorial chemistry; or consent of instructor; graduate standing. Explores chemical genomic research approaches. Emphasizes critical thinking; advanced planning of time-consuming tests of hypotheses and experimental caveats, trade-offs, and options. Taught in a case-study approach, teams consist of students with engineering, biology, computational sciences, and chemical backgrounds. Teams generate an interdisciplinary chemical genomic research project. May be taken Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC) with consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Cross-listed with BIEN 220. Schultz

CMDB 250. Special Topics in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (1-2) F, W, S Seminar, 1-2 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Oral presentations and intensive small-group discussion of selected topics in the area of special competence of each participant. Content emphasizes recent advances in the topic area and varies accordingly. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 257. Seminar in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (1) F Seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Lectures by visiting scholars on current research in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 258. Graduate Student Seminar in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (1) S one 1-day seminar. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology. An interdisciplinary seminar consisting of student presentations of original research and discussion of current research topics in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 281 (E-Z). Seminar in Cell Development, Structure, and Function (2) F, W, S Seminar, 2 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; consent of instructor. Lectures, discussions, and demonstrations by students, faculty, and invited scholars on selected subjects concerned with the principles of cell development, structure, and function. E. Cell Biology; F. Molecular Biology; G. Developmental Biology. Segments are repeatable. Cross-listed with BIOL 281 (E-Z).

CMDB 290. Directed Studies (1-6) Individual study, 3-18 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing; consent of instructor and graduate advisor. Individual study, directed by a faculty member, of specially selected topics in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 292. Concurrent Analytical Studies in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (2-4) Outside research, 6-12 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Elected concurrently with an appropriate undergraduate course, but on an individual basis. Students are required to submit one or more graduate papers based on research or criticism related to the course. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 297. Directed Research (1-6) Outside research, 3-18 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Research and experimental studies conducted under the supervision of a faculty member on specially selected topics in cell, molecular, and developmental biology. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

CMDB 299. Research for the Thesis or Dissertation (1-12) Outside research, 3-36 hours. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. Original research in an area selected for the advanced degree. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable.

Professional Course

CMDB 301. Teaching of Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology at the College Level (1) Seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing. A program of weekly meetings and individual formative evaluations required of new teaching assistants. Covers instructional methods and classroom/section activities most suitable for teaching Biology. Conducted by the Teaching Assistant Development Program. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC).