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2006-2007 General Catalog
University of California, Riverside Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics Subject abbreviation: GENCollege of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Katherine A. Borkovich, Ph.D., Director Professors
Associate Professors
Assistant Professors
The Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics Graduate Program (GGB) administers a program leading to the Ph.D. in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. The GGB is an interdepartmental program that includes faculty from the departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Botany and Plant Sciences, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Computer Sciences, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Nematology, Plant Pathology, and Statistics, as well as the Division of Biomedical Sciences. The three fields of specialization (subdisciplines) are as follows: 1. Molecular genetics 2. Evolution and population genetics 3. Genomics and bioinformatics The program is structured to allow maximum flexibility in the design of an individual student course program and research goals. A primary objective is to allow students to develop a capability in research as rapidly as possible, consistent with the student’s initial preparation. Students are expected to meet all general requirements of the Graduate Division as printed in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog. Admission Submission of GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) is mandatory for admission. Applicants with any B.A. or B.S. degree and an adequate background in the biological and physical sciences will be considered. The specific entry requirements for the three areas of specialization (Molecular Genetics, Evolution and Population Genetics, and Genomics and Bioinformatics) vary somewhat but include courses in genetics, biology, chemistry, calculus, computer science, and statistics. Please refer to the Program Guidelines for details. The GGB evaluates applications on a continual basis from October to May, however, it normally considers applications for teaching and research assistantships at the same time as fellowships; therefore, students are strongly encouraged to complete their applications for admission and support as early as possible. Normally, fellowships are awarded in January, for students entering the following fall quarter. The GGB has been identified as the graduate training “home” for UCR’s Institute for Integrative Genome Biology. The GGB faculty, partnering with colleagues in UCR’s Computer Science and Statistics departments, has developed a contemporary curriculum in the broad area of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Unique to this curriculum is the melding of microbial, animal, and plant genomics and bioinformatics within a single program. The curriculum was designed to interface with the molecular genetics and evolution and population genetics tracks. Doctoral Degree The program offers the Ph.D. degree in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. Course Work All students choose a genetics subdiscipline for specialization (either molecular genetics, evolution and population genetics, or genomics and bioinformatics). Specific course requirements are selected on the basis of the subdiscipline and the student’s particular needs and objectives. The Ph.D. is a research degree, and, accordingly, the goal of the program is to train students in the theoretical and experimental foundations of modern genetics. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in lab rotations, select a major professor and begin research work early in their training (during the first year of residence). Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations Students are advanced to candidacy following successful completion of a written preliminary examination and an oral qualifying examination. Dissertation and Final Oral Examination Successful completion of a final oral dissertation defense is also required. Foreign Language Requirement None Teaching Requirement Each student must have at least one quarter of teaching experience. This requirement may be satisfied by serving as a teaching assistant in a genetics-related course. Normative Time to Degree 15 quarters GEN 205. Signal Transduction Pathways in Microbes and Plants (4) W 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 CMDB 205, BCH 205, BPSC 205, MCBL 205, and PLPA 205. Borkovich GEN 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 CMDB 206 and MCBL 206. Ding, Zhu GEN 240A. Advances in Bioinformatics and Genomics (4) S Lecture, 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): BCH 110C or BIOL 107A; BIOL 102. Introduces current concepts and technologies in bioinformatics and genomics. Covers genomics foundations and gene discovery, functional genomics, macromolecules, and gene and genome evolution. Judelson GEN 240B. Advances in Bioinformatics and Genomics (4) Lecture, 4 hours. Prerequisite(s): GEN 240A, STAT 160A, STAT 160B, STAT 161 (STAT 161 may be taken concurrently). Introduces current concepts and technologies in bioinformatics and genomics. Covers phylogenetics, sequence comparisons and genomics databases, and genetic mapping and single nucleotide polymorphisms and introduces biological data modeling. Walling GEN 261. Seminar in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics (1) Seminar, 1 hour. Prerequisite(s): graduate standing or consent of instructor. Oral reports by visiting scholars, faculty, and students on current research topics in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. Graded Satisfactory (S) or No Credit (NC). Course is repeatable. Cross-listed with BCH 261, BIOL 261, BPSC 261, ENTM 261, and PLPA 261. |