The intent of BioBM831 is to allow beginning PhD students to learn or practice some of the basic techniques used in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, in an experimental setting that approximates a real lab. Most students have already had experience with some of these techniques, and some have had experience with most of the techniques. Nevertheless, even those who, for example, have worked as technicians for several years profit by being able to review the theoretical underpinnings of common methods and to learn different ways of accomplishing the same task. Another important function of BioBM831 is to provide a framework for the incoming class to get to know each other and to exchange information and ideas. Friendships formed in these 7 weeks typically continue for the whole graduate training period.
Students work in teams of two, with partners being changed midway through the course.
As it is presently being taught, the theme of BioBM831 is retroviruses, reflecting the particular interests and expertise of the instructor, V.M. Vogt. In fall 2000, the following experiments were carried out. For RSV the first goal was to create a novel chimeric structural protein that is a fusion of RSV and influenza virus sequences, using PCR and plasmid cloning. The biological function of this DNA was then tested by transfection of mammalian cells following by analysis using western blotting. The methodologies covered in 831 included cloning and preparation of DNA, DNA sequencing, in vitro mutagenesis, PCR, protein purification, measurement of enzyme kinetics, western blotting, metabolic labeling and immune precipitation, cell culture, fluorescent microscopy, and use of computers in cell and molecular biology.