Molecular Physiology

Catalog description

This course is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in molecular physiology of sensory signal transduction. The major topics to cover will be signal transduction mechanisms used by membrane ion channels and receptors that detect the sensory stimuli (light, sound, temperature, smell and taste, for example) and transmit the signals to the nervous system. Modern molecular, genetic and structural techniques (electrophysiology, protein structural determination/analysis, animal genetics, and human disease, for example) will be introduced along with each topic. References will be primary research articles. Students will critically evaluate research discoveries through analysis of research papers. Each student will deliver two presentations and write a 10-page research proposal.