Explorations in Genetics and Molecular Biology
Level: Open to students entering grades 11 or 12 or freshman year of college in fall 2010.
Session: I, June 28-July 16, 2010; II, July 20-August 6, 2010
Days & Time: Monday-Friday, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 2:30-4:30 PM
Instructor(s): Frank Ciulla, Claire Elise Hazen, Staff
Prerequisites: Biology and chemistry.
Related Course: Students interested in this course might also be interested in Biomedical Engineering: Physical Effects on Cells (Session I), Deity, Darwin, and Intelligent Design (Session II), and Issues in Biological Conservation (Sessions I and II).
"Very enjoyable and challenging. Very good instructor and course to taste university life."
–Jiny Ha, 2009
"All the labs were amazingly fun and enjoyable for me and my classmates to work with. The equipment was easy to use yet always advanced in technology. I love this class."
–Kanakorn Wattanavekin, 2009
Course Description
This course is designed for highly qualified students who have previously studied biology and chemistry and are interested in learning more about recent developments in molecular biology, genetic engineering, and recombinant DNA technology.
Scientists have learned how to manipulate DNA, a molecule that contains the information to construct and operate all living organisms. Students explore how DNA works and how scientists in turn can alter DNA for medical and agricultural applications. Topics include: RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis, the "meaning" of the DNA sequence, gene regulation, DNA and RNA viruses, AIDS, current genetic engineering techniques, cancer, and the genetics of the immune system. In the lab portion of the course students learn some of the techniques used by modern biologists to study nature. Topics include eukaryotic and prokaryotic genetics, DNA extraction and restriction enzyme digest analysis, complementation and DNA synthesis.
Instructor(s)
Faculty
Frank Ciulla
Frank Ciulla holds a B.A. with honors in chemistry from Oberlin College and an M.A. in molecular biology from Columbia University. His research experience at Harvard Medical School and Columbia involved finding and sequencing hormone genes, analyzing components of gene regulation in bacteria, and studying cancer-causing viruses. Mr. Ciulla has been a faculty member at Collegiate High School, Regis High School, and New York University and has served as a Columbia College teaching assistant in biochemistry and genetics. He is presently president and owner of Hudson Educational Services and is writing an online science book.
Faculty
Claire Elise Hazen
Claire Elise Hazen, lecturer in biological sciences, has been at Columbia University since 1986. She received a B.A. from Colorado College and is presently at work on an M.S. and Ph.D. at Teachers College. Dr. Hazen’s dissertation focuses on the teaching of science at the university level, and her biological research explores oligotrophic algae.
Specific course information, such as hours and instructors, are subject to change at the discretion of the University.
