BIOL 359 - Chemical Biology

Our understanding of the molecular bases for biological processes has advanced in tandem with our ability to manipulate chemical structures in the laboratory. Progress in these two fields has led to an intellectual convergence, in which scientists 1) use the tools of chemistry to manipulate biological systems and 2) take inspiration from biological designs to address chemical problems. Such approaches have been given the name “chemical biology, ” and represent some of the most fertile ground for discoveries in chemistry and biology over the past decade. This course will rely heavily on current chemical biology research literature to introduce students to recent developments in the field, with examples drawn from metabolic engineering, protein design, and directed molecular evolution. Prerequistie: BIOL 352 - Biochemistry II. Three lecture hours per week. Offered every year. Cross-listed as CHEM 359. Prerequisite(s): BIOL or CHEM 352. (4 Credits)