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BIOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION Course Home Page Spring Semester 2013 |
Amino acid conservation and replacement in Cytochrome c R. E. Dickerson Sci. Am. 226(4):59 (1972) |
Brief Course Description: Biochemical Evolution is a graduate and upper-level undergraduate course taught by Professor Hal White. A fundamental general background in biochemistry at the level of CHEM-527 or CHEM-641/642 is assumed. This course was last taught as CHEM-647 in the fall of 2002.
This course is not about memorization of evolutionary details. You will have a lifetime to do that, if you want. This course is about understanding concepts, thinking logically, pursuing knowledge, identifying resources, and communicating. It is about making the biochemical study of evolution understandable, hopefully interesting, and possibly exciting enough that you will want to continue learning about it for the rest of your life. In order to emphasize those objectives, Biochemical Evolution is taught using a Problem-Based Learning format in which groups of students work cooperatively on complex problems (case studies) during class time and turn in individual assignments after each. In addition, there is term paper (or case study) assignment and oral presentation on the same topic. Personal initiative in the form of outside reading and class participation is expected. There are no formal examinations. Please examine the course-related documents linked below:
Schedule Spring 2013Case Study Problems (Links will be created after problem is distributed in class)