CHEM 310-01, Methods in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Fall 2011

Abstract

To a large extent, the study of the cell and its biochemical functions can be seen as the study of proteins. Almost every function of a cell requires the presence of a protein in roles such as catalysts, processors of information, or essential structural elements. A scientist studying a cell that contains thousands of different types of proteins must have tools to answer a wide range of questions that deal with proteins. For example . . . How much protein is present in a particular sample? How can I separate the different types of proteins from each other for individual analysis? How can I identify which protein in a mixture is the one that I am interested in? How can I measure how effectively a protein is carrying out its function? Where is my protein-of-interest found within the cell? One goal of this course is to give you practical and theoretical experience with some of the basic research methods needed to answer important and fundamental questions like these. A further and equally important goal of the course is for you to improve your ability to reason your way through experimental situations in general. A great deal of emphasis will be placed upon your learning how to plan procedures, carry them out accurately and efficiently, and extract appropriate information from the results. These skills are amongst the most valuable you can acquire because they can be exported to situations well beyond their application in the research techniques learned in this one course.