This course focuses on the chromosome end protection problem and the chromosome end replication problem that eukaryotic cells are faced with. Telomeres and telomerase are responsible for solving these problems and for protecting us from diseases such as cancer and stem cell dysfunction disorders. This course will discuss the functions of telomeres and telomerase, and the consequences of their dysfunction in cells. Instruction and discussion will occur via lectures delivered by the instructor and critical analysis of papers from the scientific literature.

Course Requirements:

Student performance will be evaluated based on performance in the in-class quizzes (each quiz being 10-15 min long and worth 10 points; up to 16 quizzes in total) based on the paper discussed in class and the lecture notes that preceded the paper-reading class. Each quiz is composed of short-answer based questions (5-10 of them in total). Typical papers discussed in class are from top scientific journals such as Nature, Cell, and Science. Although the discussion of the papers will be done in groups, quizzes are taken individually by students. There will be a mandatory Final exam at the end of the term. This exam is worth 20 points.

Intended Audience:

Advanced undergraduates in biology or related majors and graduate students

Class Format:

Instruction and discussion will occur via lectures delivered by the instructor and critical analysis of papers from the scientific literature. Two lectures/paper-reading sessions per week, each 1.5 hours long.