Student Handbook

Required Coursework in the Major

The Field of Genetics and Development (see Sections I-VII below) requires graduate students to take one semester of BioGD781, one semester of BioGD784, three courses in a breadth requirement, two semesters of BioGD780, a course on ethical issues in science (e.g. BioBM 751, Ethical Issues and Professional Responsibilities), and attend and participate in the Wednesday Field Seminars (12:20 pm; BioGD786). Attendance at Friday Molecular Biology & Genetics Seminars (4:00 pm; BioGD787) is also required. Additional course requirements, including the graduate minor, are set by the members of the student’s Special Committee. The Graduate School does not impose course credit or grade requirements except that you must complete a minimum of six semesters of satisfactory work in residence. Grades below B- in a student’s major area, however, do not constitute satisfactory performance.

I. BioGD781 (2 credits), Problems in Genetics and Development, a problem solving course. All entering students take this course in the Fall semester of their first year. It meets every Tuesday once a week; each week’s discussion is led by a different professor. The problem sets consist of guided critical reviews of instructive and informative research papers, and expose you to a diversity of topics and approaches in genetics and development. Weekly problem sets and papers are handed out a week in advance; written answers are turned in the following week and discussed with the faculty member in charge of that particular week.

II. BioGD784, Introduction to Quantitative Analysis. (1 credit). This workshop-type course will meet for two hours once a week for six weeks in the fall semester and will be taken by first year students. The course will be completed before students start their first rotation. The goal of this workshop is to introduce bioinformatic and probability/statistical tools at an intuitive level that will be meaningful to first year students.

III. BioGD780 (1 credit, S/U only), Current Topics in Genetics and Development, a seminar course. Students will be required to take two BioGD780 courses, with at least one of the BioGD780’s focusing on material presented by each week’s MB&G seminar speaker (see below). BioGD780 stresses presentation skills; generally, each student presents one seminar per course based on current research literature in the course topic. Students will be given formal feedback on their presentation by course instructors. This course is led by a different faculty member each semester so that the focus varies. The Graduate Field Assistant can tell you what faculty member will be responsible for a given semester.

Two to three BioGD780 courses are offered each year, one to two of which are focused on a specific topic, and one is focused on the MB&G seminar series. For the BioGD780 focused on the MB&G seminar series, the student’s presentation should be designed to encourage discussion of experiments performed by the speaker and his/her field of interest.

IV. BioBM751 - Ethical Issues and Professional Responsibilities, a discussion course. All incoming students are required to take this or a comparable course in scientific ethics. BioBM 751 is offered in the Spring semester. The opportunity to discuss these issues openly will be an important and valuable part of your graduate training.

V. BioGD786 and BioGD787 - All post-first year students sign up for one credit of BioGD786 (in-house seminar series) and one credit of BioGD787 (invited seminar series) each semester. First year graduate students only sign up to audit these two courses.

VI. Breadth requirement. Students are to take a minimum of three courses from the list below (categories A-D) with at least one course taken from each of three separate categories. The Field recommends that a student with limited background in a particular category take a course in that grouping that stresses fundamental concepts. Note that classes that a student takes in the new breadth requirement can count towards the minor requirement.

A. Biochemistry, Molecular, and Cellular Biology

BIOBM432 Survey of Cell Biology
BIOBM437 Cell Proliferation and Senescence
BIOBM439 Molecular Basis Of Human Disease
BIOBM631 Proteins: Structure, Function and Dynamics
BIOBM633 Biosynthesis of Macromolecules
BIOBM639 The Nucleus
BIOBM636 Functional Organization of Eukaryotic Cells
BIOPL444 Plant Cell Biology
BIOPL462 Plant Biochemistry
BIOPL651 Laboratory in Plant Molecular Biology

B. Genetics

BIOGD486 Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics
BIOGD485 Bacterial Genetics
BIOGD400 Genomics
BIOGD608 Epigenetics
PLBR 606 Advanced Plant Genetics

C. Population Genetics and Evolution

BIOGD481 Population Genetics
BIOGD484 Molecular Evolution
BIOGD487 Human Genomics
BIOGD684 Advanced Topics in Population Genetics
BIOPL447 Molecular Systematics
BTRY 482/682 Statistical Genomics

D. Development

BIOGD450 Vertebrate Development
BIOGD460 Stem Cell Biology: Basic Science and Clinical Applications
BIOGD461 Development and Evolution (Alternate springs)
BIOGD480 Seminar in Developmental Biology
BIOGD489 Mammalian Embryology
BIOGD600 Development of Sensory Systems
BIOGD682 Fertilization and the Early Embryo
BIOGD687 Developmental Genetics
BIOGD689 Cellular Basis of Development
ENTOM400 Insect Development
BIONB493 Developmental Neurobiology
BIOPL422 Plant Development

VII. Minor Requirement in One Subject Area: You should discuss with potential committee members the requirements of the program in which you plan to minor since some have quite specific course requirements. Below are the current requirements for several of the common minors. In general completion of the minor requires at least two courses at the 400 level or higher. You are urged to discuss, as soon as possible, how you will satisfy the minor requirements with both the prospective committee member and if necessary with the DGS for the field under which the minor is administered.

  1. Development (Field of Genetics and Development) - requires two courses in Development (see below) that are beyond BioGD 385. Note that BioGD 385 should be taken in addition to these two courses if a student lacks the appropriate background. Participation in a weekly Developmental Biology Journal Club is strongly encouraged (see Journal Clubs).
  2. Genetics (Field of Genetics and Development) - has no formal requirements; individual course requirements may be specified by your committee members (usually 2 or 3 advanced courses at the 400 level or above and BioGD 281, if necessary).
  3. Biochemistry (Field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology) - requires 6 or more credits of advanced course work. Some suggestions for appropriate courses: BioBM 437, 439, 631, 632, 633, 636, 638, 639, 738 and Chem. 668, 672, and 677. The 6 credits can be put together in any way that satisfies the BMCB faculty member representing the minor. If the student's lab background in this area is weak, the BMCB faculty committee member may require that the lab course BioBM440 also be taken. He/she might also approve a course not offered by BMCB but still relevant, including any of the one-half credit minicourses.
  4. Cell Biology (Field of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology) - same requirement as for Biochemistry minor (above).
  5. Microbiology (Field of Microbiology) - the requirements for a minor in Microbiology are ultimately up to the discretion of your minor advisor. Generally students are expected to complete at least two of the five one-credit modules in Microbiology (BioMI 690). The Modules in Microbiology include Microbial Structure and Function, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Pathogenesis, Microbial Physiology and Diversity, and Environmental Microbiology.
  6. Plant Molecular Biology (Field of Plant Biology) - completion of three 1-credit sections of BioPL 653 and 652 (including BioPL 653, Section 01, Concepts and Techniques in Plant Molecular Biology) with a grade of B- or better, as well as satisfactory completion of two other courses to be selected by the minor advisor in either a plant-related area or in genetics, biochemistry, or cell biology. Satisfactory participation in the Plant Molecular Biology Journal Club for two semesters is also required (BioPL 742, Current Topics in Plant Molecular Biology).
  7. Plant Cell Biology (Field of Plant Biology) - satisfactory completion of Plant Cell Biology (BioPl 444) or Survey of Cell Biology (BioBM 432), and the following three 1-credit sections of BioPl 652: Section 5/Molecular Biology of Plant Organelles, Section 6/Proteomics in Plant Biology; and Section 7/Plant Cell Walls: Structure to Proteome) or alternative courses as approved by the minor advisor.
  8. Evolutionary Biology (Field of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) - no specific requirements. Discuss expected background with your prospective minor committee member.
  9. Genomics (Minor field)- requires BioGD 400, BioGD 401, and two one credit modules in the minor curriculum, or other qualifying courses, as approved by the Special Committee.
  10. Biometry (Field of Biometry)- discuss course work with your prospective minor committee member.
  11. Computational Biology (Field of Computational Biology)-discuss course work with your prospective minor committee member.
  12. Neurobiology and Behavior (Field of Neurobiology and Behavior)-discuss course work with your prospective minor committee member.

A sample schedule in the new system for a Development Minor:

Fall Year 1.

1. BioGD781/BioGD784
2. BioGD 487 Human Genomics (category C)
3. BioGD 687 Developmental Genetics (category D, also counts for the minor)
4. Rotation/NSF fellowship submission

Spring Year 1

1. BIOBM636 Functional Organization of Eukaryotic Cells (category A)
2. BioGD483 Advanced Developmental Biology (minor)
3. BioGD780 or a course of interest, perhaps in the minor.
4. Rotations

Fall Year 2

1. Teaching Fellow
2. BioGD780-coupled to the MB&G seminar
3. Thesis research*

Spring Year 2

1. Teaching Fellow
2. Ethics
3. Thesis research*

Fall Year 3

1. A-exam.
2. Thesis research*

Spring Year 3 and beyond: Thesis research*

*As part of their thesis research students are expected to participate in lab/department journal clubs.
Please note that there is apparently a long break between the two semesters. However, graduate students are expected to be working on their first or second rotation (see Laboratory Rotations) during the intersession period.

A sample schedule in the new system for a Genetics Minor:

Fall Year 1.

1. BioGD781/BioGD784
2. BioGD485 Bacterial Genetics
3. BTRY482/682 Statistical Genomics (category C)
4. Rotation/NSF fellowship submission

Spring Year 1

1. BIOGD486 Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics (category B, also counts for minor)
2. BioBM639 The Nucleus (category A)
3. BioGD780 or a course of interest, perhaps in the minor.
4. Rotations

Fall Year 2

1. Teaching Fellow
2. BioGD780-coupled to the MB&G seminar
3. Thesis research*

Spring Year 2

1. Teaching Fellow
2. Ethics
3. Thesis research*

Fall Year 3

1. A-exam.
2. Thesis research*

Spring Year 3 and beyond: Thesis research*

*As part of their thesis research students are expected to participate in lab/department journal clubs.

REQUIRED COURSEWORK FOR STUDENTS ENTERING CORNELL PRIOR TO THE 2006-2007 ACADEMIC YEAR

The Field of Genetics and Development requires that graduate students take one semester of BioGD 781, three semesters of BioGD 780, a course on ethical issues in science (e.g., BioBM 751, Ethical Issues and Professional Responsibilities), and attend and participate in the Wednesday Field Seminars (12:20 pm; BioGD 786). Attendance at Friday Molecular Biology & Genetics Seminars (4:00 pm; BioGD 787) is also required. Beginning students are strongly encouraged to take BioGD 486, Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics. Additional course requirements are set by the members of the student’s Special Committee. The Graduate School does not impose course credit or grade requirements except that you must complete a minimum of six semesters of satisfactory work in residence. Grades below B- in a student’s major area, however, do not constitute satisfactory performance.

BioGD 486 - Advanced Eukaryotic Genetics. The course develops fundamental skills in eukaryotic genetic analysis through lectures and by reading, analyzing, and presenting research articles. Concepts are presented within the context of a well-studied field, such as cell cycle control or protein secretion, and then the basic tools that have been developed to study this field are used to analyze other topics such as vegetative and meiotic cell cycle control, embryonic development, chromosome organization, and protein trafficking.

BioGD 781 - Problems in Genetics and Development, a problem solving course. All entering students take this course Fall semester of their first year. It meets every Tuesday once a week; each week’s discussion is led by a different professor. The problem sets consist of guided critical reviews of instructive and informative research papers, and expose you to a diversity of topics and approaches in genetics and development. Weekly problem sets and papers are handed out a week in advance; written answers are turned in the following week and discussed with the faculty member in charge of that particular week.

BioGD 780 - Current Topics in Genetics and Development, a seminar course. Each student is required to participate for three semesters in this seminar course. It is led by a different faculty member each semester so that the focus varies. Generally, each student presents one seminar per course based on current research literature in the course topic. Topics are announced before the semester begins. The Graduate Field Assistant can tell you what faculty member will be responsible for a given semester.

BioBM 751 - Ethical Issues and Professional Responsibilities, a discussion course. All incoming students are required to take this or a comparable course in scientific ethics. BioBM 751 is offered in the Spring semester. The opportunity to discuss these issues openly will be an important and valuable part of your graduate training.

BioGD 786 and BioGD 787 - All post-first year students sign up for one credit of BioGD786 (in-house seminar series) and one credit of

BioGD 787 (invited seminar series) each semester. First year graduate students only sign up to audit these two courses.

Minor Requirements: Same as for the new curriculum, listed above in Section VII.