Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.

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MCDB Interdepartmental Graduate Program

Work is offered for the master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees with a major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Faculty are drawn from sixteen university departments along with researchers from the National Animal Disease Center. Participating departments include: Agronomy; Animal Science; Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology; Biomedical Sciences; Chemistry; Chemical & Biological Engineering; Ecology, Evolution, & Organismal Biology; Entomology; Food Science & Human Nutrition; Genetics, Development & Cell Biology; Horticulture; Kinesiology; Physics & Astronomy; Plant Pathology; Veterinary Microbiology & Preventive Medicine; and Veterinary Pathology. Facilities and qualified faculty are available in these departments for conducting fundamental research in the various aspects of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology. Ongoing research projects include molecular and cellular studies of viral, prokaryotic, plant, and animal systems. Additional information about the program and faculty is available at: www.mcdb.iastate.edu.

Prospective students are admitted by the MCDB program following receipt of a complete application and after review by the MCDB Admissions Committee. Students are admitted either to participate in research rotations with several faculty before deciding on a major professor and laboratory, or by direct admission into a specific lab and department. Ph.D. students typically enter via rotation and M.S students typically enter via a direct admit. Those students admitted through a rotation admit are required to complete a minimum of three research lab rotations with faculty of interest and take MCDB 697 Graduate Research Rotation during their first two semesters. At the end of their second semester, students on rotation must select a major professor from the faculty participating in the program. Current ISU graduate students may be admitted as a co-major or minor with MCDB.

Before entering the MCDB program, prospective students should have a strong background in the biological sciences; typically including work in biological sciences (two years), organic chemistry (one year), physics (one year), and mathematics (through one year of calculus). Prior research experience is highly encouraged. The submission of GRE General Test scores is required for admission.

Undergraduate Study

A special program in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology is not offered for the baccalaureate. Undergraduates wishing to prepare for graduate study in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology should elect courses in biochemistry, biology, genetics, microbiology; and mathematics through calculus; chemistry through organic; and one year of physics.

The following are recommended to undergraduates desiring an introduction to this area:

BIOL 313Principles of Genetics3
BIOL 313LGenetics Laboratory1
BIOL 314Principles of Molecular Cell Biology3
BIOL 423Developmental Biology3
BIOL 423LDevelopmental Biology Laboratory1

Curriculum Requirements for MCDB

Ph.D. candidates majoring in MCDB must take at least 72 graduate credits. These 72 credits include the core course requirements (below) and applicable research credits earned. Credits taken during a student's M.S. program in MCDB at Iowa State University may count towards their Ph.D. in MCDB.

Students seeking an M.S. degree must take a total of 30 credits, with not less than 22 credits earned at ISU. M.S. students must take the core curriculum but need to complete only two of the three components in molecular biology, cell biology, or developmental biology.

Additional coursework for both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees may be selected by the student in consultation with his/her Program of Study (POS) Committee to meet departmental requirements and to satisfactorily prepare the student for their research project.

Graduate credits of B or better earned at another institution may be transferred at the discretion of the POS Committee and with the approval of the MCDB Program and the ISU Graduate College.

Additional information relating to credits required for graduate degrees can be found in the ISU Graduate College Handbook

MCDB Core Curriculum requirements include:

BBMB 404Biochemistry I3
BBMB 405Biochemistry II3
Students with a Biochemistry background can elect to take the 500-level sequence:
BBMB 504Amino Acids and Proteins2
BBMB 505Bioenergetics and Metabolism2
BBMB 506Membrane Biochemistry2
BBMB 507Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids2


All Ph.D. students must take one course from each of the following areas: A) Cellular Biology, B) Developmental Biology, & C) Molecular Biology. 

A. Cellular Biology

GDCB 528Advances in Molecular Cell Biology3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3
B M S 575Cell Biology3
BBMB 645Molecular Signaling2

B. Developmental Biology

GDCB 533Advances in Developmental Biology3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3

 C. Molecular Biology

MICRO 502Microbial Genetics and Genomics3
GDCB 511Advanced Molecular Genetics3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3
V MPM 608Molecular Virology3
BBMB 676Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes2

*Footnote: GDCB 545 - Plant Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology may be used to fulfill any one of the required component areas.  

In addition to the above course requirements, MCDB graduate students are required to take:

    1. Two semesters of research seminar every year.

One of these seminars must be MCDB 698, Seminar in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. In seminar, students will make journal and research presentations and attend MCDB seminars. Subject to approval by the POS committee, acceptable alternatives to fulfill the second seminar requirement include 1) a "for credit" research seminar series offered by the student's home department, 2) a workshop comprised of a research seminar series, or 3) another ISU research seminar series.         

    2. One credit hour of ethics training. Possible ethics courses include:

GR ST 565Responsible Conduct of Research in Science and Engineering1
V PTH 554Ethics in Scientific Research and Writing1

Not required, but highly recommended for MCDB graduate students:

BCB 544Fundamentals of Bioinformatics4

Non-native English speakers must pass the English Requirement as established by the university. Depending on the results of this exam additional courses may be required to meet English proficiency standards. 

MCDB graduate students need to teach one semester as part of their training for an advanced degree. Students whose first language is not English must take and pass the Oral English Certification Test (OECT) to be eligible to teach.
 

Curriculum Requirements for Graduate Students Seeking a MCDB Minor

Graduate students studying at Iowa State University with an interest in completing a MCDB minor for their Ph.D. are required to complete the following curriculum requirements.

Students must be approved for the minor by the MCDB program and must follow Graduate College guidelines for POS Committee membership.

Graduate students wishing to seek a minor in MCDB are encouraged to contact the MCDB Interdepartmental Graduate Program Coordinator for further information. Inquiries can be submitted to idgp@iastate.edu.
 

MCDB Minor Curriculum at the Ph.D. Level Includes:

BBMB 404Biochemistry I3
BBMB 405Biochemistry II3
Students with a Biochemistry background can elect to take the 500-level sequence:
BBMB 504Amino Acids and Proteins2
BBMB 505Bioenergetics and Metabolism2
BBMB 506Membrane Biochemistry2
BBMB 507Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids2

One course in each of two of the following three areas: A) Cellular Biology, B) Developmental Biology, & C) Molecular Biology.

A. Cellular Biology

GDCB 528Advances in Molecular Cell Biology3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3
B M S 575Cell Biology3
BBMB 645Molecular Signaling2

B. Developmental Biology

GDCB 533Advances in Developmental Biology3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3

 C. Molecular Biology

MICRO 502Microbial Genetics and Genomics3
GDCB 511Advanced Molecular Genetics3
GDCB 545Plant Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology *See footnote3
V MPM 608Molecular Virology3
BBMB 676Biochemistry of Gene Expression in Eucaryotes2

*Footnote: GDCB 545 - Plant Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology may be used to fulfill any one of the required component areas.  

In addition to the above course requirements, MCDB graduate minors are required to register once for:

MCDB 698Seminar in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology1-2

Expand all courses

Courses

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:

(Cross-listed with GDCB). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.

Prereq: BIOL 313 and BBMB 405
Mechanisms of molecular genetic processes in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, including DNA replication and repair, transcription, translation and regulation of gene expression. Critical evaluation and discussion of current primary literature, methodologies and experimental data.

(Cross-listed with GDCB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.

Prereq: Courses in general cell biology and biochemistry
Cell biological processes including cell signaling, cell division, intracellular trafficking, biogenesis of organelles, cell adhesion and motility.

(Cross-listed with GDCB). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.

Prereq: BIOL 314 or BIOL 423
Fundamental principles in multicellular development. Emphasis on cellular and molecular regulation of developmental processes, and experimental approaches as illustrated in the current literature.

(Cross-listed with GDCB, PLBIO). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.

Prereq: BIOL 313, BIOL 314, BIOL 330 or BBMB 405
Plant nuclear and organelle genomes; regulation of gene expression; hormone signaling; organization, function, and development of plant cells and subcellular structures; regulation of plant growth and development.

Cr. arr. Repeatable.


Courses for graduate students:

(Cross-listed with BBMB). (2-0) Cr. 2. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.

Prereq: BBMB 404 and BBMB 504; and BBMB 506 and BBMB 507; or BBMB 405 or BBMB 505 and or GDCB 511
Analysis of the biochemical processes involved in expression of eucaryotic genes and the regulation thereof, including RNA polymerase, transcriptional regulatory proteins, enhancers and silencers, chromosome structure, termination, RNA processing, RNA transport, RNA turnover, small RNAs, translational regulation, protein turnover.

Cr. 1-6. Repeatable. F.S.


Graduate research projects performed under the supervision of selected faculty members in the molecular, cellular, and developmental biology program.

(Cross-listed with BBMB, GDCB, MICRO, V MPM). (2-0) Cr. 1-2. Repeatable. F.S.


Student and faculty presentations.

Cr. arr. Repeatable.