BIO/BCH/MI/PLS/PPA
601
Special Topics in Molecular and Cellular
Genetics
Brian Rymond, Biology, 335 T.H. Morgan (THM) Biology Bldg.,
257-5530 rymond@uky.edu
Seth DeBolt, Dept. of Horticulture, N324 Ag. Sci. Center North,
257-8654, sdebo2@email.uky
Description: For more than 25 years, distinguished scientists have visited the
UK campus each Spring semester to deliver lectures and participate in informal
discussions with graduate students as part of the Special Topics in Molecular and
Cellular Genetics Course. Emphasis is placed on the selection of established
investigators of international stature who present exciting new research in the
areas of molecular and cellular genetics. This one credit course may be repeated
for a maximum of six credits. This course is cross-listed as BCH/BIO/MI/PLS/PPA
601.
Class meeting times: This seminar enrichment program for graduate and
advanced undergraduate students meets at irregular times. The course will host 4
guest speakers in 2015. Each speaker will provide an introductory lecture to the
enrolled students plus deliver a scientific seminar open to the entire UK Life
Science Community. The lectures are scheduled for Monday mornings and the
seminars presented on Monday afternoons. In addition, the 601 class participants
will meet with the speakers for an informal lunch on the Monday of the visit and
also participate in a 30 minute question and answer period immediately
following each seminar. In order for us to derive the greatest value from these
eminent scientists, the 601 class will assemble the Friday before a scheduled visit
for a pre-meeting of student-lead presentations and discussion of select
publications from invited speaker’s research area and program. The publications
relevant for each pre-meeting will be posted at least two weeks prior to each visit.
Every enrolled student will provide each presenter with one question
concerning his/her paper by noon on the Wednesday preceding the premeeting. The course coordinators will advise the student teams in preparing
materials prior to these presentations.
Requirements and Grading: A student-run pre-meeting will be held
approximately one week in advance of each scientist’s visit to familiarize
the class with the system, techniques, and topics to be discussed by the
invited speaker. Selected research papers will be assigned as required
reading for all students before each pre-meeting and these will posted
on the class webpage. Pre-meetings will typically entail three or four
student presentations based on the assigned readings.
All enrolled students are expected to attend the scheduled premeetings, lectures, and seminars (including the post-seminar
question and answer period). In addition, each student must attend at
least two of the student/speaker lunchtime meetings. Attendance will be
taken at each event. Students are expected to be prepare and
participate (that is, ask questions) in each event. The times/dates of
the pre-meetings, lectures, and seminars were selected to maximize
student involvement. Information on the speakers visits will be posted on
the class website during the semester, consequently, each student should
check the class site at least once each week. Grades will be assigned
based on the level of student participation. Unexcused absence from
two scheduled events will decrease your final grade by one letter, three
absences by two letter grades. More than three unexcused absences will
result in a grade of E.
Harry Klee, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of
Florida, Gainesville, FL http://hos.ufl.edu/kleeweb/
Topic: Defining chemical and genetic factors contributing to "flavor" in fruits and
vegetables.
Pre-meeting March 27, 2015 (Friday), 4:00-5:30 PM, Cameron Williams Lecture Hall
(CWLH; Plant Sciences Building)
Student Lecture March 30, 2015 (Monday), 8:00-8:50 AM, CWLH
Student Lunch March 30, 2015 (Monday), 12:30-1:30 PM, Room 460 Plant Sciences
Building
Seminar March 30, 2015 (Monday) 4:00 PM, CWLH
Title: TBA
Host: Seth DeBolt, sdebo2@email.uky
The Chemistry of Preference
The taste of a tomato is the consequence of
the interactions of sugars, acids and a set of
15-20 volatile compounds. These volatiles are
derived from a diverse set of precursors,
including amino acids, fatty acids and
carotenoids. We are trying to understand how
all of these chemicals are integrated into the
unique flavor favored in this commercial crop.
Jeffrey Harper, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Molecular Biosciences,
University of Nevada, Reno. http://www.unr.edu/molecular-biosciences/faculty/jeffharper#Biography
Topic: Gene expression and calcium signaling adaptations to stress in plants
Pre-meeting April 3, 2015 (Friday), 4:00-5:30 PM, Cameron Williams Lecture Hall
(CWLH; Plant Sciences Building)
Student Lecture April 6, 2015 (Monday), 8:00-8:50 AM, CWLH
Student Lunch April 6, 2015 (Monday), 12:30-1:30 PM, Room 460 Plant Sciences
Building
Seminar April 6, 2015 (Monday) 4:00 PM, CWLH
Title: TBA
Host: Seth DeBolt, sdebo2@email.uky
The Harper lab is interested in how a plant can use as few as
28,000 genes to develop and survive under extreme environmental
conditions, such as cold, heat, drought and salt stress. A primary
focus is on calcium signaling. The lab employs genetic, cell,
bioinformatic, and biochemical approaches, using Arabidopsis and
yeast as model systems.
Specific aims are focused on questions of enzyme structure and
function for members of the following three gene families:
• Calcium Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs)
• Cyclic Nucleotide Gated Channels (CNGCs)
• P-type ATPase Ion Pumps.
Barry Ganetzky, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Genetics and Medical Genetics,
University of Wisconsin-Madison, http://genetics.wisc.edu/Ganetzky.htm
Topic: Genetic and molecular mechanisms that underlie synaptic growth, maintenance,
and repair in Drosophila melanogaster
Pre-meeting April 10, 2015 (Friday), 4:00-5:30 PM 109 TH Morgan Building
Student Lecture April 13, 2015 (Monday), 8:00-8:50 AM, 109 TH Morgan Building
Student Lunch April 13, 2015 (Monday), 12:30-1:30 PM, 305 TH Morgan Building
Seminar April 13, 2015 (Monday), 4:00 PM, 116 TH Morgan Building
Title: TBA
Host: Brian Rymond, rymond@uky.edu
For more than 30 years, Barry Ganetzky has scrutinized
mutant fruit flies that shake, shimmy, and pass out if
overheated, in his search for the genes that underlie this
unusual appearance and behavior. This approach has
served him well, leading him to discover numerous genes
involved in development and neural function and earning
him election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2006.
He is now using the same strategy to investigate the
molecular mechanisms that regulate synaptic growth and
plasticity
“I never met a mutant I didn't like,”
Nathaniel Heintz, Ph.D., Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
James and Marilyn Simons Professor, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Rockefeller
University http://www.rockefeller.edu/research/faculty/labheads/NathanielHeintz/
Topic: Development and dysfunction of the mammalian cerebellum
Pre-meeting* April 17, 2015 (Friday), 4:00-5:30 PM 109 TH Morgan Building
Student Lecture* April 20, 2015 (Monday), 8:00-8:50 AM, 109 TH Morgan Building
Student Lunch* April 20, 2015 (Monday), 12:30-1:30 PM, 305 TH Morgan Building
Seminar* April 20, 2015 (Monday), 4:00 PM, 116 TH Morgan Building
Title: TBA
Host: Brian Rymond, rymond@uky.edu
*Tentative dates, backup dates for Dr. Heintz are April 24 (pre-meeting), April 27 (lecture,
lunch, seminar) at the same times and locations.
Research in Dr. Heintz’s laboratory aims to identify the
genes, circuits, cells, macromolecular assemblies and
individual molecules that contribute to the function and
dysfunction of the mammalian brain.
• Genetic dissection of central nervous system (CNS)
cell types and circuits.
• Translational profiling of CNS cell types in health
and disease.
• Epigenetic regulation of the neuronal genome: the
role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC).
• Biochemical mechanisms of neuronal function.
READING LIST FOR KLEE:
Klee & Tieman, Genetic challenges of flavor
improvement in tomato, 2013, Trends in Genetics
29:257-262 Review
Gloulet et. al., Role of an esterase in flavor volatile
variation within the tomato clade. 2012, PNAS
109:19009-19014
Tieman et al., The chemical interactions undelying
tomator flavor preferences. 2012 Current Biology
22:1035-1039
Tieman et al., 2012 – Current Biology supplementary
material
Tieman et al., Identification of loci affecting volitile
emissions in tomato fruits. 2006 J. Exp. Botany 57:887896
Before each pre-meeting, every enrolled student will provide
each presenter with one question concerning his/her paper
by noon on the Wednesday preceding the pre-meeting.
Submission of these questions will be used as one measure
of class participation.
The speakers will use these questions as a guide in
developing the pre-meeting presentation.
The speakers will also come prepared to ask the audience
questions about the content or implications of the research
presented in the paper.
Class Feedback for Pre-meeting Presentations
Student Presenter:
Two examples of what was done very well in this presentation:
1.
2.
The area where improvement will be most beneficial: