The Biology
and Chemistry departments offer an interdisciplinary
major in Biochemistry. The interface between chemistry and biology
is an area of very active research and is the main driving force
behind the biotechnology revolution. In this major, students will
see how the tools and concepts of biochemistry are used to address
fundamental questions related to the molecular basis of life processes.
Students who major in biochemistry have the opportunity to study
topics such as the mechanisms of drug action, structure and function
of biological macromolecules, mechanisms of enzyme catalysis, hormonal
regulation of physiological processes, gene
expression, and molecular methods (including DNA Fingerprinting,
PCR, immunoblotting). All biochemistry majors conduct an independent
research project for at least one semester under the supervision
of a faculty mentor.
Students in the biochemistry major make extensive
use of an impressive arrary of laboratory equipment and computer-based
technologies housed in both departments. In addition to biochemistry
and molecular biology laboratories, the chemistry department has
a modern, high-field multinuclear NMR spectrometer and biology
department has a Microscopy Center. The Microscopy Center has a
confocal microscope, a scanning electron microscope with an energy
dispersive X-ray analsysis system, and a transmission electron
microscope.
Note that students majoring in biochemistry may
not also major and/or minor in either biology, chemistry, or neuroscience. |