Requirements

Pre-requisites for graduate students

• M253. Macromolecular Structure. (4)
  
  Chemical and physical properties of proteins and nucleic acids. Structure, cloning, and analysis of DNA; biosynthesis and processing of RNA; biosynthesis, purification, structure, and analysis of proteins; correlation of structure and biological properties. Concurrently scheduled with course CM153G. Letter grading.
  


• M248. Molecular Genetics. (4)
  
  Basic concepts in modern genetics, with examples from both eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems. Emphasis on use of genetic techniques for addressing fundamental questions in cellular biochemistry. Topics include mutagenesis, repair, recombination, transposition, genetic regulation, developmental genetics, neurogenetics, and immunogenetics. Letter grading.


• M267A. Cell Structure, Signaling, and Development. (4)
  M267B. Seminar in Cell Structure, Signaling, and Development. (4)
  
  Cell cycle regulation; chromosomes and DNA repair; protein trafficking and endocytosis; extracellular matrix, cell to cell communication and signal transduction; cell transformation and apoptosis; molecular aspects of development, differentiation, and cancer. Concurrently scheduled with course CM169. Letter grading.


• 200 Level. Elective Course. (4)
  200 Level. Elective Course. (4)
  
  Elective survey courses covering various disciplines and topics are offered. As a Spring Quarter requirement, ACCESS students select two of these courses based on their emerging research interests.


• M234. Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research. (2)
  
  
  Course focuses on situations arising in the laboratory that may present ethical dilemmas for graduate students.

Laboratory Rotations

To be able to sample the wide range of research areas represented in the ACCESS Program, students carry out a minimum of three laboratory rotations during their first year, one during each quarter (10 weeks duration). Of the greater than 230 laboratories that are part of ACCESS, some 150 open their doors to rotating students each year. Students wishing to get a head start, or merely to increase their number of possibilities, are encouraged to consider carrying out a "Summer Rotation" for an 8-10 week period in advance of the start of the academic year (typically at the end of September). In most cases students are able to "match" with a lab after three rotations. In those rare cases where the match does not happen, students are able to carry out "4th Quarter" rotations during the Summer following the ACCESS year. In the ten year history of the ACCESS Program, no one has ever failed to match with a laboratory following 4 rotations.

Requirements for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows selected for the training grant

• MCDB 224 - Molecular Basis of Vascular Biology
• Ethics course