Proteins: Biology's Workforce - Online course by RICE University

Proteins: Biology's Workforce is a free online course conducted by the RICE University. Proteins are more than just a requirement in food! Explore the wide diversity of protein structure and function that supports living cells!

About the course
Proteins are the cellular manifestation of genetic information. They are assembled into a polymeric structure from monomers derived in part from components in our diet.

The many proteins that cells manufacture perform a broad range of essential functions - the molecular workforce of living organisms.

In this course, student shall explore how proteins are constructed, how they fold into 3-dimensional shapes, the kinds of bonds that hold these folded structures together, and the immense range of roles that proteins assume - from structural proteins such as muscle to catalysts for cellular chemical reactions.

To understand how a protein works, purification and characterization are essential, and students shall identify a variety of methods utilized to explore protein structure and function to uncover how these tiny machines drive almost all living processes.

The course utilizes video lectures, research articles, case studies, and molecular models. Questions with each video lecture, quizzes, homework, a writing assignment, and an exam shall determine the final grade.

Prerequisites
High school chemistry and biology.

Course Sessions
Course Starts: February 10, 2015
Course Length: 5 weeks

For further information and to register, click here.