This course applies emerging high-throughput genetic approaches to study the response of mammalian cells to cytotoxic or infectious stimuli. RNA interference (RNAi) screening, microarray expression analysis, and massively parallel sequencing will be used to examine the genetics of cellular pro-survival and pro-death pathways. Teams of two or three students will design and carry out experiments to address questions regarding the mechanisms that govern the regulation and execution of cellular responses. Some projects involve the use of DNA damaging agents or other cytotoxic drugs to help understand the pathways that control a cell's response to chemotherapy. Other projects will examine the genes that underlie the cellular response to pathogens.

Instruction and practice in written and oral communication provided.