CourseCatalog

Advanced Topics in Optics, Refractive Error & Maturation of the Optical System GM253A 2.0 Credits The course covers selected topics in geometric and physiological optics, emphasizing theory and research applications in which measuring the optical characteristics of the eye is essential. Special topics include higher- order wavefront aberrations, optical limitations of neural processing, optical methods of imaging the retina, control of eye growth and development of refractive state, accommodation and presbyopia. The course will be taught in mixed format including both lecture and seminar format (student presentation of papers). All students are expected to read all assigned papers carefully before class, and participation in class discussion is a component of evaluation, as well as critical reviews, papers, and/or exams. Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor. 2.0 Credits Molecular biology gains more and more importance in developmental biology, regenerative medicine as well as clinical research. The methods to visualize, quantify and manipulate gene expression and/or distinct molecules are rapidly evolving. This course is an interactive course. It will give an overview of the three major molecule groups, i.e., DNA, RNA and protein and deepen the knowledge about current techniques to evaluate (measure or visualize) or alter these molecules. Techniques include overexpression or inhibition (knock out) models, molecule transfer, molecule tracing, and online tools. Moreover, datasets (can be own data or data from papers/external) will be analyzed in class as well as independently by the students. The topics include standard and new cutting-edge techniques for working with DNA, RNA and protein as well as the use of web browsers and online databanks. Students will also perform their own search for additional tools and methods of data analysis and will present and discuss these findings in short talks (incl. abstract). Prerequisite : PhD students or permission of instructor. 2.0 Credits Gene expression analysis is one of the major techniques in developmental biology, regenerative medicine, as well as clinical research. The methods to generate data and analyze gene expression and gene regulation are rapidly evolving . This course is an interactive course. It will introduce the current techniques for gene expression analysis, including online tools. Moreover, datasets (can be own data or data from databanks such as GEO) will be analyzed in class as well as independently by the students. The topics include standard techniques for studying gene expression (qPCR, RNA-Seq), epigenetic techniques (ATAC, Chip-Seq), microRNAs (tools to identify targets, tools to identify miRNAs, functional testing) as well as the use of web browsers and online databanks. Students will also perform their own search for additional tools and methods of data analysis and will present and discuss these findings in short talks (incl. abstract). Prerequisite : Basic knowledge in molecular biology (DNA/RNA/Protein) and some familiarity with basic methods from the Ph.D. Proseminar course (section retinal development); PhD students or permission of instructor. Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology GM255A Molecular Biology: Gene Expression Data Generation and Analysis GD260A

Visual Attention: Psychophysics, Physiology and Modeling Tutorial GD261A 2.0 Credits Visual attention allows us to strategically select, filter, and prioritize the vast amount of information in the visual environment. Attention’s critical role in mediating perception has been appreciated for over a century, as William James (1890) observed that: “millions of items... are present to my senses which never properly enter into my experience... My experience is what I agree to attend to... without selective interest, experience is an utter chaos.” This tutorial investigates the neural processes underlying visual attention. Prerequisite : PhD students or permission of instructor.

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