LIFS 5310 Biostatistics: Theory and Application in Life Science Research

[Previous Course Code(s) LIFS 6000C] Students are expected (i) to know calculus and basic probability and (ii) to have some experience of programming (in any language). Requirement (ii) can be satisfied by self-learning an R tutorial before the course.

Credit(s): 3

Spring Semester

LIFS 6800 Frontiers in Nucleic Acid Research

This course will cover the biogenesis and function of non-coding RNAs, drawn from molecular, biochemical and cell biological studies. Dysfunction of non-coding RNA in disease and the application of non-coding RNA as research tools will be discussed.

Credit(s): 4

Lecture: 2 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 2 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

Fall Semester
Spring Semester

LIFS 5001 Responsible Conduct of Biomedical and Biotechnology Research

[Co-List with BIEN 5001]
This course will present some of the most common ethical issues encountered in biomedical research and biotechnology. Students will engage in active discussion to provide deeper understanding of each issue. The objective of this course is to raise awareness of the ethical issues around biomedical/bioengineering research, and encourage critical and responsible consideration of research conduct. Topics covered will fall into three categories: 1) Research integrity, 2) Applied ethics in biological research and biotechnology, and 3) Contemporary ethical issues arisen from emerging biotechnologies. Graded P or F.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 3 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 0 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

BIEN 5001

Some knowledge of general biology concepts, equivalent to introductory biology at the undergraduate level

Spring Semester

LIFS 5070 Workshops in Biosciences

[Previous Course Code(s): BISC 507]
[Co-List with NANO 5070]
Laboratory exercises, including recombinant DNA technology, protein purification, microscopy, tissue culture and other technologies currently in use.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 2 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 0 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 3 hours per week

NANO 5070

LIFS 3120

Fall Semester

LIFS 5120 Advanced Topics in Biophysical Chemistry

[Previous Course Code(s): BISC 512]
[Co-List with NANO 5310]
This course is designed for the postgraduate students majoring in Life Science, Chemistry and Physics. Advanced nano-related topics such as bioinformatics, peptide design, basic and biological application of NMR, protein structure and function and techniques of biophysical chemistry, nano science and technology, etc.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 2 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 1 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

NANO 5310

Fall Semester

LIFS 5240 Molecular and Developmental Neurobiology

[Previous Course Code(s): BISC 524]
Principles underlying the structure and function of the nervous system, integrating molecular, cellular systems, and computational approaches. Topics include chemical neurotransmission, sensory processes, control of movement, neuroendocrinology, neuronal plasticity in development and learning.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 3 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 0 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

‘LIFS 2210 (for Biochemistry majors) or LIFS 2040 (for Biology majors)’ and ‘LIFS 3240 or LIFS 4950’

Fall Semester

LIFS 5260 Biochemical and Molecular Basis of Diseases

[Previous Course Code(s): BISC 526]
Advanced topics on the biochemical basis of human diseases, molecular medicine and structure based drug design; an oral presentation and a written essay on a specific topic are required.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 3 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 0 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

LIFS 4760 or equivalent

Spring Semester

LIFS 5710 Cellular Regulation

[Previous Course Code(s): BISC 571]
Molecular basis of cellular regulation. Cellular signal transduction cascades.

Credit(s): 3

Lecture: 3 hours per week

Tutorial, Seminar or Recitation: 0 hours per week

Laboratory or Field Study: 0 hours per week

LIFS 6270

Fall Semester

LIFS 6000 Special Topics in Life Science

This course includes selected topics of current interest in Life Science which are not covered by existing courses. Credit to be determined on case by case basis based on workload. May be repeated for credit, if different topics are covered. Enrollment may require approval of the course instructor.

Spring 2020
LIFS6000C Biostatistics: theory and application in life science research (3 credits)

Course description
Statistical analysis has become an essential component in life science research for analyzing experimental data, experimental design, and exploratory analysis. This course is tailored to an audience of graduate students and researchers working in biological sciences and more broadly disciplines working with experimental or simulated data. We will introduce some widely used methodologies in contemporary research, such as hypothesis testing, nonparametric approaches, cross-validation and bootstrapping. To ensure the correct use of these statistical tools and to be able to generalize to new scenarios, we will also discuss some of the fundamental theories behind these methods. The students will gain practical experience from homework problems including programing and use of packages.

Credit(s): 1-4

Spring Semester

LIFS 6111 Life Science Postgraduate Student Seminar

[Previous Course Code(s): LIFS 6110, BICH 601, BIOL 611]
Advanced seminar series presented by postgraduate students on their research topics in biological sciences offered in Fall/Spring Terms. This course may be repeated for credit. Graded PP, P or F.

Credit(s): 1

ENVS 6011

Fall Semester
Spring Semester