Chemical Biology

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/chemical-biology

Introduction

**Course Review: Chemical Biology on Coursera** If you have ever been fascinated by the intricate dance of molecules in living systems and the idea of bridging the gap between chemistry, biology, and physics, then the **Chemical Biology** course on Coursera comes highly recommended. This course is a deep dive into the burgeoning field of chemical biology, which is pivotal for anyone keen on uncovering the complexities of cellular processes and how they can be manipulated in real-time. ### Course Overview Chemical biology is an interdisciplinary field that has garnered tremendous interest due to its capacity to elucidate biological processes at a fundamental level. This course reflects that vision by presenting concepts and techniques that allow students to delve into biological phenomena using chemical tools. The course is tailored for curious minds eager to explore how chemistry can be wielded to probe biological questions, making it suitable for both novice learners and those with a background in life sciences or chemistry. ### Course Syllabus Breakdown **1. Welcome to Chemical Biology: Concepts and Techniques** The course opens with a warm introduction that lays the groundwork for understanding the relevance of chemical biology. It answers pressing questions about the field's significance and introduces core concepts that will be expanded upon throughout the course. **2. The Devil is in the Minutest Detail** One of the most captivating topics discussed is the use of fluorescence microscopy to visualize biological processes. This section explores various fluorophores, their distinctive colors, and how they are used to illuminate critical cellular mechanisms. This module is particularly engaging, as it combines theoretical understanding with practical applications, revealing the beauty of visualizing life at the microscopic level. **3. A Ruler over Time and Space!** Here, students learn about fluorescent assays employed to measure and observe biological regulation in real-time, focusing on chromatin regulation and membrane tension. The application of these techniques showcases how chemical biology is at the forefront of understanding and manipulating biological systems. **4. Putting Proteins to Work for Us** This module highlights the innovative use of modified proteins in experiments. Students will discover how proteins can be engineered to conduct experiments that were previously unimaginable. This practical approach underscores the utility of chemical biology in contemporary research. **5. Making Light Work of It on a Larger and Larger Scale** Students are introduced to light-induced chemistry that allows for an innovative control of biological processes. The course explores various techniques, showcasing the versatility of chemical biology in broader contexts. This section is particularly useful for those interested in how such techniques can be applied to complex biological systems. **6. Casting Wide Your Net** The final module addresses the design and use of custom-designed probes to navigate the complexities of biology. This part of the course discusses screening methods and target identification, which is essential for those pursuing research or applications in chemical biology. ### Conclusion and Recommendation The **Chemical Biology** course on Coursera is a treasure trove for anyone interested in understanding the foundational principles and latest advancements in this interdisciplinary field. The blend of theoretical knowledge with practical techniques equips students with a solid framework that is applicable in academic research and industry settings. If you’re seeking a refreshing perspective on biology through the lens of chemistry, I highly recommend enrolling in this course. Not only will it enhance your understanding of cellular mechanics, but it will also prepare you to tackle complex biological questions using modern chemical biology techniques. Whether you are a student, researcher, or simply curious about the sciences, this course will be a valuable addition to your educational journey.

Syllabus

Welcome to Chemical Biology: Concepts and techniques

A very warm welcome to you, our new recruits! We'll start you off by acquainting you with the answers to big questions like why study chemical biology and what makes it special. We'll then show some highlights of the course that you are about to take. Finally, we want you to understand some fundamentals, so we are going to start off with some core concepts framed from the perspective of chemical biology.

A picture used to paint a thousand words. But with the advent of multiple color imaging, microscopy can open a lens with which to view life that few other techniques are capable of. We are thus going to take you on a colorful tour that will show you specific fluorophores, explain why different fluorophores have different colors, and how to rationalize why a molecule is fluorescent. Then we will use these fluorophores in cells, to visualize important cellular processes.

Here we will discuss how different fluorescent techniques have found fantastically useful applications to understand specific biological regulation processes in vitro and in live cells. We will focus on chromatin regulation and regulation of membrane tension as these are two systems which, without such techniques, we would not have the level of understanding we have today.

The classical view of biological science is the laboratory worker working hard to understand a specific protein of interest. But through chemical biology, we have been able to employ proteins to do some of this important work for us. In this module you will learn how to deploy modified protein domains to perform custom-designed functions using light-based techniques as a readout.

In recent years numerous chemical biology processes have harnessed light-induced chemistry to control biology in terms of turning on or off inhibition, and exerting remote control of localization or chemical reactivity, amongst numerous other examples not covered here. We shed some light on these processes and exemplify the full spectrum of procedures possible using such approaches.

We've learned how complex biology is, and how resourceful chemical biologist have started to peer into this complex landscape using custom-designed probes. But given the huge complexity of biology, we often have to start from ground zero, screening for a specific molecule or identifying a target of an interesting molecule. Here we will discuss methods that are ideal for these purposes in cells and in vitro.