DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TEL: 886-6-235-3535 EXT: 5530 FAX: 886-6-274-1694 E-MAIL: em75530@email.ncku.edu.tw CHAIRPERSON: Chao-Liang Wu BRIEF INTRODUCTION The Graduate Institute of Biochemistry was established in 1987, three years after the medical college of this university was chartered, under the directorship of Professor Teresa L. K. Low. The first class of 8 students was enrolled in the September of that year. Over the past 17 years, more than 250 graduate students have received the Master degree from this institute. Many of them have subsequently participated in research work in other institutes, and some of them have continued their advanced studies in this country or abroad. Many others have joined the faculty in community colleges. The Department of Biochemistry offers not only medical biochemistry to medical students, but also advanced biochemistry programs to graduate students. Biochemistry provides a basic knowledge for many life sciences. Our goal is to educate and train young people to become acquainted with biochemistry, so that the research interest and training in the basic medical sciences can be promoted, especially in this southern region of Taiwan. The department maintains strong ties in research and teaching with other basic sciences and clinical departments, this benefits students by providing exposure to many different types of problems and areas of expertise. At present, several faculty members from other departments, including Anatomy, Microbiology, Immunology, Physiology and Pharmacology are affiliated with Biochemistry as associates. Some of these individuals carry out collaborative research projects with biochemistry faculty, while others participate in our teaching program. In addition, Biochemistry has joined with other basic sciences departments to establish an integrated Ph.D. program in the Medical College. Over the years, the department has established itself as a center of excellence in 8-73
teaching and research. As we move into the 21st century, we are increasing our commitment to train highly qualified and interested young people for careers as investigators in biochemistry and molecular biology. FACULTY Professors: Chao-Liang Wu (Chairman) Hua-Lin Wu Guey-Yueh Shi Ming-Chung Chang Ming-Derg Lai Ming-Shi Chang Woei-Jer Chuang (B. S., National Taiwan University; M. S., National Chung-Hsing University; Ph.D., Edinburgh University.) (B. S., M. S., National Taiwan University; Ph.D., Ohio State University.) (B. S., M. S., National Taiwan University; Ph.D., Ohio State University.) (B. S., National Chung-Hsing University; M.S., Tokyo University, Ph.D., Tokyo University) (B. S., M. S., National Taiwan University; Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine.) (B.S., National Taiwan University; M.A., University of Kansa; Ph.D., The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas.) (B.S., Fu-Jen University; Ph.D., Florida State University.) Associate Professor Wen-Tsan Chang (B. Vet. Med. National Chung-Hsing University; M Vet. Med. National Taiwan University; Ph.D., Oxford University.) Assistant Professor Hung-Chi Cheng (B. Vet. Med., M Vet. Med. National Chung-Hsing University; Ph.D., Cornell University. ) Instructors: Swei-Yuan Lee (B. S., M. S., National Taiwan University; M. S., Albert Einstein Medical College.) 8-74
Yuen-Ren Ho (B. S., National Taiwan University; M. S., National Cheng Kung University.) FACILITIES The Department of Biochemistry occupies approximately 10,000 square feet of laboratory and office space on the ninth floor of the research tower in the Medical Center. A variety of instruments are available within the department for biochemical research and teaching. Included among major items of equipment are: Beckman analytical ultracentrifuge (L7 and L8, TL-100); Beckman 6300 Amino acid analyzer; Applied Biosystems 477A protein sequencer; Liquid scintillation counter (LKB 1217 and Parkard); HP 5890 Gas chromatograph and HP 5989A Mass spectrometer; Savant high voltage electrophoresis; BRL NA-2 DNA analyzer; Beckman W-225 DNA synthesizer; Hitachi 850 fluorescence spectrophotometer; LKB 1282 gamma counter; High performance liquid chromatography (Beckman, Parkard Waters, LKB and Hewlett Parker); Labconco lyophilizer; Olympus 21411 inverted microscope; Nicon phase contrast microscope; Beckman DU-65 spectrophotometer; Shimadzu UV-240 spectrophotometer; Hitachi 557 spectrophotometer Other facilities include 3 cold rooms, a photographic darkroom and 2 cell culture rooms, a counter room, a pure water room and an isotope room. In addition, the excellent animal care center and medical sciences library, both located in the research tower, are readily accessible for use by students and faculty. Total collection in the library is 4,000 Chinese books, more than 20,000 English books, 70 Chinese journals and over 1,000 English journals in the areas of Biomedicines. GRADUATE PROGRAMS The Department emphasizes both the mastery of basic knowledge in the field of biochemistry and, perhaps more importantly, the acquisition of research skills in biochemical methods and in experimental design. The student is trained to critically evaluate his own work and that in the literature. Entrance requirements. The Master program of this department accepts persons with varying undergraduate science backgrounds, including majors in chemistry, 8-75
biochemistry, biology, life science, or any other biology related fields. Qualified students apply for the entrance examination for the Master Program. The entrance examination falls into two groups. The first one is medical biotechnology. The written examination for this group includes biochemistry, introduction to biotechnology and the selected subject (organic chemistry or molecular biology). The other one is cell biology. The written examination for this group includes biochemistry, introduction to cell biology and the selected subject (organic chemistry or molecular biology). The written examination accounts for 60% of the total score. The remaining score (40% of the total score) is the oral examination. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits for graduation. Courses: All biochemistry courses scheduled according to the university calendar in which classes begin in mid- September and terminate in mid-june. CURRICULUM (1) Required Yr. Course Title Credits 1st Introduction to Biochemistry Research 2 1st Proteins and Enzymology 2 1st Seminar (1)(2) 2 1st IntermediaryMetabolism 1 1st Advanced Molecular Biology 3 1st Cell Biology 2 2nd Seminar (3) (4) 2 1 st Special Topic in Biotechnology 1 (2) Elective Yr. Course Title Credits 1st-2nd Instrument Analysis 1 1st-2 nd Molecular Genetics 1 1st-2 nd Gene Targeting 1 1st-2 nd Bioinformatics 2 1st-2 nd Biotechnology 2 1st-2 nd Advanced Biotechnology 3 8-76
1st-2 nd Protein Purification and Expression 1 1st-2 nd Protein Analysis 1 1st-2 nd Molecular Technology 1 1st-2 nd Protein NMR and Drug Design 2 1st-2 nd Developmental Biology 2 1st-2 nd Applied Molecular Biology 3 1st-2nd Tumor Biology 2 Student who have completed his first year training in the Master Program and are placed in the top one third of the class will be qualified for applying to the integrated Ph.D program offered by this medical school. 8-77