BIOPHYS 120 001 FA 2025

The Discovery of the DNA Double Helix and its Hidden Mysteries

BIOPHYS 120

Instructor Magdalena Ivanova, PhD      Email mivanova@umich.edu

Class Schedule                                                2:30-4PM  USB RM 3265

Description

       This course introduces students to the scientific and intellectual journey that led to our current understanding of DNA, blending historical context, interdisciplinary discovery, and modern biophysical tools. Anchored in the story of the DNA double helix, the course explores how researchers—from Darwin and Mendel to Franklin, Watson, and Crick—unraveled the mysteries of heredity and molecular structure.
       The course emphasizes interdisciplinary learning through hands-on activities. Students will examine how pivotal experiments shaped our understanding of DNA and genetic material, while visualizing macromolecular structures using computational tools, interpreting classic experiments such as DNA diffraction patterns, and analyzing scientific images, including fluorescence microscopy. To broaden their exposure to scientific research, students will also attend seminars and engage with guest scientists.
       Throughout the course, students will develop core academic skills such as reading and interpreting scientific texts, scientific writing through article analysis and reflection, literature mining, and presenting scientific ideas—all within the context of key concepts in genetics, structural biology, and biophysics.
       No prior STEM experience is required. Students will be introduced to the culture of scientific inquiry and to the broader university environment, including how to navigate and make use of the university’s extensive academic resources. This course is ideal for students curious about how science shapes our understanding of life, and eager to build foundational college-level skills through the lens of a transformative scientific discovery.

Reading and Materials

Multiple resources—including research papers, textbooks, and online materials—are provided during lectures and made available on the course site (Files/Materials Folder). Below are some of the key textbooks used in preparing lecture content. 

•    Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology

•   Encyclopedia of Cell Biology (UM library)

•  James Watson and Andrew Berry, DNA: The Secret of Life

•  The Gene: An Intimate History by  Siddhartha Mukherjee - available on UM library - can't be downloaded

If you have any questions, you can also ask Maizey, the AI tutor trained on the class materials.

Office hours:                         4:00-4:30 T/TH 3040 CHEM

Lecture files (pdf format) will be posted in Files/Lectures

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Please let us know if you need accommodation for a disability at your earliest convenience. Please be aware that exams must be scheduled at least two weeks before the exam date.

Religious holidays

Please let us know if you have conflicts with the examination dates.

Use of ChatGPT and other AI Tools

It’s your responsibility to assess every source’s reliability. AI tools like ChatGPT are a source that may inform your writing, just as books, papers, lecture notes, websites, and the results of Google searches. You should be aware that the output of AI tools is not checked by an expert.

AI tools can generate text, code, and images in response to a prompt. Such automatically generated text is not your work and cannot be submitted as if it is.  Exceptions are assignments that specifically ask for the use of AI.

Assessment and Grading

• • 2 x Quizzes on core concepts (total 14% -  in class 15 min long):
    • • Quiz#1 - October 7
      • Quiz#2 - December 4
  • 5 x Hands-on exercises (total 25% - in class work and online submissions):
    • •  Literature mining with Google Scholar and AI-assisted tools - September 4
      • Paper Annotation and Discussion - September 18
      • Writing scientific reports - October 9
      • Data Interpretation - October 23
      • Structure Prediction - November 20
  • 1 x Class presentation (20% total): Students will be grouped into two, assigned a paper, and present it on one of the following dates:  November 4, 6, and 11
  • Term paper (total 15%) - This assignment requires you to attend one Biophysics seminar and submit a report. It will be posted on September 30 and is due by 6:00 PM on December 12.
  • Participation and attendance (total 26%): - Attendance is required for all lectures that include quizzes, guest speakers (see below), or hands-on activities. For the remaining lectures, students may miss up to three lectures without penalty. Absences due to illness or family emergencies will be excused; please notify me as soon as possible.
    • • Guest Speakers September 9
        • • Dr. Ellen Solomon, Ph.D., P.E. Program Manager, MDP
          • Dr. Michelle D. Ferrez, Ed.D. Director, UROP
      • Guest Speakers September 11
        • • Graduate Student Panel
      • Guest Speakers September 18
        • • Prof. Ivo Dinov SOCR Director

Final grades will be calculated using a standard scale