Now that the human genome has been sequenced, the next step in gene discovery is to determine gene function at the level of protein.  In this course, students are introduced to a number of techniques commonly used in the field of biotechnology to purify and characterize proteins of interest.  The course begins with examining the expression of the endogenous form of a protein of interest in vivo.   Next, students examine the function of the protein through a number of in vitro techniques.  Protein-protein interactions will be examined between this protein and a receptor.  The protein next will be examined using an expression vector, then purified and characterized, introducing students to methods in protein isolation, concentration quantification, electrophoresis, precipitation and detection.  Next, students will generate site-directed mutants of this protein and compare changes in protein function between wild-type and mutant forms.  Also, students will examine the effect of a compound that inhibits protein function, learning how to perform a dose-response.