Program Overview

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Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology - Bachelor of Arts (BA)

The undergraduate degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology emphasizes knowledge and awareness of the biological sciences in general and a detailed understanding of currently important aspects of cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and developmental biology. The program also focuses on the relationship of the specialty area to broader areas of science and to society in general, including ethical issues raised by current biological research and by the rapid growth of biotechnology as an important shaping force for the future.

Prerequisites

It is MCDB policy to enforce the course prerequisites listed in the course catalog. If you have not either taken and passed (C- or better) the prerequisites for a course, or obtained permission from the instructor or a departmental advisor to take the course based on equivalent preparatory coursework or experience here or elsewhere, you may be administratively dropped from the course.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences and the required courses listed below. All required major courses and all required ancillary courses must be passed with a C- or better and cannot be taken pass/fail. Students must have a grade point average of at least 2.000 in the major in order to graduate.

• Introductory Coursework: Select one of the following courses:
  • MCDB 1150: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (MCDB 1152 is a recommended coseminar for MCDB 1150)
  • MCDB 1111: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCDB 1152 is not a recommended coseminar for MCDB 1111)
• Genetics: Select one of the following courses:
  • MCDB 2150: Principles of Genetics (MCDB 2152 is a recommended coseminar for MCDB 2150)
  • MCDB 2222: Principles of Genetics (MCDB 2152 is not a recommended coseminar for MCDB 2222)
• Research-Based Introductory Labs: Select one of the following courses:
  • MCDB 1161: From Dirt to DNA: Phage Genomics Laboratory I
  • MCDB 1171: Antibiotics Discovery Through Hands-on Screens I
  • MCDB 1181: Biological Probiotic/Drug Discovery Through Hands-on Screens
  • MCDB 2171: Chemotherapeutic Discovery Through Hands-On Screens
• Cell Biology:
  • MCDB 3135: Molecular Biology
  • MCDB 3140: Cell Biology Laboratory
  • MCDB 3145: Cell Biology
• Development Biology:
  • MCDB 4650: Developmental Biology
• Upper-division capstone and scientific reasoning requirements:
  • Capstone: Select one of the following courses:
    • MCDB 4300: Immunology
    • MCDB 4777: Molecular Neurobiology
    • MCDB 4150: Biology of Aging and Longevity
  • Scientific Reasoning: Select one of the following courses:
    • MCDB 4350: Microbial Diversity and the Biosphere
    • MCDB 4361:
    • MCDB 4410: Human Molecular Genetics
    • MCDB 4420: Genetics of Brain and Behavior
    • MCDB 4422: Molecular Biology of Free Radicals: Role(s) in Oxidative Stress, Signaling, Disease, Aging
    • MCDB 4425: Topics in Membrane Biology: Cell Biology, Physiology and Disease
    • MCDB 4426: Cell Signaling and Developmental Regulation
    • MCDB 4427:
    • MCDB 4444: Cellular Basis of Disease
    • MCDB 4471: Mechanisms of Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
    • MCDB 4550: Cells, Molecules and Tissues: A Biophysical Approach
    • MCDB 4615: Biology of Stem Cells
    • MCDB 4680: Mechanisms of Aging
    • MCDB 4750: Animal Virology
    • MCDB 4810: Insane in the Membrane: The Biology and Biophysics of the Membrane
    • MCDB 4811: Teaching and Learning Biology
• Electives: An additional 6 credit hours of upper-division electives (any MCDB 3000 or MCDB 4000 level)
• Required Ancillary Courses:
  • Complete the following chemistry and biochemistry courses:
    • CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1114: General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1
    • CHEM 1133 & CHEM 1134: General Chemistry 2 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2
    • CHEM 3311 & CHEM 3321: Organic Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1
    • BCHM 4611: Principles of Biochemistry
  • Select one of the following calculus or statistics courses:
    • Calculus:
      • MATH 1300: Calculus 1
      • MATH 1310: Calculus for Life Sciences
      • APPM 1350: Calculus 1 for Engineers
    • Statistics:
      • MATH 2510: Introduction to Statistics
      • EBIO 1010: Introduction to Statistics and Quantitative Thinking for Biologists
      • EBIO 4410: Biological Statistics
      • IPHY 3280: Intro to Data Science and Biostatistics
      • PSYC 2111: Psychological Science I: Statistics

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress in molecular, cellular and developmental biology, students should meet the following requirements:

• In the first semester, declare the MCDB major. (If the major is not started in the first year, the student must meet with an MCDB academic advisor to ensure that it is still possible to complete the major in four years.)
• During the first and second semesters, complete either general chemistry or the introductory MCDB sequence.
• By the end of the fourth semester, complete general chemistry and the introductory MCDB sequence with a C- or better.
• By the end of the eighth semester, complete the major.

Recommended Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Natural Sciences area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement, including the Lab requirement, and, potentially, the QRMS component of the Gen Ed Skills Requirement.

Year One

• Fall Semester:
  • MCDB 1150 or MCDB 1111: Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • MCDB 2 Credit Hour Lab
  • MCDB 1152: Problem Solving Co-Seminar for Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology (strongly recommended in conjunction with MCDB 1150, not required)
  • CHEM 1113 & CHEM 1114: General Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 1
  • Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Lower-division Written Communication)
• Spring Semester:
  • MCDB 2150 or MCDB 2222: Principles of Genetics
  • MCDB 2152: Problem Solving Co-Seminars for Genetics (strongly recommended in conjunction with MCDB 2150, not required)
  • CHEM 1133 & CHEM 1134: General Chemistry 2 and Laboratory in General Chemistry 2
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences)
  • Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: QRMS) or Elective if QRMS is fulfilled by major requirement.

Year Two

• Fall Semester:
  • MCDB 3135 or MCDB 3145: Molecular Biology or Cell Biology
  • MCDB 3140 or MCDB 3145: Cell Biology Laboratory (MCDB 3140 may be taken at the same time as MCDB 3135 or MCDB3145) or Cell Biology
  • CHEM 3311 & CHEM 3321: Organic Chemistry 1 and Laboratory in Organic Chemistry 1
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Social Sciences/Global Perspective)
  • Elective
• Spring Semester:
  • MCDB 3145: Cell Biology
  • MATH 1300 OR Statistics: Calculus 1 or Statistics OR (some students may decide to take Organic Chemistry 2 as an approved out of department, upper division MCDB elective, in that case, taking stats or calc is advised for later semesters)
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences)
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities)
  • Elective (only if taking Statistics)

Year Three

• Fall Semester:
  • MCDB 4650: Developmental Biology
  • BCHM 4611: Principles of Biochemistry
  • Gen. Ed. Skills course (example: Upper-division Written Communication)
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities)
  • Free Elective
• Spring Semester:
  • Free elective
  • MCDB Science Reasoning
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Social Sciences)
  • Upper-Division Elective
  • Upper-Division Elective

Year Four

• Fall Semester:
  • MCDB Capstone
  • MCDB upper division elective
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution/Diversity course (example: Arts & Humanities/US Perspective)
  • Free Elective
  • Free Elective
• Spring Semester:
  • MCDB Upper-division Elective
  • Gen. Ed. Distribution course (example: Arts & Humanities)
  • Upper-Division Elective
  • Free elective
  • Free elective

Learning Outcomes

By the completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Connect the principles of evolution to the cellular, molecular and genetic properties of organisms, including how genomes and allele frequencies change over time.
• Describe the assembly and properties of macromolecular complexes and membranes, the movement of molecules and macromolecules, and the chemical properties that underlie these functions.
• Describe how the genetic information in a cell is stored, replicated, transcribed and translated, and compare the different mechanisms and consequences of gene expression regulation.
• Describe the basic features of inter- and intra-cellular signaling systems and interpret the ways that they can influence, directly and indirectly, gene expression, cellular behaviors, and organismic phenotypes.
• Describe the mechanisms of inheritance, including deducing information about genes, alleles, mutations and gene functions from analyses of genetic crosses and patterns of inheritance.
• Distinguish between different experimental techniques, justify their use to test specific hypotheses and interpret conclusions from experimental data.
• Carry out basic research using standard cell and molecular biology techniques and communicate that research through both written and oral presentations.