The Complexity of Life

This upper-division science program will develop and interrelate concepts in modern experimental biology. It will cover the biology material that is usually offered in Molecule to Organism (genetics, molecular biology, development, biochemistry, and cell biology) and provide prerequisites for the following careers and graduate programs: biology, medicine and other health sciences, biology, veterinary medicine, etc.

The program will examine the subject matter through two central themes: 1) Structure defines property and function; integrating a scaled theme from the molecular and cellular to the organismal level; and 2) How traits and genome variation are inherited across generations, and in populations. Over the two quarters, the scaled theme will continue through studies of cellular and biochemical processes in biological systems at all levels, including developmental biology.

There will be a significant laboratory component—students can expect to spend at least a full day in lab each week, maintain laboratory notebooks, write formal laboratory reports, and give formal presentations of their work. Students will work collaboratively on laboratory and library research projects incorporating the theories and techniques of experimental molecular cell biology. All laboratory work and approximately one half of the non-lecture time will be spent working in collaborative problem-solving groups.

This is an intensive program. The subjects are complex, and the sophisticated understanding we expect to develop will require devoted attention and many hours of scheduled lab work each week. Each student will be expected to develop a sufficient basis of advanced conceptual knowledge and practical skills necessary for pursuing work in a biology-based discipline.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

Fall

*3 - Cell Biology with Laboratory

*3 - Molecular Biology with Laboratory

*5 - Genetics

*5 - Biochemistry with Laboratory

Winter

*6 - Cell and Developmental Biology with Laboratory

*2 - Genetics

*3 - Applied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry

*5 - Biochemistry with Laboratory