6 Molecular Biology Course Programs

The genetic diversity of plants is a crucial resource for developing resilient crops capable of adapting to continuously changing climatic and environmental conditions. The Seasonal School aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to investigate the genetic bases of agronomically relevant traits.

Molecular biology offers an innovative outlook by taking advantage of the Block Plan and offering courses in which students will be immersed in laboratory work, critical thinking and writing in the discipline. The Department of Molecular Biology offers a range of courses that teach students how to understand organisms on a cellular and molecular level. Our majors learn critical thinking skills in molecular biology by interpreting experiments, developing and testing hypotheses, and working with model organisms, cells, and molecules. Students majoring in molecular biology will be prepared to enter graduate programs in basic research or healthcare, and to apply the critical thinking and communication skills learned in the major to new situations, irrespective of their career goals.

BCMB majors obtain a strong, core understanding of the fundamentals of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and molecular biology and tailor their advanced courses to their interests.

This interdisciplinary major is focused on biology and the physical sciences and incorporates a significant amount of mathematics. The major is research oriented and is designed to prepare students for graduate studies or medical school, as well as careers in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry. For further information, consult with the molecular biology faculty, Professor Chandrangsu or Professor Finseth.

All biological sciences rest on two central principles – all organisms and their characteristics are the product of evolution, and all life processes have a physical and chemical basis. Simply put, at the most fundamental level, there is a shared molecular basis of life. Despite the astonishing diversity of living organisms, from bacteria living in deep ocean hydrothermal vents to cherry trees flowering in the spring to complex modern humans shaping the world around us, many features of all organisms at the cellular and molecular levels are fundamentally similar because of shared evolutionary history. Discoveries of fundamental molecular mechanisms in one species – a bacteria or fungus or fruit fly, for example – often apply to other distantly related organisms like humans. Solving many of the most perplexing and challenging biological, agricultural, medical, societal, and environmental problems in today’s world requires a broad and deep understanding of the molecular basis of life.

Students who complete this program will understand the importance of the scientific method in studying natural phenomena. They will develop hypotheses, design experiments, critically evaluate data, and communicate scientific data and ideas orally and in writing. Students gain a global perspective by participating in semester- and year-long study abroad programs or in three-week intensive courses, such as Tropical Marine Biology at the Roatan Institute in Honduras.