The student will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the steps of the scientific method to study a question.
2. Relate the themes of biology to the specific topics of cell and molecular biology.
3. Discuss the role and importance of water and carbon to life.
4. Describe the structures and functions of biological macromolecules.
5. Compare and contrast eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure.
6. Explain the relationship of structure and function, with respect to macromolecules, membranes, organelles, and cells.
7. Explain the importance of ATP to the cell and describe the methods available in nature to produce it.
8. Compare and contrast chemiosmosis in respiration and photosynthesis.
9. Describe mechanisms of cell communication.
10. Identify the phases of mitosis.
11. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.
12. Explain cell cycle regulation and relate it to cancer.
13. Discuss the importance of genetics and inheritance, from both historical and current perspectives.
14. Solve simple genetic problems.
15. Describe DNA replication, transcription, and translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
16. Discuss the types and importance of mutations.
17. Compare and contrast the organization and control of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes.
18. Use and describe instrumentation and techniques commonly found in a cell and molecular biology laboratory.
19. Analyze experimental data and draw appropriate conclusions.
20. Design an experiment to study an original question and explain experimental techniques and results both orally and in writing.
21. Describe some of the contributions made by eminent scientists, including women and minorities, to the fields of molecular and cell biology.
22. Explore and discuss scientific issues related to the topics in cell and molecular biology, especially those impacting diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

1. The scientific method
   1. Making observations
   2. Asking questions
   3. Forming hypotheses
   4. Testing hypotheses
   5. Experimental conditions
      1. Independent variable
      2. Dependent variable
      3. Controls
      4. Repeatability
   6. Collecting and analyzing results
      1. Methods of data display
   7. Drawing conclusions
   8. Scientific literature
      1. Original research
      2. Peer-review
      3. Authorship
2. Themes of biology
   1. Characteristics of life
   2. Hierarchical organization of life
      1. The Cell Theory
   3. Emergent properties
   4. Correlation of structure and function
   5. Unity vs. diversity of life
   6. Evolution
   7. Taxonomy and binomial nomenclature
      1. Issues with controversial scientific names
   8. The nature and limits of science
3. Water and carbon
   1. Water
      1. Hydrogen bonding of water
      2. Properties of water
         1. Cohesion and surface tension
         2. Temperature buffer
         3. Solvent
      3. Role of water in chemical reactions
      4. Role of water in membrane structure
   2. Carbon
      1. Structure of carbon atom
      2. Diversity of organic molecules
      3. Functional groups
4. Biological macromolecules
   1. Monomers and polymers
   2. Carbohydrate structure and function
      1. Monosaccharides
      2. Oligosaccharides
      3. Polysaccharides
   3. Lipid structure and function
      1. Unsaturated vs. saturated fatty acids
      2. Simple lipids
      3. Complex lipids
   4. Protein structure and function
      1. Amino acids
      2. Levels of protein folding
      3. Denaturation/altered protein structure (prions, abnormal hemoglobin)
   5. Nucleic acid structure and function
      1. Nucleotides
      2. RNA
      3. DNA
5. Cell structure
   1. Plasma membrane
      1. Fluid mosaic model of membrane structure
      2. Structure and function of transmembrane proteins
      3. Transport
         1. Passive - simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis
         2. Active - active transport, cotransport
         3. Endocytosis - phagocytosis, pinocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis
         4. Exocytosis
   2. Prokaryotic cells
      1. Extracellular structures
         1. Flagella, pili, capsule, cell wall
      2. Intracellular structures
         1. Nucleoid, plasmids, ribosomes
   3. Eukaryotic cells
      1. Nucleus
         1. Chromatin
         2. Nucleoli
      2. Endomembrane system
         1. Smooth, rough endoplasmic reticulum
         2. Golgi apparatus
         3. Vesicles, vacuoles
         4. Lysosomes
      3. Mitochondria and chloroplasts
         1. Endosymbiosis
      4. Ribosomes
      5. Cytoskeleton
         1. Flagella, cilia
      6. Centrosome/centrioles
      7. Cell wall
      8. Intercellular junctions
6. Bioenergetics
   1. Metabolism
      1. Enzymes
      2. ATP and its role in cellular work
      3. Metabolic pathways
      4. Regulation
      5. Autotrophic vs. heterotrophic growth
      6. Chemotrophic vs. phototrophic growth
   2. Respiration
      1. Mitochondrion structure
      2. Glycolysis
      3. Krebs cycle
      4. Electron transport
      5. Chemiosmosis and oxidative phosphorylation
   3. Fermentation
      1. Glycolysis
      2. Pyruvate reduction
   4. Photosynthesis
      1. Chloroplast structure
      2. Nature of light and its interaction with pigments
      3. Light-dependent reactions
         1. Photosystems
         2. Cyclic and noncylic electron flow
         3. Chemiosmosis and photophosphorylation
      4. Carbon-fixing reactions
         1. Calvin-Benson cycle
      5. Photorespiration
         1. C4 and CAM plants
         2. The role of science in feeding a warming and growing planet
         3. Metabolic diversity in prokaryotes
7. Cell communication
   1. Stages of cell signaling
      1. Signal reception
      2. Signal transduction
      3. Cellular responses
         1. Cytoplasmic responses
         2. Nuclear responses
   2. Role in cancer
8. Cell cycle and cell division
   1. Cell cycle
      1. G₀
      2. Interphase (G₁, S, G₂)
      3. Mitosis (phases)
      4. Cytokinesis (plant vs. animal)
   2. Control of the cell cycle
      1. Internal regulatory mechanisms
      2. External regulatory mechanisms
   3. Cancer
      1. Cellular characteristics
      2. Oncogenes
      3. Tumor suppressor genes
      4. Mutagens and carcinogens
      5. Disproportionate impacts of cancer
   4. Sexual vs. asexual reproduction
      1. Mieosis (phases)
      2. Sources of genetic variation
      3. Methods of sex determination (sex vs. gender in biology)
   5. Stem cells
9. Transmission genetics (inheritance)
   1. Mendelian genetics
      1. Mendel's experimental methods
         1. Monohybrid crosses
         2. Dihybrid crosses
      2. Mendel's laws
         1. Misuse of the term law
         2. Principle of segregation
         3. Principle of independent assortment
   2. Solving inheritance problems
      1. Genotype vs. phenotype
      2. Dominant vs. recessive
      3. Autosomal vs. sex-linked
   3. Non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance
      1. Incomplete dominance
      2. Codominance
      3. Linkage
      4. Pleiotropy
      5. Epistasis
      6. Polygenic inheritance
      7. Multifactorial inheritance
   4. Epigenetics
      1. Impact of trauma and inheritance
10. Molecular genetics/biology
    1. Historical perspective
       1. Griffith experiment
       2. Hershey-Chase experiment
       3. Watson-Crick-Franklin-Wilkins
       4. Meselson-Stahl experiment
    2. DNA replication
       1. Process
       2. Leading vs. lagging strand synthesis
       3. Telomeres
    3. Gene expression/transcription
       1. Central dogma
       2. Process
          1. RNA processing
          2. Alternative splicing vs. gene rearrangements
    4. Gene expression/translation
       1. Process
       2. Ribosome structure
       3. tRNA structure
       4. The genetic code
    5. Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic events in replication, transcription, translation
11. Mutations
    1. Chromosomal number
    2. Chromosomal structure
    3. Point mutations
12. Regulation of gene expression
    1. Constitutive genes
    2. Prokaryotic mechanisms
       1. Operon structure and function
       2. Negative vs. positive control
    3. Eukaryotic mechanisms
       1. Organization of the eukaryotic genome
       2. Chromatin structure modifications
       3. Transcription and post-transcriptional control
13. Applications of molecular biology
    1. Laboratory techniques: PCR, restriction digest, gel electrophoresis
    2. Human Genome Project and bioinformatics
    3. Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA, cloning
    4. CRISPR
    5. Ethical considerations

1. Skills
   1. Apply the scientific method
   2. Design an experiment to test an original hypothesis
   3. Calculations, including dilutions
   4. Graphical display of data
   5. Use of standard curves
   6. Drawing appropriate conclusions from experimental results
2. Techniques and instrumentation
   1. Measuring devices, including micropipettors
   2. Microscopes
   3. Spectrophotometer
   4. PCR/thermal cycler
   5. Restriction digest
   6. Gel electrophoresis
3. Topics
   1. Enzymology
   2. Microscopic examination of cells
   3. Respiration, fermentation, photosynthesis
   4. Genetics
   5. Molecular biology

One or more lecture midterm exam(s), which will include objective and subjective questions, assessing critical thinking and application of knowledge, and may include short answer/essay, diagramming, calculations. Exams have individual and collaborative portions
Comprehensive lecture final exam
One or more lab midterm exam(s) or frequent lab quizzes, which may include references to publications, lab skills, calculations, graphing
Comprehensive laboratory final exam, which may include practical-style (hands-on) activities
Formative written lecture assignments requiring application of lecture content, given throughout the lecture session, allowing students to practice and explore ideas prior to assessment
Mastering Biology computerized homework questions, requiring student-purchased access from publisher
Lab report homework, including, but not limited to, pre-labs, graphs, and analysis of laboratory results with written conclusions
One oral laboratory presentation of original experimental design and results
One written laboratory analysis of original experimental design and results
Participation in laboratory group project
Participation in discussions and group activities during lecture and lab to apply content to real-world scenarios, allowing students to select topics relevant to their lives

Lecture presentations with individual and/or small group lecture activities
Laboratory experiments using the techniques and methodologies of cell and molecular biology
Small group discussions on specific topics in cell and molecular biology
Collaborative testing components, resubmissions, and formative assessments with feedback for assignments in both lecture and lab

Urry, Cain, Wasserman, Minorsky, and Reece. Campbell Biology with Mastering, 12th ed.. 2021.

This textbook is updated with each new edition, approximately every 3 years.

Instructor-generated laboratory content (protocols) provided to students at no cost

1. Reading assignments:
   1. College-level, lower division, biology majors text readings: approximately 40 pages weekly
   2. Primary and secondary scientific literature selected by instructor as appropriate
2. Writing assignments:
   1. Quiz and exam short answer/essay preparation questions requiring synthesis and application of course content
   2. Laboratory pre-lab preparation homework (calculations, hypothesis/prediction statements, identification of experimental variables/controls)
   3. Laboratory experimental results interpretation (data display, graphing, calculations) and analysis (including appropriate conclusion statements)