Maui Community College
Course Outline
1. Course Title: Fundamentals of Cell and Molecular Biology
Biology 225
Number of credits: 4
Abbreviated Course Title: CELL MOLEC BIOL
Date of Outline: 10/20/02
2. Course Description: Introduces the fundamentals of cell and molecular biology. Covers
the physiology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, protein structure and functions,
protein synthesis, genome organization in viruses, gene cloning, DNA technology and
genetic engineering. Discusses bioethics.
3. Contact Hours: 3 lecture, 3 lab
4. Prerequisites: Biology 151, Biology 171/171L, Microbiology 130, Chemistry
161/161L, and Chemistry 162/162L or Biochemistry 241
Corequisites: Math 115, ICS 100, and Special Topics in Biotechnology course.
Recommended Preparation:
Completion of English 100
Approved by _(Provost’s ____________________Date__________________
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5. General Course Objectives:
a. The student will learn the fundamentals of protein structure and functions, DNA and
RNA structure and function, genome organization in viruses, prokaryotes
and eukaryotes.
b. The student will learn gene cloning, DNA technology, and applications of genetic
Engineering.
c. The student will develop a general competence with techniques/methodologies used in
DNA studies including gel electrophoresis, PCR, RFLP, western and southern blots.
d. The student will develop general competence in laboratory equipment usage in a
biotechnology lab.
e. The student will develop general competence in laboratory documentation/ lab
notebook, documentation skills.
6. Specific Course Competencies
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
a. Recognize chemical structure and describe the function of biological
molecules including carbohydrates, lipids, and protein molecules. Utilize the
scientific method in performing laboratory experiments, and perform scientific
literature searches to help answer scientific questions.
b. Describe the structure of the macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acid, etc.)
comprising prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and demonstrate techniques used
in extracting these macromolecules.
c. Explain the basic chemistry of the major the biological macromolecules.
d. Describe protein levels of organization and the action of enzymes.
e. Demonstrate techniques used in protein studies such as gel electrophoresis,
chromatography, and western blots.
f. Explain DNA structure, replication and function.
g. Demonstrate and analyze techniques used in DNA studies such as gel
electrophoresis, and southern blots.
h. Explain RNA structure and functions including transcription and processing.
i. Describe the interaction of DNA and RNA in protein synthesis, and its
relationship to the genetic code.
j. Describe genome organization in viruses.
k. Explain genome organization in prokaryotes, including bacterial DNA,
nucleoids and plasmids, as well as transformation, transduction, and
conjugation.
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l. Describe genome organization in eukaryotes and explain regulation of gene
activity.
m. Explain recombinant DNA technology and gene cloning.
n. Explain and demonstrate methods used in DNA studies including gel
electrophoresis, DNA synthesis, PCR, and restriction fragment length
polymorphisms (RFLP).
o. Collect experimental scientific information, interpret the data, assimilate the
information, and critically assess the value of that information.
Analyze the problems and ethical issues encountered in genetic engineering.
7. Recommended Course Content and Approximate Time Spent
Week 1:
The scientific method, performing scientific literature searches (a, o)
Week 2:
The prokaryotic cell and the eukaryotic cell, cell ultrastucture (a, b, o)
Week 3:
Chemistry review/chemistry of biological molecules (a, b, c, o)
Week 4:
Protein structure and functions/enzymes (a, b, c, d, o)
Week 5:
Techniques for studying proteins and other macromolecules (c, d, e, o)
Week 6:
Nucleic acids/central dogma of molecular biology (f, g, h, o)
Week 7:
DNA structure and its biological role (f, g, h, i, o)
DNA replication and repair
Week 8:
RNA transcription and processing (h, i, j, o)
Week 9:
The genetic code/protein synthesis (h, i, o)
Week 10: Genetic variation and genome organization (i, j, k, o)
Week 11: Chromosome and gene regulation (j, k, l, o)
Week 12: Regulation of gene expression (l, m, o)
Week 13: Recombinant DNA/molecular alteration of genes/gene cloning (l, m, n, o)
Weeks 14 - 16: Recombinant DNA technology applications/ethical considerations (m, n, o)
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8. Recommended Course Requirements
Specific course requirements are at the discretion of the instructor at the time the course is
being offered. Suggested requirements might include, but are not limited to the following:
Attendance and participation
Examinations
Quizzes
Course project
Lab technique evaluation
Article analyses
9. Text and Materials
Appropriate texts and materials will be chosen at the time the course id to be offered.
Examples:
Text:
Essential Cell Biology by Bruce Alberts
The World of the Cell by Wayne Becker
Molecular Cell Biology by Harvey Lodish
Biotechnology: Demystifying the Concepts by David Bourgaize
Biotechnology: A Laboratory Course by Jeffery Becker
Materials: Articles, handouts, laboratory protocols, and other relevant materials
Others:
Videos, internet sites, CD roms, guess lectures
10. Evaluation and Grading
Factors for grading may include but are not limited to the following:
Examinations and Quizzes
Course project
Laboratory skills assessment
Attendance and participation
40% to 50%
10% to 15%
25% to 35%
5% to 10%
11. Methods of Instruction:
Lectures, group discussions, videos, internet sites, demonstrations, lab work.