Cell Biology

Description

This course will provide a survey of the structure and function of cells and the foundations of cell biology. You will learn about the cell compartments and their organization, formation, and functions. You will also learn about some of the large and small molecules that make up the amazing orchestra that is responsible for making a cell a living unit and one that responds to signals from its environment. The materials will discuss macromolecules such as DNA, the genetic code that preserves vital information from one cell to the next; proteins, the machines that perform the cell functions; and lipids, the gatekeepers of cell integrity and organization. You will also learn about the small molecules that shuttle across cell compartments carrying messages to coordinate cell function, or between cells to coordinate cell communication in a tissue and throughout an organism. 

The course includes a laboratory component covering basic techniques and skills.  This is a lower-division, introductory biology course. It is preparatory for advanced programs related to cell and molecular biology, such as Molecule to Organism, Environmental Health, or related upper-division programs.