Course Title Molecular Biology Course Number BIOL 350 Course Description Molecular Biology is the study of the structure and function of biological molecules that are essential for life processes This course explores the fundamental concepts of molecular biology including the structure of nucleic acids DNA replication gene expression and genetic regulation Students will gain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular processes and their applications in various elds of biology Prerequisites BIOL 200 Cell Biology or equivalent course Textbook Course Goals Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts et al 6th Edition To understand the molecular basis of life and cellular processes To explore DNA replication transcription translation and genetic regulation To discuss the principles of recombinant DNA technology and genomics To examine the applications of molecular biology in biotechnology medicine and research Assessment and Grading Midterm Exam 20 Final Exam 30 Quizzes and Homework 20 Laboratory Reports if applicable 15 Class Participation and Discussions 15 Course Schedule Week 1 2 Introduction to Molecular Biology Central Dogma of Molecular Biology Molecular techniques and tools Week 3 4 DNA Structure and Replication DNA structure and function DNA replication mechanisms Week 5 6 Transcription and RNA Processing Transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes RNA processing and post transcriptional modi cations Week 7 8 Translation and Genetic Code Protein synthesis and translation The genetic code and tRNA Week 9 10 Genetic Regulation Prokaryotic gene regulation Eukaryotic gene regulation Week 11 12 Recombinant DNA and Genomics DNA cloning and recombinant DNA technology Genomics and DNA sequencing techniques Week 13 14 Applications of Molecular Biology Biotechnology and genetic engineering Medical applications and molecular diagnostics Week 15 Review and Final Exam Course Policies Attendance is strongly encouraged Late assignments will be penalized Academic integrity is expected from all students Students with disabilities should contact the instructor for accommodations