Biology Major

Cellular and Molecular Biology Concentration

 

What is Cellular and Molecular Biology?

 

Cellular and Molecular Biology are fields of biology that focus on understanding living processes at a molecular level. Many of the most exciting biological discoveries in the past twenty years have occurred in these fields. These discoveries have identified some of the genes responsible for cancer, the events regulating how a cell divides, and how organisms develop from a single cell.

 

What does the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program at UW-L have to offer?

 

The courses required in this program give students an excellent background in molecular and cellular biology.  In Genetics, students use PCR and other diagnostic tests as well as classical Mendelian experiments to understand inheritance. In Cell Biology, students explore the inner workings of cellular metabolism and organization. Molecular Biology has a lab that exposes students to the latest techniques in the expression of recombinant human proteins.

 

There are also several electives which allow students to focus on specific areas of cellular and molecular biology.  Currently we have a course on the Molecular Basis of Disease which focuses on our current understanding of diseases at a biological level.  A new course on Plant Growth and Development will allow students to gain experience in the field of plant biotechnology and genetic engineering.  In the near future we plan to offer courses on Advanced Genetics and Advanced Cell Biology.  These will give students exposure to genomics, bioinformatics and tissue culture.

 

Our program is also involved in a collaboration with other University of Wisconsin System colleges and universities to improve biology education through the use of computer technology.  The project is called UW-BioWeb, and the faculty in the Cellular and Molecular Biology program at UWL have created a website called GenWeb (http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/GenWeb/genweb.html) for students throughout Wisconsin.  

 

Career Opportunities

 

Industry

 

Students graduating from this program will be well trained for entry-level positions in many areas of industry. Biotechnology is used increasingly in the development and production of new drugs, agricultural products and diagnostic tests.

Graduate School

 

This program will prepare students for graduate school in many disciplines of biology including biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, plant biology, molecular biology, and immunology.

 

Medical School

 

Medicine is becoming increasingly molecular in nature. As we discover the genetic causes of many diseases, new treatments and tests are developed. Future doctors will need to have a strong grasp of molecular biology to make diagnoses and prescribe treatments.

 

Environmental

 

Many of the current testing methods used in environmental research use molecular techniques. These include research involving population studies, toxicology, endangered species and evolution.
 

Sites to begin a job search:

 Research Opportunities

 

Students in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program are encouraged to perform independent undergraduate research.

 

UW-L Faculty Research Interests

 

Mike Abler ─ Students use molecular techniques and classical genetics to explore the roles of RNA-degrading enzymes in plant metabolism.

 

Scott Cooper ─  Students use molecular techniques to understand the mechanism by which anticoagulants prevent clotting in our blood, and to solve environmental problems.

 

Anne Galbraith ─  Students use molecular biology, genetics, and some biochemistry to understand the roles of DNA replication proteins in yeast meiosis.

 

David Howard ─  Students use microscopy, protein biochemistry, and classical and molecular genetics to investigate how cells generate and regulate motility.

 

Jennifer Miskowski ─ Students use genetics, microscopy, and molecular techniques to investigate the cellular processes involved in organ formation in the nematode worm, Caenorhabditis elegans.

 

Internships

 

During the school year there are several internships available at local biotechnology companies. In addition, students are encouraged to perform internships outside of La Crosse during the summer.

 

SURE Programs

 

Many major universities around the country offer Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Programs for students from universities like UWL. This gives students exposure to research in very dynamic settings.

Curriculum for the Biology Major, Cellular and Molecular Biology Concentration (All colleges, excluding Teacher Certification programs) - 39 credits.

 

Core Course Requirements:

 

BIO 103 Introductory Biology or BIO 105 General Biology (preferred) 4 credits

BIO 203 Organismal Biology 4 credits or BIO 204 Plant Biology 3 credits and BIO 210 Animal Biology 3 credits

BIO 306 Genetics 4 credits

BIO 307 Ecology 3 credits

BIO 315 Cell Biology 4 credits

BIO 435 Molecular Biology (non-lab) 3 credits

BIO 436 Molecular Biology Laboratory 1 credit

BIO 491 Capstone Seminar in Biology 1 credit

 

MIC 230 Fundamentals of Microbiology 4 credits

 

The remaining credits can be selected from the following electives in biology and microbiology:

 

BIO 303 Vertebrate Form and Function  4 credits

BIO 312 Human Anatomy & Physiology I   4 credits

BIO 313 Human Anatomy & Physiology II  4 credits

BIO 337 Plant Physiology (non-lab) 3 credits

BIO 406 Parasitology 4 credits

BIO 408 Developmental Biology  4 credits

BIO 412 Mycology  4 credits

BIO 424 Endocrinology 3 credits

BIO 428 Animal Metabolism, Nutrition and Disease (non-lab) 3 credits

BIO 432 Biology of Cancer (non-lab) 2 credits

BIO 433 Radiation Biology (non-lab) 3 credits

BIO 440 Bioinformatics (non-lab) 2 credits

BIO 443 Molecular Mechanism of Disease and Drug Action (non-lab) 3 credits

BIO 463 Aquatic Animal Health 3 credits

BIO 466 Human Genetics (non-lab) 3 credits

 

MIC 406 Immunology 4 credits

MIC 420 Introductory Virology (non-lab) 3 credits

MIC 421 Virology Laboratory 2 credits

MIC 427 Industrial and Fermentation Microbiology (non-lab) 3 credits

 

Up to two credits from BIO 450 Internship in Biology, BIO 489 Independent Study in Biology and BIO 499 Independent Research may count toward the major. 

 

A minimum of 24 chemistry credits are required including:

 

CHM 103 General Chemistry I  4 credits

CHM 104 General Chemistry II  4 credits

CHM 300 Survey of Organic Chemistry 5 credits or 

    CHM 303 Organic Chemistry Theory I  3 credits, 

    CHM 304 Organic Chemistry Theory II  3 credits and 

    CHM 305 Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2 credits

CHM 301 Analytical Chemistry 5 credits

CHM 325 Survey of Biochemistry 4 credits or 

    CHM 417 Biochemistry I  3 credits and 

    CHM 418 Biochemistry II  3 credits.

 

A minimum of four credits of mathematics is also required, including MTH 145 or MTH 175 Applied Calculus or MTH 250 or MTH 207 Calculus I.

 

C-S 101 Introduction to Computing (or equivalent skills) are also required.

 

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