Fundamentals of Cells and Molecules

Catalog description

Cell and molecular biology taught from an engineering perspective. Includes biochemistry, recombinant DNA, and cell structure/function. BME 201 Cell and Molecular Bioengineering (3) This course provides students foundational knowledge in cell and molecular biology. The first quarter of the course covers fundamentals of biochemistry including ligand-receptor interactions, protein structure, enzyme kinetics, and biochemical thermodynamics. The second quarter of the course covers molecular biology including DNA replication, transcription, translation, recombinant DNA tools, and applications to biotechnology and molecular medicine. The second half of the course covers selected topics in cell biology including cell adhesion, cell signaling, the cytoskeleton, cancer, and tissue engineering. Material is taught from a quantitative and engineering perspective and students are expected to have strong foundations in chemistry, physics and math. Recurring concepts in the class include chemical kinetics, consideration of the free energy of chemical reactions and the role of mechanics at the molecular and cellular level. Tools and applications discussed include recombinant protein expression, molecular mechanisms of pharmaceuticals, genetic testing, and the use of analytical and computational modeling to understand cellular function in health and disease.