Cellular and Molecular Biology

Bachelor of Science - Biology; Cellular & Molecular Biology Option

College Humanities & Sciences

Catalog Year: 2016-2017

Degree Specific Credits: 81

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: Cellular and molecular biology is the study of cellular, molecular, and physiological aspects of biology. This option is a graduate prep program, and is for students interested in academia or research jobs in private or government laboratories. It is also an excellent option for pre-medical sciences students.

Biology/Microbiology Lower Division Core

Rule: All of the following courses are required.

Note: The lower division core should be completed before attempting most upper division major courses.

AP Biology credit may be substituted for either BIOB 160N/BIOB 161N or BIOB 170N/171N.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOB 160N - Principles of Living Systems
Offered autumn and summer. Unifying principles of biological structure-function relationships at different levels of organization and complexity. Consideration of reproduction, genetics, development, evolution, ecosystems, as well as the inter-relationships of the human species to the rest of life. Students requiring a laboratory should also register for BIOB 161N. Credit not allowed for both BIOB 101N and 160N.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 161N - Prncpls of Living Systems Lab
Offered autumn and summer. Prereq., or Coreq., BIOB 160N. Lab experiences illustrate biological principles underlying growth, reproduction, development, genetics and physiology, and are designed to give students practice in scientific methods of description, development of hypotheses, and testing.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOB 170N - Princpls Biological Diversity
Offered spring and summer.  Survey of the diversity, evolution and ecology of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 171N - Princpls Biological Dvrsty Lab
Offered spring and summer.  Coreq., BIOB 170N. The diversity of life including prokaryotes, viruses, protista, fungi, plants and animals including structure and evolutionary relationships.
 2 Credits
Show Description BIOB 260 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
Offered autumn and summer. Prereq. BIOB 160N (preferred) or BCH 110/111 (preferred) or B- or higher in BIOH 112; and either CHMY 123 or CHMY 143. Analytical exploration of the structure and function of the cell, the fundamental unit of life, with an emphasis on energy transformations and information flow. Topics include molecular building blocks, membranes, organelles, and mechanisms of replication, gene expression, metabolism, signal transduction, cell birth, cell death, and cell differentiation.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOB 272 - Genetics and Evolution
Offered spring. Prereq., either BIOB 260 OR both BIOB 160N and BIOB 170N/171N; and one of M 121, 122, 151, 162, or 171. Principles and mechanisms of inheritance and evolution. Population genetics, fossil record, macroevolution, speciation, extinction, systematics, molecular evolution.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 17 Total Credits Required

Upper Division Core Courses Required by Cellular & Molecular Biology option

Rule: All of the following courses are required.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BCH 480 - Advanced Biochemistry I
Offered autumn. Prereq., CHMY 223. Primarily for science majors. The chemistry of biomolecules, with emphasis on the structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The chemistry and regulation of the transfer and expression of genetic information, protein synthesis. Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and 480-482.
 3 Credits
Show Description BCH 482 - Advanced Biochemistry II
Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 480 or equiv. Continuation of BCH 480. Enzyme kinetics, metabolism, especially macromolecule biosyntheses and energy acquisition pathways, and the associated energetics and molecular physiology. Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and BCH 480-482.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 301 - Developmental Biology
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 260; BIOB 272 recommended. An analysis of the origin and development of form and patterns in organisms, stressing the processes of growth and differentiation in plants and animals. Graded traditional letter grade only. 
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 375 - General Genetics
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260 and 272. This course will focus on the molecular genetics of eukaryotes, with special emphasis on transmission genetics and gene structure and regulation.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 425 - Adv Cell & Molecular Biology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260 and 272; BCH 380 strongly recommended.  Cell structure and function, cell cycle, cellular signaling, molecular basis of cancer, regulated cell death, membrane transport, organelle dynamics, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and the molecular basis of learning and memory.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 360 - Gen Microbiolgy (equiv to 260)
Offered autumn. Prereq., CHMY 123 or 143N; Prereq. or coreq., BIOB 260. Microbial structure and function, growth and reproduction, physiology, ecology, genetics, environmental factors, control of microorganisms and sterility, antimicrobial agents, microbial diversity.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 361 - Gen Microbiolgy Lb (equiv 261)
Offered autumn. Prereq. or coreq., BIOM 360. Basic microbiology procedures and techniques.
 2 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 20 Total Credits Required

Additional UD Major Courses Required for the Cellular & Molecular Biology Option

Rule: Complete one or two courses in each subcategory (as indicated)

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Disease Elective

Rule: Complete at least one of the following courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOB 410 - Immunology
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 260. Current concepts and methods in Immunology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 435 - Virology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260, and either BIOM 360 or BIOM 400. The general nature of viruses, with emphasis on the molecular biology of animal and human viruses. Co-convenes with BIOM 535.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 Total Credits Required

Additional UD Depth Courses (Lecture)

Rule: Complete at least one of the following lecture courses

Note: If BIOO 433, then the lab BIOO 434 must also be taken.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOB 440 - Biological Electron Microscopy
Offered spring.  Prereq., senior standing or consent of instr. Theory of electron microscopy, recent developments in transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Limited experience with the instruments.
 2 Credits
Show Description BIOB 468 - Endocrinology
Offered alternate years. Prereq., BIOB 260 and 272.  Integration of fundamental concepts of endocrinology (such as hormone release, hormone transport and receptor activation) into complex systems (such as reproduction). 
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 483 - Phylogenetics and Evolution
Offered alternating spring semesters. Prereq., BIOB 260 and BIOB 272. Phylogenies, or evolutionary trees, provide insights into the history of life on Earth, including our own origins. This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of popular methods of reconstructing phylogenies from molecular sequence data and how to implement these methods with computational software for real data sets. Other current methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses with sequence data will also be introduced.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 486 - Genomics
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 272. Principles and mechanisms of genome biology of animals and microbes, including genome function, evolution, and basic molecular and computational methodology used in genome biology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOL 435 - Comparative Animal Physiology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260 or equivalent. Animal physiology with emphasis on diversity of functional processes, with strong links to broader ecological and evolutionary contexts.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 410 - Microbial Genetics
Offered spring.  Prereq., BIOM 360 and 361.  The molecular genetics of prokaryotic organisms including: structure and replication of the prokaryotic chromosome; gene expression; mutagenesis and DNA repair; plasmids and other tools of genetic engineering; transmission of genetic material and recombination in prokaryotes; regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes; recombinant DNA and biotechnology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 450 - Microbial Physiology
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOM 360-361. Microbial structure and function, physiological diversity, microbial metabolism, role of microbial activity in the environment.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOO 433 - Plant Physiology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260 or consent of the instructor. The molecular, biochemical and biophysical basis of plant function, from the subcellular to the whole organism level.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 2-4 Total Credits Required

Additional UD Depth Courses (Laboratory)

Rule: Complete at least two of the following laboratory courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BCH 486 - Biochemistry Research Lab
Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 380 or 480. Applications of biochemical principles to modern protein biochemistry.  Basic micro- and molecular biology techniques are used to produce mutant proteins; then students learn basic and advanced biophysical techniques to characterize the mutant proteins.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 411 - Immunology Laboratory
Offered autumn.  Coreq., BIOB 410. Modern techniques for analysis of immune responses.
 2 Credits
Show Description BIOM 411 - Exprmntl Microbial Genetcs Lab
Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., BIOM 410. Experiments in microbial genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOM 451 - Microbial Physiology Lab
Offered autumn. Coreq., BIOM 450. Experimental approaches to analysis of microbial structure, composition and metabolism.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOM 490 - Adv Undergrad Research
(R-10) Offered every term. Prereq., BIOM 360, junior or senior standing and consent of instr.  Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.  Graded credit/no credit.
 1 To 10 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 2-5 Total Credits Required

Required Courses Outside of the Major

Minimum Required Grade: C-

Mathematics - Calculus

Rule: Required

Note: M 171 Calculus I may be substituted for M 162.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description M 162 - Applied Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 5 or one of M 121, 122 or 151. Introductory course surveying the principal ideas of differential and integral calculus with emphasis on applications and computer software. Mathematical modeling in discrete and continuous settings. Intended primarily for students who do not plan to take higher calculus.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 4 Total Credits Required

Chemistry

Rule: All of the following courses are required.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description CHMY 141N - College Chemistry I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS Placement Level 4 or M 095 Intermediate Algebra w/ C- or better. For science majors and other students intending to take more than one year of chemistry. Properties of elements, inorganic compounds, liquid solutions, chemical equilibria and chemical kinetics. Includes laboratory.
 5 Credits
Show Description CHMY 143N - College Chemistry II
Offered spring and summer. Prereq., "C-" or better in CHMY 141N or consent of instr. A continuation of CHMY 141N. Includes Laboratory.
 5 Credits
Show Description CHMY 221 - Organic Chem I
Offered autumn. Prereq., CHMY 123N or 143N. The chemical and physical properties of organic compounds.
 3 Credits
Show Description CHMY 222 - Org Chm I Lab
Offered autumn. Coreq., CHMY 221; prereq., one semester of 100-level laboratory. Microscale techniques are emphasized.
 2 Credits
Show Description CHMY 223 - Organic Chm II
Offered spring. Prereq., CHMY 221. Continuation of 221.
 3 Credits
Show Description CHMY 224 - Org Chm II Lab
Offered spring. Prereq., CHMY 222; prereq. or coreq., CHMY 223.
 2 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 20 Total Credits Required

Additional Depth in Chemistry

Rule: Complete at least one of the following chemistry courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description CHMY 311 - Analytical Chem-Quant Analysis
Offered autumn. Prereq., one year of college chemistry, including laboratory. Classroom and laboratory work in gravimetric, volumetric, colorimetric and electrochemical methods of analysis; theory of errors; ionic equilibria in aqueous solutions.
 4 Credits
Show Description CHMY 360 - Applied Physical Chemistry
Offered spring. Prereq., CHMY 123 OR 143 AND M 162. Basic thermodynamics and chemical kinetics with applications in the biological and environmental sciences. Credit not allowed for both 360 and 373.
 3 Credits
Show Description CHMY 373 - Phys Chem-Kntcs & Thrmdynmcs
Offered autumn. Prereq., CHMY 143N, M 273, PHSX 207N or 217N. Systematic treatment of the laws and theories relating to chemical phenomena. Credit not allowed for both CHMY 360 and 373.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 3 or 4 Total Credits Required

Physics

Rule: All of the following courses are required.

Note: These are algebra- and trigonometry-based physics courses. The calculus-based physics sequence, PHSX 215N/216N & PHSX 217N/218N (which require M 171 and M 172), may be substituted for PHSX 205N/206N & 207N/208N.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description PHSX 205N - College Physics I
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., M 122 or 151 or equivalent, and prereq. or coreq. PHSX 206N.  Mechanics, sound, and heat.  For non-physical science majors.  This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics.  Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
 4 Credits
Show Description PHSX 206N - College Physics I Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq. or coreq., PHSX 205N.  Mechanics, sound, and heat.  For non-physical science majors.  This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics.  Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
 1 Credits
Show Description PHSX 207N - College Physics II
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq. PHSX 205N and prereq. or coreq., PHSX 208N.  Electricity, magnetism, light, and modern physics.  For non-physical science majors.  This course satisfies the lecture portion of medical school requirements in general physics.  Credit not allowed for both PHSX 205N-207N and 215N-217N.
 4 Credits
Show Description PHSX 208N - College Physics II Laboratory
Offered autumn and spring.  Prereq., PHSX 206N, prereq, or coreq., PHSX 207N.  Electricity, magnetism, light and modern physics.  For non-physical science majors.  This course satisfies the laboratory portion of medical school requirements in general physics.  Credit not allowed for both PHSX 206N-208N and 216N-218N.
 1 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C- 10 Total Credits Required

Upper Division Writing Expectation for the Major

Rule: Complete the equivalent of a full writing course (either three 1/3 writing courses or one 2/3 writing course + one 1/3 writing course or one complete writing course)

Note: To meet the Upper Division Writing Expectation for the Major, Biology students take 2 or 3 partial writing courses (either three 1/3 writing courses or one 1/3 writing course and one 2/3 writing course) or one complete writing course. The Cellular & Molecular Biology Option requires two 1/3 writing courses: BCH 482 and BIOB 425. The UD Writing Expectation for the Major is completed with one additional course, chosen from any of the following.

Minimum Required Grade: C-

1/3 UD Writing Courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BCH 482 - Advanced Biochemistry II
Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 480 or equiv. Continuation of BCH 480. Enzyme kinetics, metabolism, especially macromolecule biosyntheses and energy acquisition pathways, and the associated energetics and molecular physiology. Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and BCH 480-482.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 410 - Immunology
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 260. Current concepts and methods in Immunology.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 425 - Adv Cell & Molecular Biology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 260 and 272; BCH 380 strongly recommended.  Cell structure and function, cell cycle, cellular signaling, molecular basis of cancer, regulated cell death, membrane transport, organelle dynamics, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and the molecular basis of learning and memory.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOB 483 - Phylogenetics and Evolution
Offered alternating spring semesters. Prereq., BIOB 260 and BIOB 272. Phylogenies, or evolutionary trees, provide insights into the history of life on Earth, including our own origins. This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of popular methods of reconstructing phylogenies from molecular sequence data and how to implement these methods with computational software for real data sets. Other current methods for testing evolutionary hypotheses with sequence data will also be introduced.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOE 403 - Vert Design & Evolution
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 170N, 171N and 272 and either PHSX 205N/206N or 215N/216N.  Evolutionary patterns of animal morphology and the importance of body size on life history patterns.  Phylogenetic study of major extant and extinct vertebrate groups.  Laboratory includes systematic study of organ systems and workshops in experimental functional morphology.
 5 Credits
Show Description BIOE 409 - Behavior & EvolutionDiscussion
Offered autumn. Co-req., BIOE 406. Diversity of animal behavior in an evolutionary context including inheritance of behavior, diets, avoidance responses, mating systems and sexual selection, parental care, and evolution of animal groups and societies. This discussion course complements the lectures of BIOE 406 by examining both landmark and recent literature. It also includes a written component.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOE 428 - Freshwater Ecology
Offered spring. Prereq., BIOB 160N and either CHMY 123N or 143N.  Physical and chemical dynamics of lakes and streams. Diversity, distribution and dynamics of freshwater organisms.
 5 Credits
Show Description BIOL 484 - Plant Evolution
Offered fall, alternate years.  Prereq., BIOB 272. Lecture, reading and discussion on the evolutionary processes that shape major patterns of plant diversity.  Topics include but are not restricted to:  local adaptation, floral and mating system evolution, polyploidy, genome evolution, and speciation.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOM 402 - Medical Bacteriology& Mycology
Offered spring.  Prereq., BIOM 360, 361.  A study of the pathogenic bacteria and fungi and the diseases they produce.
 3 Credits
Show Description BIOO 320 - General Botany
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 170N-171N, 260.  Prereq. or coreq., BIOB 272.  Anatomy, morphology, ecology and physiology of photosynthetic organisms.
 5 Credits
Show Description BIOO 434 - Plant Physiology Lab
Offered spring. Prereq or coreq., BIOO 433.  Laboratory exercises designed to familiarize students with concepts and techniques in plant physiology.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOO 470 - Ornithology
Offered spring. Prereq. or Coreq., BIOB 272; major of biology, Pre-Wildlife Biology, or Wildlife Biology, and must be of junior or senior standing. The classification, structure, evolution, behavior and ecology of birds.
 4 Credits
Show Description BIOO 475 - Mammalogy
Offered autumn. Prereq., BIOB 272. The evolution, systematics, anatomy, physiology and ecology of mammals.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C-

2/3 UD Writing Courses

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BCH 486 - Biochemistry Research Lab
Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 380 or 480. Applications of biochemical principles to modern protein biochemistry.  Basic micro- and molecular biology techniques are used to produce mutant proteins; then students learn basic and advanced biophysical techniques to characterize the mutant proteins.
 3 Credits
Show Description BCH 499 - Senior Thesis/Capstone
(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., senior standing and consent of instr. Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on undergraduate research for presentation and/or publication. Student must give an oral or poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium or a scientific meeting.
 3 To 6 Credits
Show Description BIOB 411 - Immunology Laboratory
Offered autumn.  Coreq., BIOB 410. Modern techniques for analysis of immune responses.
 2 Credits
Show Description BIOB 499 - Undergraduate Thesis
(R-6) Offered every term.  Prereq., senior standing and consent of instr.  Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on undergraduate research for presentation and/or publication.  Student must give oral or poster presentation at the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium or a scientific meeting.  Graded credit/no credit.
 3 To 6 Credits
Show Description BIOE 342 - Field Ecology
Offered summers only at Flathead Lake Biological Station.  Prereq., BIOB 272 and one year of college math, including statistics.  The principles and practices of the study of animals and plants in their natural environments, including human influences, with focus on the Crown of the Continent area of the Rock Mountains and taught entirely outdoors.
 5 Credits
Show Description BIOE 371 - Gen Ecology Lab (equiv to 271)
Offered autumn. Prereq. or Coreq., BIOE 370 and either STAT 216 or WILD 240. Methods of describing and testing alternative explanations for patterns in nature. The use of scientific methodology in ecology.
 2 Credits
Show Description BIOM 411 - Exprmntl Microbial Genetcs Lab
Offered spring. Prereq. or coreq., BIOM 410. Experiments in microbial genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes.
 1 Credits
Show Description BIOM 499 - Undergraduate Thesis
(R-6) Offered every term.  Prereq., senior standing and consent of instr.  Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on undergraduate research for presentation and/or publication.  Student must give an oral or poster presentation at the Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Symposium or a scientific meeting.  Graded credit/no credit.
 3 To 6 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C-

Complete UD Writing Course

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description BIOH 462 - Principles Medical Physiology
Offered spring. Prereq., C (2.00) or better in BIOH 365, 370, and either CHMY 123 or 143N or consent of instr. An advanced course in human physiology for students preparing for careers in health care.
 3 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C-

Exception to the Modern/Classical Languages Requirement

Rule: Choose one of the following Math courses

Note: The Division of Biological Sciences has been granted an exception to the Modern/Classical Language Requirement. Either of these Calculus courses (required by the major) will satisfy this requirement.

Show All Course Descriptions Course Credits
Show Description M 162 - Applied Calculus
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., ALEKS placement >= 5 or one of M 121, 122 or 151. Introductory course surveying the principal ideas of differential and integral calculus with emphasis on applications and computer software. Mathematical modeling in discrete and continuous settings. Intended primarily for students who do not plan to take higher calculus.
 4 Credits
Show Description M 171 - Calculus I
Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., M 122 or 151 or ALEKS placement >= 5.  Differential calculus, including limits, continuous functions, Intermediate Value Theorem, tangents, linear approximation, inverse functions, implicit differentiation, extreme values and the Mean Value Theorem.  Integral Calculus including antiderivatives, definite integrals, and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
 4 Credits
Minimum Required Grade: C-