Note: This is the 2014–2015 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Program Requirements
The Major Concentration Biology - Cell/Molecular is a planned sequence of courses designed to permit a degree of specialization in cell/molecular biology.
Advising Note: Freshman students should be aware that PHYS 101 and/or PHYS 102 are required for some of the courses in the major and minor concentrations in Biology.
Required Courses* (29 credits)
* Required courses taken at CEGEP or elsewhere that are not credited toward the B.A. & Sc. or B.Sc./B.Ed. must be replaced by 3-credit courses from the Complementary Courses list. Regardless of the substitution, students must take at least 36 credits in this program.
** Students who have already taken CHEM 212 or its equivalent will choose another appropriate complementary course, to be approved by the Biology Adviser.
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Bureau, Thomas E; Roy, Richard D W; Fagotto, Francesco; Zetka, Monique (Fall)
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Brown, Gregory G; Zetka, Monique (Winter)
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BIOL 202 Basic Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.
Terms: Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Schoen, Daniel J; Moon, Nam Sung; Hendricks, Shelton (Winter) Dankort, David; Hipfner, David (Summer)
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BIOL 205 Biology of Organisms (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Dhindsa, Rajinder S; Krahe, Rudiger; Sakata, Jon (Winter)
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BIOL 215 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Price, Neil; De Martino, Gemma (Fall)
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BIOL 300 Molecular Biology of the Gene (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Schöck, Frieder; Moon, Nam Sung (Fall)
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BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory (4 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to laboratory techniques with a focus on methods used to investigate fundamental questions in modern cell and molecular biology. Techniques including gene cloning, DNA and protein isolation and manipulation are covered, along with functional analysis of genes and proteins, basic bioinformatics, and computer-based experimental design and data analysis.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Zheng, Huanquan; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Fall) Zheng, Huanquan; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Winter)
Fall or Winter
1 hour lecture and one 6-hour laboratory
Prerequisites: PHYS 102 or PHYS 142, BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or ANAT/BIOC 212, and BIOL 202. BIOL 206 recommended.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOC 300. Requires departmental approval.
For approval email anne-marie.sdicu [at] mcgill.ca. Specify your ID number as well as the term and two lab day preferences.
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BIOL 303 Developmental Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A consideration of the fundamental processes and principles operating during embryogenesis. Experimental analyses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels will be presented and discussed to provide an overall appreciation of developmental phenomena.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Kaitna, Susanne; Rao, Yong; Dufort, Daniel (Winter)
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CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits) **
Overview
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Daoust, Michel; Huot, Mitchell; Pavelka, Laura; Tsantrizos, Youla S (Fall) Daoust, Michel; Huot, Mitchell; Pavelka, Laura; Lumb, Jean-Philip; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Daoust, Michel (Summer)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent
Each lab section is limited enrolment
Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().
Complementary Courses (7 credits)
at least 7 credits selected from:
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BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Watt, Alanna; Dent, Joseph Alan; Sakata, Jon (Fall)
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BIOL 313 Eukaryotic Cell Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Cell biology of eukaryotes focusing on the assembly and function of cellular structures, the regulation of transcription; the dynamics of the cytoskeleton and its motors; mechanics of cell division; cell cycle and checkpoints; nuclear dynamics; chromosome structure and behaviour and experimental techniques.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Zetka, Monique; Fagotto, Francesco; Kaitna, Susanne (Winter)
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BIOL 314 Molecular Biology of Oncogenes (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The genes that cause cancer are altered versions of genes present in normal cells. The origins of these oncogenes, their genetic structure, regulation, and the biochemical properties of the oncogene-encoded proteins will be analyzed in an attempt to understand the origins of human and animal cancers.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Majewska, Loydie; Tonin, Patricia N; Ursini-Siegel, Giuseppina (Fall)
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BIOL 316 Eukaryotic Cell Biology 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Protein and lipid biochemistry, membrane structure and transport; intracellular compartmentalization, protein sorting and modification, intracellular membrane trafficking; energy transfer, organization and dynamics of chloroplasts and mitochondria; extracellular matrix, cell walls; cell behaviors in their social context.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Zheng, Huanquan; Brown, Gregory G; Watt, Alanna (Fall)
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BIOL 370 Human Genetics Applied (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A contemporary view of genetic research as applied to human health and well-being.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Palmour, Roberta M; Pastinen, Tomi Markku; Mitchell, John James (Fall)
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BIOL 373 Biometry (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Leung, Brian (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
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BIOL 413 Directed Reading (1 credit)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Directed reading.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Fall, Winter or Summer
Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 205, BIOL 215.
Note: Special topics paper in conjunction with an upper-level biology course, under the guidance of a staff member of the Biology Department. A form from Nancy Nelson, Room W3/25, Stewart Building, must be completed prior to registration.
- BIOL 568 Topics on the Human Genome (3 credits)
- BIOL 575 Human Biochemical Genetics (3 credits)
or other appropriate course at the 300 level or higher with permission of the Biology Adviser.
Bachelor of Arts & Science—2014-2015 (last updated Feb. 18, 2014) (disclaimer)