The Molecular Bioscience Major

Introduction

As the discipline of biology has grown in the past 20 years to include many studies at the cellular and molecular levels the link between chemistry and biology has grown stronger. Scientists in the next century will be required to draw information from both disciplines as they strive to understand life processes at the molecular level. In light of these revolutionary changes in our discipline, a Molecular Bioscience major will be offered at Baker University. This major has a strong foundation in chemistry to support student understanding of the molecular aspects of life. The major also requires the students to think about molecular biology in the context of some type of organism – microbes, plants or animals – so that their perspective does not become overly “reductional.”

I. Introductory Courses (25 credit hours)

___ CH137 General Chemistry I (4 credit hours)

___ CH138 General Chemistry II (3 credit hours)

___ CH140 Quantitative Analysis (2 credit hours)

___ CH251 Organic Chemistry I (4 credit hours)

___ CH252 Organic Chemistry II (4 credit hours)

___ BI280 Cell Biology (4 credit hours)

___BI___ Either Botany (142) (4 credit hours)

OR Zoology (252) (4 credit hours)

OR Microbiology (360) (4 credit hours)

II. Upper Level Core (11 credit hours)

___ CH370 Biochemistry (3 credit hours)

___ BI378 Genetics (4 credit hours)

___ BI384 Molecular Biology (4 credit hours)

III. Upper Level Electives (10-12 credit hours)

The students must take three additional 300 level chemistry or biology courses to be chosen in consultation with their advisor. One of these courses must include a laboratory. Chemistry 381 and 382 may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

IV. Senior Seminar (2 credit hours)

The student must complete a senior seminar in either the chemistry or the biology department.

V. Optional Concentration in Criminal Justice (15 credit hours)

Contemporary crime control strategies have been advanced significantly by the application of molecular technology to crime prevention and investigation. Students majoring in Molecular Bioscience who have an interest in forensic sciences or criminal justice can complete 15 credit hours in Criminal Justice as preparation for graduate study in Forensic Science. Students may choose from the following courses to attain this concentration:

___ SO115 Principles of Sociology

___ SO247 Juvenile Delinquency

___ SO274 Social Research Methods

___ SO325 Criminology

___SO347 Criminal Justice I

___ SO348 Criminal Justice II

___ SO377 Sociology of Deviant Behavior

Sample Schedule for the Molecular Bioscience Major

Fall Spring

Freshman Year General Chemistry I General Chemistry II

College Algebra Quantitative Analysis

LA 101 LA 102

General Ed Calculus I

FYE General Ed

CS 141

Sophomore Year Organic Chemistry I Organic Chemistry II

Cell Biology Zoology, Botany, or

Oral Comm Microbiology

General Ed General Ed

PE General Ed

Junior Year Genetics Biochemistry

General Ed UC Science Elective

General Ed General Ed

Senior Year LA 401 Molecular Biology

Senior Seminar (Bio or Chem) UC Science Elective

UC Science Elective General Ed

General Ed Elective

Elective Elective

Pre-medical students using this major must also take two semesters of Physics; this would give them one fewer elective in their senior year.

Is the Molecular Bioscience Major Right for You?

If you are Interested in Plants you might be curious about:

· engineering pest resistant species of crop plants to feed the growing human population without increasing the amounts of chemical pesticide in the environment.

· engineering plants with higher nutritional value so that less acreage is required to grow plants that will feed communities in third world countries. (Saving trees in the rainforest!)

· the problem of engineered genes jumping into wild species and causing ecosystem imbalances.

· the use of molecular techniques in species determination and phylogenic studies.

You could major in Molecular Bioscience! You would take Botany in the sophomore year. You might use Dendrology, Evolution, Wetland and Prairie Ecology or General Ecology as the upper level science electives in the major. You might be interested in taking Comparative Foreign Policy as the Non-Western Studies general education course and Ethics as a faith and values general-education course. You would have an opportunity in Senior seminar to explore the idea of using molecular technologies in agriculture etc.

If you are Interested in Animals you might be curious about:

· the use of molecular biology to help preserve endangered species of organisms.

· the use of molecular biology to create transgenic animals that can produce pharmaceutical chemicals - e.g. goats that secrete milk that contains TPA for heart patients

· the use of molecular biology to track migration patterns of particular organisms, or to assess matings within a population of organisms.

You could major in molecular bioscience. You would take Zoology in the sophomore year. You might use Ornithology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Comparative Physiology, General Ecology, Wildlife Management, Animal Behavior, Evolution, Developmental biology or Wetland and Prairie Ecology as the upper level science electives in the major. Ethics would be a great faith and values general education course for you. Senior seminar would allow you to explore a personal interest.

If you are Interested in Medicine you might be curious about:

· the growing role of genetics and molecular biology in the practice of medicine.

· the use of molecular technology in the area of pharmaceutical research and drug design.

· the use of cloning of certain tissues to ameliorate symptoms of disease as in Parkinson's disease.

You could major in molecular bioscience. You would probably take both Zoology and Microbiology. The Micro could count as one of the Upper Level electives. Other electives you could explore might be Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Comparative Physiology, Developmental biology, Instrumental Chemistry, Advanced Organic Chemistry or Immunology. You would need to take two semesters of Physics. Ethics would be an excellent faith and values general education course for you. Senior seminar would allow you to further explore of a topic in the area of medical science.

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