Molecular and cellular biology has evolved in recent years as a response to the increased ability to study organisms at the molecular level. This discipline involves the systematic study of the molecular and structural basis for the organization, transmission and expression of genetic information, in addition to the general study of macromolecular systems involved in the structure of DNA and molecular genetics including gene cloning, sequencing, and mapping. Developments in recombinant DNA technology have opened up entirely new areas of study and provided powerful techniques that are revolutionizing the pharmaceutical, health and agricultural industries and have spawned new industries in biotechnology.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Maine are satisfied with completion of at least 120 degree hours with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 overall in courses of the major.

Requirements of the Undergraduate Degree Program in
Molecular and Cellular Biology

First Year Seminar:
NFA 117 Issues and Opportunities (1 cr)

English:
ENG 101 College Composition (3 cr)

Humanities and Social Sciences:
Elective Courses (foreign languages encouraged) (18 cr)

Biology:
BIO 100 Basic Biology (4 cr)
BIO 200 Biology of Organisms (4 cr)

BIO 480 Cell Biology (3 cr)

Mathematics:
MAT 126 Calculus I (4 cr)

MAT 127 Calculus II (4 cr)

MAT 232 Principles of Statistical Inference (3 cr)

Physics:
PHY 111 General Physics (4 cr)
PHY 112 General Physics (4 cr)

Chemistry:
CHY 121 Introduction to Chemistry (3 cr)
CHY 123 Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory (1cr)
CHY 122 The Molecular Basis of Chemical Change (3 cr)
CHY 124 The Molecular Basis of Chemical Change (1cr)
CHY 251 Organic Chemistry Lecture I (3 cr)
CHY 252 Organic Chemistry Lecture II (3 cr)
CHY 253 Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (2 cr)
CHY 254 Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (2 cr)

Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biochemistry and Microbiology:
BMB 280 Cellular and Molecular Biology (3 cr)
BMB 300 General Microbiology (3 cr)
BMB 305 General Microbiology Laboratory (2 cr)
BMB 322 Biochemistry (3 cr)
BMB 323 Biochemistry Laboratory (1 cr)
BMB 400 Introductory Molecular Biology (3 cr)
BMB 460 Advanced Biochemistry (3 cr)
BMB 464 Analytical and Preparative Biochemical Laboratory (4 cr)
BMB 490 Microbial Genetics Laboratory (5 cr)
BMB 491 Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Research (6 cr)
BMB 580 Seminar in Microbiology (1 cr)
BMB 582 Seminar in Biochemistry (1 cr)

Genetics (choose one) :
BIO 445 Plant Genetics (3 cr)
BIO 462 Principles of Genetics (3 cr)

Free Electives (2 cr)

Program Electives (choose 10 cr) :

A) Physiology:
BIO 452 Plant Physiology (3 cr)
BIO  453 Plant Physiology Laboratory (1 cr)
BMB 430 Bacterial Physiology (3 cr)
BMB 431 Microbial Physiology Laboratory (1cr)
BIO  377 Animal Physiology (3 cr)

B) Techniques
BMB 510 Laboratory in Molecular Biology (5 cr)
BIO 441 Electron Microscope - Theory and Use (2 cr)
COS 220 Introduction to Computer Science I (3 cr)
COS 460 Interactive Computer Graphics (3 cr)

C) Biochemistry:
BMB 525 Proteins and Enzymes (3 cr)
BMB 530 Signal Transduction Mechanisms (3 cr)

D) Physical Chemistry:

BMB 467 Physical Biochemistry (3 cr)

CHY 371 Physical Chemistry I (4 cr)
PHY 447 Molecular Biophysics (3 cr)

E) Other Areas:
BMB 440 Introductory Immunology (4 cr)
BMB 455 Virology (3 cr)
BMB 540 Advanced Immunology (3 cr)
BIO 465 Evolution (3 cr)