Undergraduate Program in Molecular Biology LAST REVISED October 2009

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1 Undergraduate Program in Molecular Biology LAST REVISED October 2009 Molecular biology is the basic science that seeks an understanding of life processes in terms of the properties and functions of molecules that make up living cells. The scope of questions addressed in molecular biology ranges from evolution to development to the regulation of gene expression. A career in molecular biology requires a strong background in biology as well as in chemistry, mathematics and physics. The Molecular Biology Major has been designed for three groups of students: (a) those who plan to enter a research career in molecular biology or related areas such as biochemistry, genetics, oncology, microbiology, cell biology or developmental biology; (b) pre-professional students who plan to enter either a research or clinical career in medicine or allied health fields; and (c) students who plan to teach biology at the college or secondary school levels. Students with other interests are also welcome, of course. Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate degree in molecular biology are amazingly diverse. Graduates of our program have gone into patent law, science reporting, forensics, philosophy, genetic counseling, veterinary medicine, anthropology, archeology, marine biology and religion. Major requirements have been set to assure a satisfactory level of competence in the various areas specified, while still allowing as much flexibility as possible for students to plan their programs. This major uniquely provides access for the undergraduate interested in life sciences to the extraordinary scope and strength of biology courses and laboratories on the Madison campus. We hope that students will take advantage of the advising service available to make a judicious choice of courses, as well as to gain scholarly experience outside the classroom that will further their career goals. Students who wish to obtain information about the program or to declare a Molecular Biology Major should contact the Undergraduate Program in Molecular Biology Student Services office. Advisors are assigned through the program office and are located in many related departments throughout campus. Molecular Biology advisors are especially competent to provide counsel regarding the major and career opportunities in molecular biology. Student Services Chair Mary Smith Associate Professor Kurt Amann 445 Henry Mall Zoology Department Room 118C 335 Bock Laboratories (608) (608) molecularbiologymajor@icbe.wisc.edu kjamann@wisc.edu GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE 15 Credit Rule The College of Letters and Science requires that students complete at least 15 credits of course work at the intermediate or advanced levels in their major IN RESIDENCE. This 15 credit rule is strictly enforced and is intended to assure that students receiving degrees from UW-Madison have taken a minimum of courses in their major on the campus with Madison faculty. The Molecular Biology Major allows all courses in 2b, 4b, 4c, 5a-f and 6 to count towards fulfilling the 15-credit rule. Note: A maximum of three credits will be accepted from Molecular Biology 681, 682, 691, 692 or

2 UNDERGRADUATE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY MAJOR CURRICULUM 1. MATHEMATICS 221: Calculus and Analytic Geometry OR 211: Calculus AND 222: Calculus and Analytic Geometry OR 213: Calculus and Introduction to Differential Equations OR Stat 301: Intro to Statistical Methods OR Stat 371: Intro to Applied Stats for the Life Sciences 2. CHEMISTRY a. General and AnalyticChemistrys. Choose one of three options: Chemistry 109: Advanced General Chemistry AND one semester of Analytical Chemistry: Chemistry 327 OR 329 OR Chemistry 115 and 116: Chemical Principles (registration for Chem 115 is by consent of instructor only) OR Chemistry 103 and 104: General Chemistry AND one semester of Analytical Chemistry: Chemistry 327 OR 329 b.. Chemistry 343: Introductory, Chemistry 344: Introductory Lab, and Chemistry 345: Intermediate 3. PHYSICS 201 and 202: General OR 207 and 208: General 4. BIOLOGY a. General and Genetics. Choose from one of two options. Biocore is highly selective and is based upon applications due in mid-march. Consult your advisor and the Biocore office. You may pick up an application from the Biocore office (345 Noland Hall), or call for more information. OR Biocore/Biology 301: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics Biocore/Biology 302: Evolution, Ecology, and Genetics Laboratory Biocore/Biology 303: Cellular Biology Biocore/Biology 304: Cellular Biology Laboratory Biocore/Biology 323: Organismal Biology Biology/Botany/Zoology 151: Introductory Biology Biology/Botany/Zoology 152: Introductory Biology Botany/Genetics/Zoology 466: General Genetics b. Biochemistry. Choose one of the three options below. If students take Biochem 507 & 508, 3 credits count toward meeting the biochemistry requirement under Biology and the remaining 3 count towards meeting the Advanced Courses requirement under area E. Biochemistry 501: Introduction to Biochemistry Biomolecular Chemistry 503: Human Biochemistry Biochemistry 507 & 508: General Biochemistry (must take both) 2

3 c. Molecular Biology. Minimum 3 credits. Choose from the list of approved courses below. Laboratory courses or research fulfill the laboratory/independent research requirement: see 6 below. Please note that no course substitutions will be authorized for this requirement. Agronomy/Horticulture 339: Plant Biotechnology, Principles and Techniques I Agronomy/Horticulture 340: Plant Biotechnology, Principles and Techniques II Biochemistry /Genetics/ Microbiology 612: Prokaryotic Molecular Biology* Biochemistry/Pharmacy 620: Eukaryotic Molecular Biology * (2 credits) Biochemistry/Genetics 703: Topics in Eukaryotic Regulation* (2 credits) Genetics 545: Genetics Laboratory (2 credits) Horticulture 500: Molecular Biology Techniques Horticulture 550: Molecular Approaches for Crop Improvement* Note: Students declaring Fall 2007 or later may not use Molecular Biology , , or 699 to fulfill requirement 4c. 5. ADVANCED COURSES (Minimum of two courses, one each from 2 areas, required. Minimum of 6 credits required. Laboratory courses or research in this category fulfill the laboratory/independent research requirement: see 6 below.) a. Development Botany 500: Plant Physiology* Zoology 470: Introduction to Animal Development* Zoology 555: Laboratory in Developmental Biology Zoology 625: Development of the Nervous System b. Microbiology Botany/Plant Pathology 505: Plant-Microbe Interactions, Molecular and Ecological Aspects* Botany/Microbiology/Plant Pathology 636: Fungal Ecology and Biotechnology Microbiology 303: Prokaryotic Microbiology Microbiology 304: Prokaryotic Microbiology Laboratory Microbiology 330: Host Parasite Interactions Microbiology/Plant Pathology 622: Plant Bacterial Interactions* Microbiology/Oncology/Plant Pathology 640: General Virology* c. Genetics Agronomy/Horticulture 338: Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Botany/Genetics/Horticulture 561: Introductory Cytogenetics* Genetics/Medical Genetics 565: Human Genetics* Genetics 566: Advanced Genetics Microbiology 370: Bacterial Genetics Microbiology/Genetics 607: Advanced Microbial Genetics* d e Cell Biology [Endocrinology, Neurobiology, Immunology] Biochemistry/Pharmacology/Zoology 630: Cellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms* Biocore/Biology 333: Biological Interactions Human Oncology 640: Biochemical Mechanisms of Tumor Promotion and Progression* Oncology 401: Experimental Oncology Medical Microbiology and Immunology 341: Immunology Medical Microbiology and Immunology/Microbiology 528: Immunology Neuroscience/ Zoology 523: Neurobiology* Pathology 750: Pathobiology of Disease Zoology 570: Cell Biology* Zoology 572: Laboratory in Cell Biology Biochemistry and Physical Chemistry Biochemistry/Nutritional Sciences 510: Biochemical Principles of Human and Animal Nutrition Biochemistry 550: Topics in Medical Biochemistry* Biochemistry/Botany 621: Plant Biochemistry* 3

4 Biochemistry 651: Biochemical Methods* Chemistry 561: Physical Chemistry* Chemistry 565: Biophysical Chemistry* Physiology 533: Molecular Physiology f Quantitative and Computational Sciences Biostatistics & Medical Informatics/Computer Sciences 576: Introduction to Bioinformatics* Biostatistics & Medical Informatics/Computer Sciences 776: Advanced Bioinformatics* Botany 563: Phylogenetic Analysis of Molecular Data Computer Sciences/Industrial Engineering/ 425: Introduction to Combinational Optimization* Forest/Horticulture/Statistics 571: Statistical Methods for Bioscience I* Forest/Horticulture/Statistics 572: Statistical Methods for Bioscience II* Statistics 333: Applied Regression Analysis Statistics 541: Introduction to Biostatistics* *Courses so designated may be used to satisfy the requirements for Honors in Molecular Biology. 6. Laboratory Courses or Independent Research There are several ways to complete the requirement for a laboratory experience in molecular biology. These include several laboratory courses as well as research experience offered either in the form of an independent study project or a research thesis. Although research experience is not required for the non-honors major, students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity UW-Madison s research community offers. Those who wish to complete a research thesis or project are invited to take Molecular Biology Senior Thesis ( for Honors Students) or Directed Studies 699 in Molecular Biology. Students intending to enroll in Molecular Biology 681 & 682, 691 & 692, or 699 should pick up the appropriate forms from the Molecular Biology Office (445 Henry Mall, Room 118) or online at Hilldale and Honors fellowships are available for summer research usually between the junior and senior years. Hilldale information is available at the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, 271 Bascom Hall. Honors fellowship information is available at the College of Letters & Science Honors Program Office, 415 South Hall. At least one course from Biology 4c or the selections from the Advanced Courses menu must be a laboratory course or provide independent, laboratory-based research experience (min., 2 credits). Choose from the list of approved courses below. If a Senior Thesis or Directed Studies project is not a laboratory-based research experience, the student must meet this requirement by completing a laboratory course. Molecular Biology 699: Directed Studies Molecular Biology 691 and 692: Senior Thesis Molecular Biology 681 and 682: Senior Honors Thesis Biomolecular Chemistry 504: Human Biochemistry Lab Biochemistry 651: Biochemical Methods Horticulture 500: Molecular Biology Techniques Microbiology 304: Prokaryotic Microbiology Laboratory Zoology 572: Lab in Cell Biology Note: A DARS Report may be requested at any point in your undergraduate career. The DARS Report outlines your status with regard to basic degree requirements and major course and quality of work requirements. It is essential that you have a correct DARS report prior to the beginning of the last two semesters in residence to allow for proper program planning. A DARS report can be requested from My UW-Madison ( under the Student Records tab. 4

5 A SUGGESTED STUDY PROGRAM FOR THE MAJOR Freshman Year General Chemistry Sophomore Year Junior Year Chemistry (if needed) Senior Year Molecular Biology or Advanced Course I General/Analytical Chemistry I I Biochemistry I Molecular Biology or Advanced Course MOLECULAR BIOLOGY MAJOR HONORS REQUIREMENTS The Honors student in Molecular Biology is one who wishes to prepare for graduate or professional school in the most rigorous and challenging ways available on our campus. For the Honors student in Molecular Biology, our faculty endeavor to provide enriching academic opportunities: these include a selection from the list of Advanced courses that represent some of the most challenging courses the Madison campus has to offer, opportunities to interact directly with faculty in both research and other scholarly ways, and student-driven opportunities to share experiences and intellectual stimulation with other Honors students. Typically, Honors students will seek admission to Honors in Molecular Biology during the sophomore or early in the junior year. Students will be awarded their degree with Honors in Molecular Biology if they: 1. Complete all requirements for the major with a GPA in the major of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.3, 2. Complete the requirement for Molecular Biology (4c) and Advanced Courses (5) from a list of courses approved for Honors (approved courses are designated by * in this brochure), 3. Register for Molecular Biology 681 and 682 for two semesters between the completion of the second semester as a Junior and the end of the semester of graduation and during this period complete an acceptable Senior Honors Thesis in Molecular Biology, and 4. Complete one semester of a senior seminar (1 credit) in Molecular Biology or an approved graduate seminar. SUGGESTED HONORS STUDY PROGRAM Freshman Year General Chemistry Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year Molecular Biology Advanced Course Senior Honors Thesis I General/Analytical Chemistry I I Biochemistry I Molecular Biology Advanced Course Senior Honors Thesis Senior Honors Seminar 5

6 Advisors: KURT AMANN Chair of the Major Zoology 335 Bock Laboratories NIHAL AHMAD Dermatology 432 Medical Sciences Center PAUL BERTICS Biomolecular Chemistry 571 Medical Sciences Center ZSUZA FABRY Pathology & Lab Medicine 6130 Medical Sciences Center MARCIN FILUTOWICZ Bacteriology 256 Microbial Sciences Bldg THOMAS GERMAN Entomology 637 Russell Labs JAMES MALTER Pathology & Lab Medicine T509 Waisman Cntr THOMAS F. J. MARTIN Biochemistry 241b Biochemistry Addition KATHERINE McMAHON Civil &Environmental Engineering 3204 Engineering Hall LINDA SCHULER Comparative Biosciences 4354B Veterinary Medicine AHNA SKOP Genetics 2426 Genetics Biotech Note: Please bring a current DARS report when you meet with an advisor. 6