Course Description

This course is designed for students interested in an introduction to some of the major topics in biology, especially computer scientists seeking to improve their foundation in biology. This course will provide an introduction to biology, while evaluating implications of the computational approaches that lend to our growing biological understanding. We will define and explore central themes in cellular & molecular biology and biochemistry and apply them in order to understand the structures and functions of two important types of biomolecules, nucleic acids and proteins.

Learner Outcomes

When you complete the course successfully, you will be able to:

• Explain the role of cells as the fundamental units of life and the underlying biochemical themes of life functions.
• Discuss the significance and implications of computational studies to the biomedical sciences.
• Examine the role of DNA, RNA, and protein as biomolecules that contribute to cellular function.
• Evaluate cellular mechanisms of gene expression and how genes and genomes evolve.
• Explore applications of computational approaches that guide our understanding of the processes underlying gene expression and genomic evolution.

Microcredential(s)

This course may apply toward the Biomedical Sciences Endeavor digital badge.

Textbook Information

Basic Cell and Molecular Biology. Bergtrom, Gerald. 2021. Open Education Resources.