Molecular biology

Contacts: Dr Alan Neale (School of Biological Sciences), Professor Ben Adler (Department of Microbiology)

The discipline

Molecular biology emphasises the role of genetic information in controlling the wide variety of functions in all forms of life. It provides the basis for recombinant DNA techniques, which underpin biotechnology and genome projects.

The molecular biology units are offered jointly by the School of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science and the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Microbiology in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Units offered

Level two

MOL2011 Molecular biology: genes and their expression
MOL2022 Molecular biology: gene technology and its application

Sequence requirements

Minor sequence in molecular biology (24 points):

BIO1011 and BIO1022, and
MOL2011 and MOL2022

Major sequence in molecular biology (48 points):

a minor sequence in molecular biology, and
BCH3031, MIC3011, GEN3040, and one of BCH3052, MIC3022, GEN3030, BCH3990, MIC3990, GEN3990, BCH2011, MIC2011, or GEN2041

Details of the BCH, BIO and MIC units and sequences are provided in the ‘Biochemistry’, ‘Biological sciences’ and ‘Microbiology’ entries in this section of the handbook.

Recommendations

Level two

Students who wish to complete a minor or major sequence in molecular biology should complete the two 6-point units MOL2011 and MOL2022. In addition, students who intend to complete a major sequence in molecular biology should consult the contributing departments concerning complementary discipline-specific units that are recommended at level two.

Level three

There are no cross-discipline level-three units in molecular biology. Students who are commencing level three and who have completed the level-two combination MOL2011 and MOL2022 should consult the contributing departments concerning the combination of discipline-specific units that will best suit their interests and needs in terms of possible future studies. The discipline-specific units need to be completed in particular combinations to ensure a major in molecular biology or a double-major in molecular biology and a related discipline (eg biochemistry, genetics or microbiology).

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