Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Program (BS)

Faculty Advisors: Dr. Joe Sucic and Dr. Jerry Sanders

The development of recombinant DNA technology, sometimes referred to us as genetic engineering, has radically altered the biomedical sciences. Recombinant DNA techniques have triggered the exponential growth of a new biological field—molecular genetics, or, more generally, molecular biology—which only two decades ago was in its infancy. Fundamental biological problems, untenable only a decade or two ago, are now being addressed using new molecular genetic methods. Recombinant DNA techniques are also revolutionizing disease diagnosis, as the genetic basis for diseases like cancer, muscular dystrophy, and Alzheimer’s are being discovered; indeed, almost nightly you can see a story on the news or in the paper that describes a new discovery, facilitated by recombinant DNA methods, relating to these and other diseases. Applications of recombinant DNA methods, collectively called biotechnology, are yielding new approaches to disease treatment, drug development, forensics, and even the study of evolution.

The Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology provides students with a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare them for a career in this exciting and expanding area of biology. Students in this program will be exposed to state of the art molecular techniques, and students completing this program will be highly qualified to 1) seek employment at academic, industrial, or government laboratories engaged in molecular biology endeavors, or 2) pursue graduate studies in molecular biology and related fields such as microbiology, immunology, or cell biology.

Requirements.

1. All requirements of the Bachelor of Science degree of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) , including general education requirements.
2. At least 40 credit hours in biology including BIO 111 , BIO 113 , BIO 326 , BIO 327 , BIO 328 , BIO 425 , BIO 435 , BIO 462 , BIO 467 , BIO 468  (no more than 16 biology credits below 300-level courses).
3. Non-biological natural sciences. MTH 120 , PHY 143 , PHY 145 , CHM 260 , CHM 261 , CHM 262 , either CHM 263  or CHM 265 , CHM 330 , CHM 331  , CHM 332 , CHM 333  , CHM 450 .
4. Electives to complete a minimum of 124 credits.
5. A cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in biology and in all work at the University of Michigan-Flint.
6. Grades of C- or better in all biology core courses used as prerequisites.