Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology, Biol. 220 Lecture 1: Introduction and Overview
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How To Thrive in this coursE!

1. Study the online material linked to the course syllabus before coming to class.

2. Take the online quiz before coming to class (extra points add up).

3. Write down questions that you have as you study and take the quiz.

4. Come to class and ask your questions.

5. Take notes.

6. Contribute to the completion of in-class assignments.

7. Review the material after lecture at least once within 24 hrs.

......Repeat for each lecture.......

Wow! Is all of this really necessary?

There is a lot of detailed material in this course.

At the beginning it may look as large as an elephant!

The question then becomes, How do you eat an elephant?

The answer?

One bit at a time.

Yes, you do need to study this course each day!

Why study Cell Biology?

The cell is the basic living unit of organization for all organisms. Fig. 1.1

Where do cells come from?

Cell Theory - (middle of the nineteenth century)

• All living organisms are composed of cells.
• Cells are the functional units of life.
• Cells can arise only from pre-existing cells.

What types of cells are there?

• Prokaryotic Fig. 1.7a
• Eukaryotic Fig. 1.7b

How large are cells?

• Prokaryotic Fig. 1.7a
• Eukaryotic Fig. 1.7b

Why are cells limited in size?

• Concentration Fig. 1
• Diffusion
• Limitions can be overcome by cytoplasmic streaming,  

Why do some cells have cell walls and others do not?

• Osmosis  Fig. 2
• Arid environments

What are some of the components of bacterial, animal and plant cells?

Move the cursor over the figure below (or click here to see a larger view) to determine the names and characteristic components of bacterial (a.), animal (b.), and plant (c.) cells. Hold the mouse down over highlighted components to gather further information. Collect and catalog the similarities and differences for each of the characteristics listed in Fig. 3?

Component Summary

Cells are dynamic:

• Cell cycle Fig 1.9
• Interaction between cells  (Cell Biology, Physiology)
• Interactions with environment

What is Molecular Biology?

Molecular biology is the study of how cells work.

Objectives for the course:

• Discover components of the cell
• Discover the processes used to assemble the parts and get them to their destination
• Discover how the components work together

Other courses that extend this course.

Molecular Genetics Course: lets you fly a cell by sitting in the nuclear cockpit.

Cell Biology: Interaction of cell components.

Anatomy: How cells are arranged into tissues and organs.

Physiology: How systems work together.

Genetics: How the functions of cells are inherited.

Recombinant Genetics: How to manipulate gene content and function.

Quiz