MCD BIO 144
Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes and Experimental Applications of Theory
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: Life Sciences 3, 4, 23L. Not open for credit to students with credit for Chemistry 153B. Development of thorough understanding of fundamentals of modern molecular biology both from perspective of known molecular mechanisms for regulating fundamental processes in cells and from theoretical applied perspective for using molecular biology as laboratory tool. Special emphasis on molecular mechanisms that relate to chromatin and histone modifications, DNA replication and repair, transposition, microRNAs, meiosis, and splicing. Application of molecular biology as tool to understand embryonic development, reprogramming, cancer, and stem cells. Development of sophisticated understanding of DNA, RNA, and protein as well as capability of designing experiments to address fundamental questions in biology and interpreting experimental data. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2023 - Be prepared for this class. Genuinely your TA is your best friend in this class as well as making friends and studying together. Professor Nagano unfortunately did not help much in this course and at the end of the quarter unfairly curved only the A- students and nobody else. The lectures were just cahoot quizzes, His online lectures you were assumed to watch them and learn from them? like multiple 45-1 hour online lectured weekly in which you cant understand him half the time even when using the transcribing tool. The quizzes aren't too bad but the material tested on for the midterms and final exam many times contained material that was never directly taught from the course and was supposed to be second hand knowledge from what you "deduced" from the material from the lecture videos. To be honest overall from this course I wouldn't want to take professor Nakano again but if you do, befriend your TA and make sure to bug them and the professor about material you might not understand. Also exams contain many mistakes purposely and are meant to confuse students.
Winter 2023 - Be prepared for this class. Genuinely your TA is your best friend in this class as well as making friends and studying together. Professor Nagano unfortunately did not help much in this course and at the end of the quarter unfairly curved only the A- students and nobody else. The lectures were just cahoot quizzes, His online lectures you were assumed to watch them and learn from them? like multiple 45-1 hour online lectured weekly in which you cant understand him half the time even when using the transcribing tool. The quizzes aren't too bad but the material tested on for the midterms and final exam many times contained material that was never directly taught from the course and was supposed to be second hand knowledge from what you "deduced" from the material from the lecture videos. To be honest overall from this course I wouldn't want to take professor Nakano again but if you do, befriend your TA and make sure to bug them and the professor about material you might not understand. Also exams contain many mistakes purposely and are meant to confuse students.
Most Helpful Review
Summer 2025 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students truly stand out. She has a remarkable ability to take complex molecular biology topics and present them in a clear, engaging, and relatable way. Her lectures are well-structured, filled with relevant examples, and always tied back to the broader significance in medicine and human health, which kept the material both exciting and relevant. One of Dr. Rigueur’s greatest strengths is her empathy and care for students. She goes above and beyond to support us, not only academically, but also personally. She dedicates her time to listen to students’ struggles and shares her own stories, which makes her teaching feel very genuine and human. Her compassion and encouragement made a huge impact on my learning experience. The course itself was rigorous but fair. Expectations were clear, and assessments (quizzes, assignments, and exams) reflected the material covered in class. The workload required consistent effort, but it was very rewarding, I walked away from the class with a much deeper understanding of cellular and molecular processes. Overall, MCD BIO 144 with Dr. Rigueur is one of the most impactful classes I have taken at UCLA. I would highly recommend it to any student interested in molecular biology, biomedical research, or medicine.
Summer 2025 - Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for teaching and dedication to her students truly stand out. She has a remarkable ability to take complex molecular biology topics and present them in a clear, engaging, and relatable way. Her lectures are well-structured, filled with relevant examples, and always tied back to the broader significance in medicine and human health, which kept the material both exciting and relevant. One of Dr. Rigueur’s greatest strengths is her empathy and care for students. She goes above and beyond to support us, not only academically, but also personally. She dedicates her time to listen to students’ struggles and shares her own stories, which makes her teaching feel very genuine and human. Her compassion and encouragement made a huge impact on my learning experience. The course itself was rigorous but fair. Expectations were clear, and assessments (quizzes, assignments, and exams) reflected the material covered in class. The workload required consistent effort, but it was very rewarding, I walked away from the class with a much deeper understanding of cellular and molecular processes. Overall, MCD BIO 144 with Dr. Rigueur is one of the most impactful classes I have taken at UCLA. I would highly recommend it to any student interested in molecular biology, biomedical research, or medicine.
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