MCD BIO 144
Molecular Biology of Cellular Processes
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Requisites: Life Sciences 3, 4, and 23L, or 7A, 7B, 7C, 23L, and 107. 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
Spring 2025 - I Had Dr, Rigueur for MCDB 144 and absolutely luveeddd the class :3. I'll list just a couple reasons why here (but trust, there are many more lol) 1. The class was a lot of biochemistry review!! I personally loveeddd all my biochemistry and organic chemistry classes (I know yuckkk!!) so this class was a really nice refresher on things I already knew. I'll be honest, that definitely helped make the concepts easier to grasp for me, but trust I'll explain some more objective reasons for why I think the class is doable even if you don't like biochem/ haven't taken biochemistry classes before (although if you've taken a biochem class before and you liked biochemistry, I think you'll like the class even more just because you're getting to learn again about something you already liked before from a good and knowledgeable professor). 2. We had numerous opportunities for Extra Credit. I think there was like 40 points EC in all. I forgot how much total points were in the class, but 40 points EC was enough to cover you if you boomed like 2-3 quizzes, or got a C on one or both exams, seriously. 3. I liked that we read research papers. I had never done research before her class so research papers and being in a class with people who have/are doing research (in a major very focused on research no less) was admittedly, intimidating. But she did well to make sure TAs and she explained how to approach research papers, understand, and mostly, apply them. We encountered some test questions where we had to analyze research results and apply them which seems daunting especially cause I had no experience, but trust, this class, and her questions on the exams will make sure you know how to do both (her exam questions about research results really aren't that difficult promise) 4. She had study guides OMG this was soooo helpful. There's a lot of topics that can get overwhelming quickly but she had study guides for every test that were so detailed and helpful in pointing us towards what we need to know that I could cry of relief. It was so much easier and better studying for exams where I knew what was on it 5. She's just nice and very approachable. This is a little more subjective, but genuinely she's a kind professor and it's easy to see that as well as her passion. She wants you to learn, you just gotta be right there with her in that learning process too and you'll do just fine (and even better tbh). 6. I believe she dropped our lowest quiz scores + had options to drop either the midterm or final if we at least passed both. Put a lot less stress to feel like you had to do perfect on every exam, especially when you had multiple things to stress about during midterms and finals week. 7. Class was engaging as shed give time for us to discuss things, play videos for us to watch during lecture, etc. This helps break from lecturing and felt like she was talking to us rather than at us. Also helps with making friends in lectures as you're forced to either talk to someone or sit there awkwardly lol. 8. She had recorded Zoom lectures in which she'd lecture but also be on Zoom. She'd then post these recorded lectures for us to watch later on. This was EXTREMELY helpful in case you missed something during lecture, couldn't make it for one reason or the other, etc. Genuinely one of the biggest pluses of this class, these recorded lectures were awesome (and I like that she used Zoom instead of Bruincast bcs we all know how many times Bruincast will sometimes not record, miss audio, etc.) There's a lot more things to be said, but to close it off, take MCD144 with this professor. Good lecture, very clear passion and knowledge, lots of opportunities for EC, and a clear intent for you to do well (due to study guides, drops, EC etc.) AND Zoom lectures which is always awesome
Spring 2025 - I Had Dr, Rigueur for MCDB 144 and absolutely luveeddd the class :3. I'll list just a couple reasons why here (but trust, there are many more lol) 1. The class was a lot of biochemistry review!! I personally loveeddd all my biochemistry and organic chemistry classes (I know yuckkk!!) so this class was a really nice refresher on things I already knew. I'll be honest, that definitely helped make the concepts easier to grasp for me, but trust I'll explain some more objective reasons for why I think the class is doable even if you don't like biochem/ haven't taken biochemistry classes before (although if you've taken a biochem class before and you liked biochemistry, I think you'll like the class even more just because you're getting to learn again about something you already liked before from a good and knowledgeable professor). 2. We had numerous opportunities for Extra Credit. I think there was like 40 points EC in all. I forgot how much total points were in the class, but 40 points EC was enough to cover you if you boomed like 2-3 quizzes, or got a C on one or both exams, seriously. 3. I liked that we read research papers. I had never done research before her class so research papers and being in a class with people who have/are doing research (in a major very focused on research no less) was admittedly, intimidating. But she did well to make sure TAs and she explained how to approach research papers, understand, and mostly, apply them. We encountered some test questions where we had to analyze research results and apply them which seems daunting especially cause I had no experience, but trust, this class, and her questions on the exams will make sure you know how to do both (her exam questions about research results really aren't that difficult promise) 4. She had study guides OMG this was soooo helpful. There's a lot of topics that can get overwhelming quickly but she had study guides for every test that were so detailed and helpful in pointing us towards what we need to know that I could cry of relief. It was so much easier and better studying for exams where I knew what was on it 5. She's just nice and very approachable. This is a little more subjective, but genuinely she's a kind professor and it's easy to see that as well as her passion. She wants you to learn, you just gotta be right there with her in that learning process too and you'll do just fine (and even better tbh). 6. I believe she dropped our lowest quiz scores + had options to drop either the midterm or final if we at least passed both. Put a lot less stress to feel like you had to do perfect on every exam, especially when you had multiple things to stress about during midterms and finals week. 7. Class was engaging as shed give time for us to discuss things, play videos for us to watch during lecture, etc. This helps break from lecturing and felt like she was talking to us rather than at us. Also helps with making friends in lectures as you're forced to either talk to someone or sit there awkwardly lol. 8. She had recorded Zoom lectures in which she'd lecture but also be on Zoom. She'd then post these recorded lectures for us to watch later on. This was EXTREMELY helpful in case you missed something during lecture, couldn't make it for one reason or the other, etc. Genuinely one of the biggest pluses of this class, these recorded lectures were awesome (and I like that she used Zoom instead of Bruincast bcs we all know how many times Bruincast will sometimes not record, miss audio, etc.) There's a lot more things to be said, but to close it off, take MCD144 with this professor. Good lecture, very clear passion and knowledge, lots of opportunities for EC, and a clear intent for you to do well (due to study guides, drops, EC etc.) AND Zoom lectures which is always awesome
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