Note: This is the 2020–2021 eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or .
Program Requirements
The Major Concentration Biology - Cell/Molecular is a planned sequence of courses designed to permit a degree of specialization in cell/molecular biology.
Advising Note: Freshman students should be aware that PHYS 101 and/or PHYS 102 are required for some of the courses in the major and minor concentrations in Biology.
Required Courses* (29 credits)
* Required courses taken at CEGEP or elsewhere that are not credited toward the B.A. & Sc. or B.Sc./B.Ed. must be replaced by 3-credit courses from the Complementary Courses list. Regardless of the substitution, students must take at least 36 credits in this program.
** Students who have already taken CHEM 212 or its equivalent will choose another appropriate complementary course, to be approved by the Biology Adviser.
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Roy, Richard D W; Bureau, Thomas E; Hastings, Kenneth E M; Champetier, Serge (Fall)
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Champetier, Serge (Winter)
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BIOL 202 Basic Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Western, Tamara; Nilson, Laura; Schoen, Daniel J; Hipfner, David; Dankort, David; Champetier, Serge (Winter)
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BIOL 205 Functional Biology of Plants and Animals (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Unified view of form and function in animals and plants. Focus on how the laws of chemistry and physics illuminate biological processes relating to the acquisition of energy and materials and their use in movement, growth, development, reproduction and responses to environmental stress.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Sakata, Jon; Barrett, Rowan; Soper, Fiona (Winter)
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BIOL 215 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Price, Neil; Abouheif, Ehab; Sunday, Jennifer (Fall)
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BIOL 300 Molecular Biology of the Gene (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Schöck, Frieder; Nilson, Laura; Lasko, Paul (Fall)
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BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory (4 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to biology research and communication with a focus on cell and molecular biology. Through conducting a series of project-based experiments and writing a final report, molecular and synthetic biology techniques such as gene cloning, manipulation, protein isolation and characterization and how research is conducted, analyzed and communicated will be addressed. In addition, an introduction to bioinformatics methods and their role in analysis will be provided.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Zheng, Huanquan; Western, Tamara; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Fall) Zheng, Huanquan; Western, Tamara; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Winter)
Fall or Winter
1 hour lecture and one 6-hour laboratory
Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201 (or ANAT 212/BIOC 212); or BIOL 219
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOC 300, or BIOC 220 and BIOC 320. Requires departmental approval.
For approval email anne-marie.sdicu [at] mcgill.ca. Specify your ID number as well as the term and two lab day preferences.
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BIOL 303 Developmental Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A consideration of the fundamental processes and principles operating during embryogenesis. Experimental analyses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels will be presented and discussed to provide an overall appreciation of developmental phenomena.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Gerhold, Abigail; Rao, Yong; Dufort, Daniel (Winter)
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CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits) **
Overview
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: Vlaho, Danielle; Pavelka, Laura; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi (Fall) Vlaho, Danielle; Luedtke, Nathan; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi (Winter) Vlaho, Danielle; Sirjoosingh, Pallavi (Summer)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent
Each lab section is limited enrolment
Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().
**Although this course follows a Tuesday/Thursday class schedule, the last class will be held on Friday, June 25 due to the statutory holiday on Thursday, June 24.
Complementary Courses (7 credits)
at least 7 credits selected from:
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BIOL 306 Neural Basis of Behaviour (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Sakata, Jon; Dent, Joseph Alan; Watt, Alanna (Fall)
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BIOL 313 Eukaryotic Cell Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Cell biology of eukaryotes focusing on the assembly and function of cellular structures, the regulation of transcription; the dynamics of the cytoskeleton and its motors; mechanics of cell division; cell cycle and checkpoints; nuclear dynamics; chromosome structure and behaviour and experimental techniques.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Weber, Stephanie (Winter)
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BIOL 314 Molecular Biology of
Cancer (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The molecular basis of human cancers, including analyzing the events that promote the formation of oncogenes and inhibit tumour suppressor genes, the biochemical properties of the proteins encoded by these genes, and their functions. Current molecular targets for cancer therapy and the concepts and consequences of inheriting mutations in genes that predispose to cancer.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Dankort, David; Christensen, Karen Elizabeth (Winter)
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BIOL 316 Biomembranes and Organelles (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The course focuses on biomembranes and subcellular organelles and their implications for disease. The topics include: protein and lipid biochemistry, membrane structure and transport; intracellular compartmentalization, protein sorting and modification, intracellular membrane trafficking; energy transfer, organization and dynamics of chloroplasts and mitochondria; extracellular matrix and cell walls.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
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BIOL 370 Human Genetics Applied (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A contemporary view of genetic research as applied to human health and well-being.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021
Instructors: Palmour, Roberta M; Mitchell, John James; Richards, John Brent; Trakadis, Yannis; Ernst, Carl; Ao, Asangla; Fitzpatrick, Jennifer; Engert, Jamie; Bailey, Swneke; Majewska, Loydie (Fall)
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BIOL 373 Biometry (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall
2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
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BIOL 413 Directed Reading (1 credit)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Directed reading.
Terms: Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Summer 2021
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Fall, Winter or Summer
Prerequisites: BIOL 200, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 205, BIOL 215.
Note: Before registration, projects must be arranged individually with a PI in the Biology Department. Prior to registration, students fill out the application form at and email or bring it to nancy.nelson [at] mcgill.ca, or Nancy Nelson, Room N7/9B, Stewart Biology Building.
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BIOL 568 Topics on the Human Genome (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Cellular and molecular approaches to characterization of the human genome.
Terms: Winter 2021
Instructors: Engert, Jamie; Slim, Rima; Montpetit, Alexandre; Thanassoulis, George; Gottlieb, Bruce; Zawati, Ma'n Hilmi; Bailey, Swneke; Najafabadi, Hamed; Yamanaka, Yojiro; Langlais, David (Winter)
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BIOL 575 Human Biochemical Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Topics on the study of human systems that have led to advances in basic biology.
Terms: Fall 2020
Instructors: Braverman, Nancy; Mitchell, John James; Genest, Jacques Jean; Paliouras, Miltiadis; Christensen, Karen Elizabeth; Watkins, David; Shoubridge, Eric Alan; Moffatt, Pierre (Fall)
or other appropriate course at the 300 level or higher with permission of the Biology Adviser.
