This MIT Biology course (7.016) provides a comprehensive introduction to modern molecular biology and genetics at the university level. It is designed to build a deep understanding of how biological systems function at the molecular and cellular level.
The course begins with an introduction to the structure of the course and key biological principles. It then explores chemical bonding and molecular interactions, with a focus on lipids and biological membranes, which are essential for cell structure and function.
Students will study amino acids, peptides, and protein structure, followed by enzymes and metabolism, explaining how biological reactions are controlled in living systems. The course also covers carbohydrates and glycoproteins and their roles in cells.
A major part of the course focuses on nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, and explains essential processes such as replication, transcription, and translation. It also includes advanced topics like chromatin remodeling and RNA splicing, which regulate gene expression.
The course continues with cell biology, describing cells as the basic functional unit of life. It then introduces genetics, including cell division, inheritance rules, linkage, and crossing over.
Finally, learners explore how model organisms contribute to biological discovery, helping scientists understand complex genetic and molecular mechanisms.
By the end of this course, students will have a strong foundation in molecular biology, gene expression, and genetics at an advanced academic level.
