Research for a Changing World

Undergraduate Major in Developmental and Cell Biology

Developmental and Cell Biology Major: The disciplines of Developmental and Cell Biology examine the progression of gametes from before fertilization, through fertilization, and then throughout morphogenesis as the fertilized egg forms its organs and eventually becomes and adult organism, beginning the cycle again. A thorough understanding of these disciplines is essential to uncover the causes of birth defects, of human diseases and of the developmental origins of disease. This understanding will facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches to cure diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders, and the exploration of new therapies through regenerative medicine. These areas of biology have been undergoing significant transformation in recent years. The faculty advisors for the major interact closely with students, providing mentoring and career advice customized to individual students during their junior and senior years. The major will enable students to bridge different sub-disciplines so that they will be best prepared for success in careers such as research, biotechnology, medicine/dentistry/pharmacy and public policy.

University and School Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Major Requirements

A. Required Major Courses:
BIO SCI D103 Cell Biology
BIO SCI D104 Developmental Biology
BIO SCI D114 Developmental and Cell Biology Majors Seminar
BIO SCI D145 Genomics, Development, and Medicine
B. Upper-Division Laboratories:
BIO SCI D111L Developmental and Cell Biology Laboratory
and select two of the following: 1
Habitats and Organisms
Physiology Laboratory
Evolution Laboratory
Image Analysis in Biological Research
Evolution and the Environment Laboratory
Biology of Birds Lab
Field Biology
Field Freshwater Ecology
Biochemistry Laboratory
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Experimental Microbiology Laboratory
Advanced Immunology Laboratory
Virology and Immunology Laboratory
Advanced Molecular Lab Techniques
Neurobiology Laboratory
C. Upper-Division Biology Electives:
Select one of the following:
Human Anatomy
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Development and Disease
Applied Human Anatomy
and select one of the following:
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Cell Biology of Human Disease
Topics in Developmental and Cell Biology
Signal Transduction in Mammalian Cells
Cell Organelles and Membranes
and select three of the following:
Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology of Plants
Photomedicine
Introduction to Precision Medicine
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Human Anatomy
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Critical Thinking in Cell Biology
Development and Disease
Applied Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Advanced Biochemistry
Advanced Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology of Cancer
Microbial Genetics
Human Parasitology
Cell Organelles and Membranes
Neurobiology and Behavior
Neurobiology of Aging
Neuropharmacology
Molecular Neurobiology
Discoveries that Transform Human Health

Undergraduate Major in Genetics

Genetics is an inescapable part of modern society; it features in intellectual news articles and popular talk shows, in discussions of topics from health care to reproductive cloning, in conversations about how CRISPR genome modification will change life as we know it, to how much Neanderthal DNA you have. With human genome sequencing widely available, it is more important now than ever for biology students to have a broad background in the study of heredity and evolution. The Genetics major enables undergraduates interested in molecular, developmental, and evolutionary genetics to explore how genetic mechanisms contribute to understanding human development and disease. Genetics majors in their Junior and Senior years meet with faculty advisors who help plan their curricula, select appropriate Bio 199 research labs and provide career advice. The Genetics major provides training in the skills necessary to pursue graduate degrees in biomedical research, teacher-training programs, medical school, and veterinary school. Genetics majors may also use their backgrounds effectively in planning careers in law, business, education, and public affairs.

University and School Requirements

All students must meet the University Requirements.

All students must meet the School Requirements.

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
A. Required Major Courses:
BIO SCI D103 Cell Biology
BIO SCI D104 Developmental Biology
BIO SCI D113 Genetics Majors Seminar
B. Upper-Division Laboratories:
Select three of the following: 1
Developmental and Cell Biology Laboratory
Habitats and Organisms
Physiology Laboratory
Evolution Laboratory
Image Analysis in Biological Research
Evolution and the Environment Laboratory
Biology of Birds Lab
Field Biology
Field Freshwater Ecology
Biochemistry Laboratory
Molecular Biology Laboratory
Experimental Microbiology Laboratory
Advanced Immunology Laboratory
Virology and Immunology Laboratory
Advanced Molecular Lab Techniques
Neurobiology Laboratory
C. Upper-Division Biology Electives:
Select two of the following:
Introduction to Precision Medicine
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Genomics, Development, and Medicine
Development and Disease
Microbial Genetics
Select one from the following:
Advances in Regenerative Medicine
Cell Biology of Human Disease
Eukaryotic and Human Genetics
Development and Disease
Functional and Structural Evolutionary Genomics
Developmental Neurobiology
Select three from the following:
Cell, Developmental, and Molecular Biology of Plants
Photomedicine
Human Anatomy
Critical Thinking in Cell Biology
Applied Human Anatomy
Topics in Developmental and Cell Biology
Human Physiology
Advanced Biochemistry
Advanced Molecular Biology
Signal Transduction in Mammalian Cells
Molecular Biology of Cancer
Human Parasitology
Cell Organelles and Membranes
Neurobiology and Behavior
Neurobiology of Aging
Molecular Neurobiology

Special Program: BioSci 199

The Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research 199 Program is designed to provide students the opportunity to pursue independent research. Students work under the direct supervision of a professor in the School of Biological Sciences or the School of Medicine as an apprentice scientist. The Bio Sci 199 Research Program provides training in the biological and biomedical sciences. Research training is provided in experimental laboratories, clinical research, as well as field research.

Below you can find a list of faculty that are participating in the BioSci 199 program.

  • Arora
  • Atwood
  • Bardwell
  • Benavente
  • Berns
  • Blumberg
  • Bryant, P
  • Calof
  • Cho
  • Cinquin
  • Civelli
  • Digman
  • Donovan
  • Edinger
  • Eom
  • Gardiner
  • Gross
  • Lander
  • Lin
  • Luderer
  • MacGregor
  • Monuki
  • Mortazavi
  • Mulligan
  • O’Dowd
  • Parsons
  • Plikus
  • Schilling
  • Suetterlin
  • Sun
  • Thompson-Peer
  • Wang
  • Warrior
  • Wunderlich
>Learn More About DCB Faculty