UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG 2002–2003
 Brigham Young University
Back Molecular Biology

   

Brent L. Nielsen, Coordinator
891 WIDB, (801) 422-1102

College of Biology and Agriculture Advisement Center
380 WIDB, (801) 422-3042

Admission to Degree Program

The molecular biology program is an open enrollment program. Students should be enrolled in one of the targeted majors or emphases listed below, or have filled the prerequisites for the molecular biology courses.

The undergraduate minor includes broad upper-division courses that, when coupled with the following targeted majors, provide the student with a strong molecular biological orientation to their specific discipline and profession. The department offering the major is in parentheses.
Animal Biotechnology (Animal and Veterinary Sciences)
Biochemistry (Chemistry and Biochemistry)
Human Biology (Zoology)
Microbiology (Microbiology)
Neuroscience (Zoology; Psychology)
Nutritional Science (Food Science and Nutrition)
Plant Genetics and Breeding (Agronomy and Horticulture; Botany and Range Science)
Zoology (Zoology)

The Discipline

Molecular biology is the basic science that has as its goal an explanation of life processes at the subcellular and molecular level. Recent years have seen explosive advances in the study of DNA and molecular genetics, including gene cloning, sequencing, and mapping. Not only have developments in molecular biology opened new areas of study and provided powerful techniques that are revolutionizing the pharmaceutical, health, and agricultural industries, but they also have spawned new industries in biotechnology and opened avenues for answering basic and applied questions in all of the life sciences.

Molecular biology minor students complete a comprehensive curriculum in the fundamentals of science and are prepared to address problems in the biochemical, biological, and agricultural sciences. The requirements of the molecular biology minor assure competence in the broad scientific theory and application of molecular biology while allowing flexibility for students to develop strength in their biochemical, biological, or agricultural major discipline.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from the targeted majors who couple their degree with a minor in molecular biology are well prepared to continue studying toward advanced degrees in agriculture, animal science, biochemistry, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, medicine, and related fields or to enter the biotechnology workforce. Molecular biology is an excellent preprofessional course of study for those interested in health professions, law, or business.

Undergraduate Programs and Degrees

Minor Molecular Biology

Students should see their faculty advisor and the undergraduate coordinator of the molecular biology program for help or information concerning the undergraduate minor.

Graduate Programs and Degrees

MS Molecular Biology
PhD Molecular Biology

For more information see the BYU 2002–2003 Graduate Catalog.



Minor Molecular Biology (12-13 hours, plus prerequisites in coupled major*)

Minor Requirements

  1. No more than 6 hours of D credit in required supporting or major courses will be accepted for minor certification.

  2. Complete the following prerequisites (usually in the major):
      Either Mcbio 130, 230, 330, 351, 365.
      Or Biol 371, 372.
      And Zool 101, 102, 373, 374.
      Or equivalent.

  3. Complete the following prerequisite course (usually in the major):
    Chem 481.

  4. Complete the following minor requirements:
    Chem 489.
    MolB 480, 488, 490R, 494, 495R.

*Hours include courses that may fill GE or university requirements.



Molecular Biology (MolB)

Class Schedule Major Academic Plan (MAP)

Undergraduate Courses

480. Advanced Concepts in Molecular Biology. (3:3:0) Prerequisite: Botny 373 or Chem 482 or Mcbio 351 or Zool 373 or equivalent.

Integration of advanced principles and applications in molecular genetics and cell biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms.

488. Molecular Biology Techniques. (2:0:6) Prerequisite: MolB 480 or concurrent enrollment.

Major laboratory techniques in molecular biology, including DNA and RNA isolation, analysis, manipulation, amplification, sequencing, and hybridization. Vector introduction and expression. Generation of transgenic animals.

490R. Senior Seminar in Molecular Biology. (1:1:0 ea.) Prerequisite: MolB 480; senior status.

Critical examination of current literature and research in molecular biology.

494. Directed Literature Topics. (2:2:0) Prerequisite: senior status.

Analyzing selected current literature in molecular biology.

495R. Undergraduate Research Experience. (1–2:Arr.:Arr. ea.) Prerequisite: advisor's or instructor's consent.

Capstone laboratory research project or summer research experience in molecular biology, including prospectus and report.



Molecular Biology Faculty

Professors

Bradshaw, William S. (1970) BA, Harvard U., 1963; PhD, U. of Illinois, 1968.

Busath, David D. (1995) BA, MD, U. of Utah, 1974, 1978.

Christensen, Merrill J. (1982) BS, Brigham Young U., 1977; PhD, Massachusetts Inst. of Technology, 1982.

Fairbanks, Daniel J. (1988) BS, Brigham Young U., 1982; MS, U. of Minnesota, 1985; PhD, U. of Arizona, 1988.

Harker, Alan R. (1994) BS, PhD, U. of Utah, 1978, 1982.

Leavitt, Ronald W. (1977) BA, U. of California, Riverside, 1967; MS, U. of Illinois, 1969; PhD, U. of California, San Diego, 1975.

Murray, Byron K. (1983) AS, Ricks Coll., 1964; BS, MS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1966, 1969, 1971.

Nielsen, Brent L. (2000) BS, Brigham Young U., 1980; PhD, Oregon State U., 1985.

O'Neill, Kim L. (1992) BSc, DPhil, New U. of Ulster, Northern Ireland, 1984, 1986.

Rowe, Mark J. (1987) BS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1968, 1972.

Simmons, Daniel L. (1989) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1978, 1980; PhD, U. of Wisconsin, Madison, 1986.

Woodward, Scott R. (1989) BS, PhD, Utah State U., 1980, 1983.

Associate Professors

Bell, John D. (1990) BS, Brigham Young U., 1982; PhD, U. of California, San Diego, 1987.

Elton, Terry S. (1995) BS, Weber State U., 1981; PhD, Washington State U., 1986.

Jellen, Eric N. (1996) BS, Brigham Young U., 1986; MS, PhD, U. of Minnesota, 1988, 1992.

Judd, Allan M. (1991) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1973, 1978; PhD, West Virginia U., 1982.

Kooyman, David L. (1997) BS, MS, California State Polytechnic U., Pomona, 1982, 1986; PhD, Ohio U., 1993.

Lephart, Edwin D. (1994) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1979, 1982; PhD, U. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 1989.

McCleary, William R. (1995) BS, Brigham Young U., 1982; PhD, U. of California, Berkeley, 1990.

Robison, Richard A. (1991) BS, MS, PhD, Brigham Young U., 1978, 1980, 1988.

Stevens, Mikel R. (1994) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1977, 1983; PhD, U. of Arkansas, 1993.

Woodbury, Dixon J. (2001) BA, U. of Utah, 1980; PhD, U. of California, Irvine, 1986.

Assistant Professors

Bridgewater, Laura (1999) BS, Brigham Young U., 1989; PhD, George Washington U., 1995.

Coleman, Craig E. (1996) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1985, 1987; PhD, Pennsylvania State U., 1992.

Crandall, Keith A. (1995) BA, Kalamazoo Coll., 1987; AM, PhD, Washington U., 1993.

Evans, R. Paul (1987) BS, Brigham Young U., 1995; PhD, Medical Coll. of Virginia, 1983.

Kaspar, Roger L. (1995) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1985, 1986; PhD, U. of Washington, 1991.

McClellan, David A. (2001) BS, MS, Brigham Young U., 1991, 1994; PhD, Louisiana State U., 1999.

Sudweeks, Sterling (2001) BS, Brigham Young U., 1992; PhD, U. of Utah, 1997.

Whiting, Michael (1997) BS, Brigham Young U., 1990; PhD, Cornell U., 1994.

Willardson, Barry M. (1996) BA, Brigham Young U., 1984; PhD, Purdue U., 1990.






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