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Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) interdisciplinary major was designed in recognition of the increasing intimacy of the subject matter, objectives, and methodology of biochemistry and a variety of related biological disciplines. Application for admission to the major is by submission of a declaration of major form to the BMB committee. Except in unusual cases, this application should be made no later than the end of the sophomore year. Before registering for thesis, BMB majors must pass junior qualifying examinations in both biology and chemistry.

Requirements for the Major

This program supplants both ad hoc and formalized student programs devoted to this subject area in the biology and chemistry departments.

Exclusive of work needed to meet general college requirements:

1. Biology 101 and 102 (Introductory Biology); 361 (Genetics) or 356 (Genetics and Gene Regulation); and two additional units in biology, both of which must be full lecture-laboratory courses, selected from the following: 322 (Plant Physiology), 351 (Developmental Biology), 358 (Microbiology), 372 (Cellular Biology), and 381 (Animal Physiology).
2. Chemistry 101 (Molecular Structure and Properties) and 102 (Chemical Reactivity); 201 and 202 (Organic Chemistry); 311 (Analytical Chemistry); 332 (Statistical Thermodynamics and Chemical Dynamics); and 391/392/394 (Biochemistry sequence).
3. Physics 100 (General Physics).
4. Mathematics 111 (Calculus) and 112 (Introduction to Analysis). Mathematics 112 may be substituted by taking Mathematics 141 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics) only after consultation with a member of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Interdisciplinary Committee.
5. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 470 (thesis); candidates must submit a brief proposal to the interdisciplinary committee by the end of the second week of the semester in which thesis work is to commence.

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