About the Program
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The undergraduate major in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) focuses on the study of molecular structures and processes of cellular life and their roles in the function, reproduction, and development of living organisms. This covers a broad range of specialized disciplines, such as biochemistry, microbiology, biophysics, molecular biology, genetics, cell physiology, cell anatomy, immunology, and neurobiology. The types of living organisms from which the departmental faculty draws its working materials are as diverse as its disciplinary concentrations, ranging from viruses and microbes through plants, roundworms, annelids, arthropods, and mollusks, to fish, amphibia, and mammals.
There are five emphases (concentrations) in MCB:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cell and Developmental Biology
- Genetics, Genomics, and Development
- Immunology and Pathogenesis
- Neurobiology
All of the emphases except Neurobiology have two tracks to choose from. Some tracks only differ slightly and some give a whole different perspective on the emphasis. For help deciding your emphasis please see a staff or peer advisor in MCB!
Declaring the Major
Students can receive pre-major advising at any time from staff or peer advisors. MCB is not an impacted major. Therefore, the major will accept any interested student who meets the minimum course and GPA requirements and is realistically able to complete the major requirements during the student's time at UC Berkeley.
In order to declare the MCB major, students must have completed or be enrolled in BIOLOGY 1A/BIOLOGY 1AL (C or better on first Bio 1A midterm) and CHEM 3B (past the early drop deadline), have at least a 2.0 overall GPA, a 2.0 GPA in the courses taken for the major, a 2.0 GPA in any upper division courses taken for the major, and know which emphasis they will declare. Intended MCB students are not required to have completed the math, physics, or Bio 1B requirements at the time of declaration (though these requirements must be met in order to graduate).
To start the major declaration process, students must fill out the MCB major declaration form online.
Once the declaration form has been processed, students will receive an email with instructions to schedule an appointment to meet with a staff advisor. Advising appointments take place in the Undergraduate Advising Office in 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building. Students should bring a printed copy of their Academic Summary in CalCentral to their advising appointment to discuss their academic plan. See full instructions on the MCB Declaration page.
Major Requirements
General Guidelines
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, listed on the College Requirements tab, students must fulfill requirements specific to their major program and declared emphasis.
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All courses taken to fulfill the major requirements below must be taken for letter-graded credit.
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No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student's major and minor programs. Double majors and simultaneous degrees are limited to a two-course overlap.
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Students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 GPA overall, a 2.0 GPA in the required major coursework (lower and upper division), and a 2.0 GPA in the upper division coursework for the major.
For information regarding residency requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
Lower Division Requirements for All Emphases
Please note the alternative chemistry sequence for BMB Track 2.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 10A & MATH 10B | Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics and Methods of Mathematics: Calculus, Statistics, and Combinatorics 1 | 4-8 |
| or MATH 1A/1B | Calculus | |
| CHEM 1A & 1AL | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory 2 | 5 |
| CHEM 3A & 3AL | Chemical Structure and Reactivity and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 5 |
| CHEM 3B & 3BL | Chemical Structure and Reactivity and Organic Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 5 |
| BIOLOGY 1A & 1AL | General Biology Lecture and General Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| BIOLOGY 1B | General Biology Lecture and Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYSICS 8A & PHYSICS 8B | Introductory Physics and Introductory Physics 4 | 8 |
| BMB Track 2 Alternative Chem sequence: | ||
| Students in the Biochemistry & Molecular Biology emphasis track 2 must take the following chemistry sequence: | ||
| CHEM 1A & 1AL | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry | 4 |
| CHEM 12A & CHEM 12B | Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry | 10 |
| 1 | For alternative Math sequences please contact an MCB advisor at mcbuao@berkeley.edu |
| 2 | |
| 3 | CHEM 12A and CHEM 12B may be taken place of CHEM 3A/CHEM 3AL and CHEM 3B/CHEM 3BL. |
| 4 | PHYSICS 7A and PHYSICS 7B can be taken in place of PHYSICS 8A and PHYSICS 8B. |
Upper Division Requirements by Emphasis
MCB has five emphases (concentrations):
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cell and Developmental Biology
- Genetics, Genomics, and Development
- Immunology and Pathogenesis
- Neurobiology
All of these emphases except neurobiology have two tracks that students can choose from.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Track 1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI C100A/CHEM C130 | Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life | 4 |
| MCELLBI 100B | Biochemistry: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Regulation | 4 |
| MCELLBI 110 | Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis and Cellular Function | 4 |
| MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | 4 |
| or MCELLBI C148 | Microbial Genomics and Genetics | |
| MCELLBI/CHEM C110L | General Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| One BMB Elective (see below) | 4 | |
TRACK 2
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI C100A/CHEM C130 | Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life | 4 |
| CHEM 130B | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 135 | Chemical Biology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| or MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | |
| MCELLBI C110L | General Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| One BMB Elective (see below) | ||
Cell and Developmental Biology
Track 1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 102 | Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 133L | Physiology and Cell Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| Two CDB Electives from List A (see below) | 6-8 | |
Track 2
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 102 | Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 133L | Physiology and Cell Biology Laboratory | 4 |
| Two CDB Electives from List B (see below) | 6-8 | |
Genetics, Genomics, and Development
TRACK 1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI C100A/CHEM C130 | Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life | 4 |
| MCELLBI 110 | Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis and Cellular Function | 4 |
| MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | 4 |
| MCELLBI 140L | Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| One GGD Elective, from List A or List B (see below) | 3-4 | |
| One GGD Elective from List B (see below) | 3-4 | |
Track 2
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 102 | Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| or MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 140L | Genetics Laboratory | 4 |
| One GGD Elective from List A or List B (see below) | 3-4 | |
| One GGB Elective from List B (see below) | 3-4 | |
Immunology and Pathogenesis
TRACK 1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI C100A/CHEM C130 | Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life | 4 |
| MCELLBI 110 | Molecular Biology: Macromolecular Synthesis and Cellular Function | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| or MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 150L | Immunology Laboratory | 4 |
| One IMM Elective from List C (see below) | 3-4 | |
Track 2
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 102 | Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| or MCELLBI 140 | General Genetics | |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 150L | Immunology Laboratory | 4 |
| One IMM Elective from List A (see below) | 3-4 | |
| One IMM Elective from List B (see below) | 3-4 | |
Neurobiology
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 102 | Survey of the Principles of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 104 | Genetics, Genomics, and Cell Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160L | Neurobiology Laboratory | 4 |
| or MCELLBI 163L | Mammalian Neuroanatomy Lab | |
| One NEU Elective (see below) | 3-4 | |
Upper Division Electives by Emphasis (Concentration)
The electives for each emphasis (concentration) are listed below:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cell and Developmental Biology
- Genetics, Genomics, and Development
- Immunology and Pathogenesis
- Neurobiology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (both tracks, minimum of one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 113 | Advanced Mechanistic Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 115 | Organic Chemistry--Advanced Laboratory Methods | 4 |
| CHEM 130B | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| ESPM C148/NUSCTX C114 | Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology | 3 |
| MATH 110 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 127 | Mathematical and Computational Methods in Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C116 | Microbial Diversity | 3 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 137L | Physical Biology of the Cell | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 143 | Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C148 | Microbial Genomics and Genetics | 4 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 165 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| MCELLBI 166 | Biophysical Neurobiology | 3 |
| PHYSICS 112 | Introduction to Statistical and Thermal Physics | 4 |
| PHYSICS 177 | Principles of Molecular Biophysics | 3 |
| PLANTBI 135 | Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants | 3 |
| PLANTBI 150 | Plant Cell Biology | 3 |
| PLANTBI 160 | Plant Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| PB HLTH 141 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 5 |
| Students who complete math requirements other than MATH 10A/MATH 10B are eligible to choose from the following courses. | ||
| PB HLTH 142 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health | 4 |
| or PB HLTH W142 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health | |
| STAT 131A | Statistical Methods for Data Science | 4 |
Cell and Developmental Biology
CDB ELECTIVE LIST A (Track 1, minimum of one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C116 | Microbial Diversity | 3 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 137L | Physical Biology of the Cell | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 143 | Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C148 | Microbial Genomics and Genetics | 4 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 165 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| MCELLBI 166 | Biophysical Neurobiology | 3 |
CDB Elective List B (Track 2, minimum of one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C116 | Microbial Diversity | 3 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 137L | Physical Biology of the Cell | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 143 | Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C148 | Microbial Genomics and Genetics | 4 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 165 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| MCELLBI 166 | Biophysical Neurobiology | 3 |
| INTEGBI 103LF | Invertebrate Zoology with Laboratory | 5 |
| INTEGBI 104LF | Natural History of the Vertebrates with Laboratory | 5 |
| INTEGBI 117 & 117LF | Medical Ethnobotany and Medical Ethnobotany Laboratory (Both courses must be taken to count as an elective.) | 4 |
| INTEGBI 123AL | Exercise and Environmental Physiology with Laboratory | 5 |
| INTEGBI 131 | General Human Anatomy | 3 |
| INTEGBI 137 | Human Endocrinology | 4 |
| INTEGBI 140 | Biology of Human Reproduction | 4 |
| INTEGBI C143A/PSYCH C113 | Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior | 3 |
| INTEGBI C143B/PSYCH C116 | Hormones and Behavior | 3 |
| INTEGBI 148 | Comparative Animal Physiology | 3 |
| NUSCTX 103 | Nutrient Function and Metabolism | 3 |
| NUSCTX 108A | Introduction and Application of Food Science | 3 |
| NUSCTX 110 | Toxicology | 4 |
| NUSCTX 160 | Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases | 4 |
| NUSCTX 161A | Medical Nutrition Therapy | 4 |
| PLANTBI 135 | Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants | 3 |
| PLANTBI 150 | Plant Cell Biology | 3 |
| PLANTBI 160 | Plant Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| PSYCH 110 | Introduction to Biological Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH C113/INTEGBI C143A | Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior | 3 |
| PSYCH C116/INTEGBI C143B | Hormones and Behavior | 3 |
| PB HLTH 141 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 5 |
| PB HLTH 150B | Human Health and the Environment in a Changing World | 3 |
| PB HLTH 162A | Public Health Microbiology | 4 |
| Students who completed math requirements other than Math 10A/10B are eligible to use the following courses as an elective: | ||
| PB HLTH 142 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health | 4 |
| STAT 131A | Statistical Methods for Data Science | 4 |
Genetics, Genomics, and Development (both tracks, minimum of two courses: one from List A and one from List B or both from List B)
GGD Elective List A
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 113 | Advanced Mechanistic Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 115 | Organic Chemistry--Advanced Laboratory Methods | 4 |
| CHEM 130B | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 |
| ESPM C148/NUSCTX C114 | Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology | 3 |
| ESPM 162 | Bioethics and Society | 4 |
| INTEGBI 160 | Evolution | 4 |
| MATH 110 | Linear Algebra 1 | 4 |
| MCELLBI 100B | Biochemistry: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Regulation | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C116 | Microbial Diversity | 3 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 165 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| MCELLBI 166 | Biophysical Neurobiology | 3 |
| NUSCTX C114/ESPM C148 | Pesticide Chemistry and Toxicology | 3 |
| PHYSICS 112 | Introduction to Statistical and Thermal Physics 1 | 4 |
| PLANTBI 135 | Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants | 3 |
| PLANTBI 150 | Plant Cell Biology | 3 |
GGD ELECTIVE LIST B
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO ENG 131 | Introduction to Computational Molecular and Cell Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO ENG 143 | Computational Methods in Biology | 4 |
| BIO ENG 144 | Introduction to Protein Informatics 1 | 4 |
| ESPM 108B | Environmental Change Genetics | 3 |
| INTEGBI 161 | Population and Evolutionary Genetics | 4 |
| INTEGBI 162 | Ecological Genetics | 4 |
| INTEGBI 163 | Molecular and Genomic Evolution | 3 |
| MATH 127 | Mathematical and Computational Methods in Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 137L | Physical Biology of the Cell | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology (for track 1 students only) | 4 |
| MCELLBI 143 | Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C148 | Microbial Genomics and Genetics | 4 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| PLANTBI/MCELLBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| PLANTBI 160 | Plant Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| PB HLTH 141 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 5 |
| PB HLTH 256 | Human Genome, Environment and Public Health | 4 |
| STAT 134 | Concepts of Probability 1 | 4 |
| Students who completed math requirements other than Math 10A/10B are eligible to use the following courses as an elective: | ||
| PB HLTH 142 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health | 4 |
| STAT 131A | Statistical Methods for Data Science | 4 |
Immunology & Pathogenesis
IMM Elective List A (Track 2, minimum of one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
IMM ELECTIVE LIST B (TRACK 2, MINIMUM OF one COURSE)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 143 | Evolution of Genomes, Cells, and Development | 3 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| MCELLBI 160 | Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 161 | Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience | 4 |
| MCELLBI 250 | Advanced Immunology | 4 |
IMM ELECTIVE LIST C (Track 1, minimum of one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO ENG 131 | Introduction to Computational Molecular and Cell Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 100B | Biochemistry: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Regulation | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C103 | Bacterial Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C112 | General Microbiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C114 | Introduction to Comparative Virology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI/PLANTBI C134 | Chromosome Biology/Cytogenetics | 3 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 149 | The Human Genome | 3 |
| MCELLBI 250 | Advanced Immunology | 4 |
Neurobiology (minimum one course)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO ENG 121 | BioMEMS and Medical Devices | 4 |
| COG SCI/PSYCH C127 | Cognitive Neuroscience | 3 |
| INTEGBI 139 | The Neurobiology of Stress | 4 |
| INTEGBI C143A/PSYCH C113 | Biological Clocks: Physiology and Behavior | 3 |
| INTEGBI C143B/PSYCH C116 | Hormones and Behavior | 3 |
| INTEGBI C144/ESPM C126 | Animal Behavior | 4 |
| MATH 110 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 127 | Mathematical and Computational Methods in Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MATH 128A | Numerical Analysis | 4 |
| MATH 128B | Numerical Analysis | 4 |
| MCELLBI 130 | Cell and Systems Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 132 | Biology of Human Cancer | 4 |
| MCELLBI 135A | Topics in Cell and Developmental Biology: Molecular Endocrinology | 3 |
| MCELLBI 136 | Physiology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 137L | Physical Biology of the Cell | 4 |
| MCELLBI 141 | Developmental Biology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 150 | Molecular Immunology | 4 |
| MCELLBI 160L | Neurobiology Laboratory (allowed only if MCB 163 is used as lab requirement) | 4 |
| MCELLBI 163L | Mammalian Neuroanatomy Lab (allowed only if MCB 160L is used as lab requirement) | 4 |
| MCELLBI 165 | Neurobiology of Disease | 3 |
| MCELLBI 166 | Biophysical Neurobiology | 3 |
| PHYSICS 112 | Introduction to Statistical and Thermal Physics | 4 |
| PSYCH 117 | Human Neuropsychology | 3 |
| PB HLTH 141 | Introduction to Biostatistics | 5 |
| Students who completed math requirements other than Math 10A/10B are eligible to use the following courses as an elective: | ||
| PB HLTH 142 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health | 4 |
| STAT 131A | Statistical Methods for Data Science | 4 |
College Requirements
Undergraduate students must fulfill the following requirements in addition to those required by their major program.
For detailed lists of courses that fulfill college requirements, please review the College of Letters & Sciences page in this Guide. For College advising appointments, please visit the L&S Advising Pages.
University of California Requirements
Entry Level Writing
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing requirement. Fulfillment of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley.
American History and American Institutions
The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a US resident graduated from an American university, should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
Berkeley Campus Requirement
American Cultures
All undergraduate students at Cal need to take and pass this course in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity and culture of the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
College of Letters & Science Essential Skills Requirements
Quantitative Reasoning
The Quantitative Reasoning requirement is designed to ensure that students graduate with basic understanding and competency in math, statistics, or computer science. The requirement may be satisfied by exam or by taking an approved course.
Foreign Language
The Foreign Language requirement may be satisfied by demonstrating proficiency in reading comprehension, writing, and conversation in a foreign language equivalent to the second semester college level, either by passing an exam or by completing approved course work.
Reading and Composition
In order to provide a solid foundation in reading, writing, and critical thinking the College requires two semesters of lower division work in composition in sequence. Students must complete parts A & B reading and composition courses by the end of their second semester and a second-level course by the end of their fourth semester.
College of Letters & Science 7 Course Breadth Requirements
Breadth Requirements
The undergraduate breadth requirements provide Berkeley students with a rich and varied educational experience outside of their major program. As the foundation of a liberal arts education, breadth courses give students a view into the intellectual life of the University while introducing them to a multitude of perspectives and approaches to research and scholarship. Engaging students in new disciplines and with peers from other majors, the breadth experience strengthens interdisciplinary connections and context that prepares Berkeley graduates to understand and solve the complex issues of their day.
Unit Requirements
-
120 total units
-
Of the 120 units, 36 must be upper division units
- Of the 36 upper division units, 6 must be taken in courses offered outside your major department
Residence Requirements
For units to be considered in "residence," you must be registered in courses on the Berkeley campus as a student in the College of Letters & Science. Most students automatically fulfill the residence requirement by attending classes here for four years. In general, there is no need to be concerned about this requirement, unless you go abroad for a semester or year or want to take courses at another institution or through UC Extension during your senior year. In these cases, you should make an appointment to meet an adviser to determine how you can meet the Senior Residence Requirement.
Note: Courses taken through UC Extension do not count toward residence.
Senior Residence Requirement
After you become a senior (with 90 semester units earned toward your BA degree), you must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in residence in at least two semesters. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least 6 passed units. Intercampus Visitor, EAP, and UC Berkeley-Washington Program (UCDC) units are excluded.
You may use a Berkeley Summer Session to satisfy one semester of the Senior Residence requirement, provided that you successfully complete 6 units of course work in the Summer Session and that you have been enrolled previously in the college.
Modified Senior Residence Requirement
Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (EAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the UC Berkeley Washington Program (UCDC) may meet a Modified Senior Residence requirement by completing 24 (excluding EAP) of their final 60 semester units in residence. At least 12 of these 24 units must be completed after you have completed 90 units.
Upper Division Residence Requirement
You must complete in residence a minimum of 18 units of upper division courses (excluding UCEAP units), 12 of which must satisfy the requirements for your major.
Plans of Study
Sample four-year plans are available on the Molecular & Cell Biology department website for each emphasis (concentration):
Student Learning Goals
Mission
The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) is a large department that is subdivided into five divisions: Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (BBS); Cell and Developmental Biology (CDB); Genetics, Genomics and Development (GGD); Immunology and Pathogenesis (IMMP); and Neurobiology (NEU). All MCB students complete the same lower division coursework to gain critical training in biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics. All or most lower division coursework is completed before major declaration. Upon declaring the major, MCB students choose an emphasis, or specialization, which determines the upper division core courses they will take and elective choices from which they will choose. Students can choose among several areas of specialization; emphases are broadly defined along divisional lines and allow students to focus on a more defined topic within MCB. MCB students who elect to participate in independent research may choose from sponsoring research laboratories within any MCB division, or in laboratories outside the department (other Berkeley departments, LBNL, CHORI, UCSF, biotechnology companies). The MCB major provides excellent preparation for many careers and postbaccalaureate training programs, including graduate programs and health-related professional programs (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy), science writing, law school, biotechnology, teaching, and academic research.
Learning Goals for the Major
- Describe basic biological concepts and principles.
- Appreciate the different levels of biological organization, from molecules to ecosystems.
- Understand that biology has a chemical, physical, and mathematical basis.
- Explain the importance of the scientific method to understanding natural phenomena.
- Effectively communicate scientific data and ideas, both orally and in writing.
- Critically evaluate data, develop a hypothesis, and design experiments to address an interesting and novel problem.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge in a specialized field of molecular and cell biology.
Advising
MCB offers three types of undergraduate advising: staff advisers, faculty advisors, and peer advisors.
Staff Advisers
Staff academic advisors are trained to support students and assist them in successfully completing their MCB major. They are excellent resources for questions concerning administration and academics, or finding out about other available services. Students should see a staff adviser for the following:
- Ask questions about major requirements.
- Ask advice about schedule planning.
- Declare the MCB major.
- Consult about research opportunities, graduate and professional schools, career opportunities, scholarships, and internships.
- Get information and course control numbers (CCN's) for independent research.
- Request general assistance, advice or information.
- Find out about upcoming events and programs.
Staff advisers are primarily available for drop-in advising, though limited appointments are available for more complex issues such as probation, academic difficulty, and readmission. If students would like to schedule an appointment, they should call 510-643-8895 during drop-in advising hours.
The general email address is mcbuao@berkeley.edu which is checked daily, Monday through Friday, so students will receive an answer to questions within one business day.
Faculty Advisers
Faculty advisors are MCB professors assigned to advise students about the MCB department, its courses, its research, and other academic issues. Students typically first meet with a faculty advisor when they declare an MCB major. Students should see their faculty advisers for the following:
- Receive guidance toward achieving academic and career goals.
- Ask questions about the content of MCB courses.
- Ask questions about biological research and about the field of biology in general.
- Ask for recommendations on which graduate schools to attend.
- Review and approve major declaration plan after speaking with a UAO staff adviser.
For a list of advisors and their office hours, please see the department's website. Office hours listed are designated for drop-in advising unless otherwise noted. Faculty adviser office hours are effective from the first day of instruction until the final day of instruction for the fall and spring semesters. Faculty advisers are not available for office hours during winter or summer break. Students may refer to staff drop-in advising hours during summer sessions and non-instructional periods.
Peer Adviser Walk-in Services (PAWS)
Peer advisers are junior and senior MCB majors who volunteer their time to complement the UAO advising services by sharing their knowledge of and experience with lower division requirements and upper division classes, experience with student groups on campus, preparation for life beyond the BA, and use of various campus resources. To see the schedule and more information about who the peer advisers are and which courses they have taken, click here.
Academic Opportunities
Undergraduate Research
Under the guidance of a faculty member and/or research mentor, undergraduates in the MCB major may have the opportunity to work in a laboratory to gain valuable experience in scientific research. Interested students must take the initiative to make such arrangements. Over forty percent of MCB majors work in a lab to gain valuable experience in scientific research. To get started, students should talk with classmates, peer advisers, a staff undergraduate adviser, graduate student instructors (GSIs), and faculty about their interest in learning more about laboratory research. For more information on research, see How to Find a Lab Position.
Benefits of research:
- Science is a way to figure things out, so doing research will aid students in other aspects of their life. Students will ask and answer open ended questions and link seemingly disconnected pieces of information to find results that were not predicted.
- Explore things at the cutting edge and that no one has explored before.
- Learn tenacity, problem solving, and to be critical about the details because things have to be reproducible.
- Solve mysteries and experience the excitement of discovery.
Students may receive academic credit for their work by enrolling in an independent study course: MCELLBI 99/MCELLBI 199 or MCELLBI H196A/MCELLBI H196B. Enrollment applications are due in the Undergraduate Advising Office by the fifth week of each semester.
Honors Program
The MCB honors program offers exceptional senior students recognition for outstanding academic achievement and excellence in research. To graduate with honors in the major, students must satisfy the following:
- Complete at least two credited semesters of research including four to eight units of MCELLBI H196A and/or MCELLBI H196B (Honors Research).
- Have a cumulative Berkeley grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 in all work completed at UC Berkeley.
- Have at least a 3.5 GPA in the MCB major requirements or 3.5 GPA in MCB upper division courses.
- Present their research in an approved forum, such as an MCB symposium, the Undergraduate Poster Session, or other scientific meeting.
- Write an honors thesis approved by an MCB faculty sponsor.
Additional information on the honors program is available in the Undergraduate Affairs Office and on the MCB website.
Other Research Opportunities
For additional resources for information regarding research opportunities, please see the links below:
Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP)
Scholarship Connection
Summer Research Opportunities
Office of Research
Funding for Student Research
There are a variety of ways to support your research. The department recommends attending a workshop at the Office of Undergraduate Research or looking for funding opportunities on their website or the Scholarship Connection website.
Faculty and Instructors
+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Faculty
Hillel Adesnik, Associate Professor. Neural basis of perception, neuroscience, neurobiology .
Research Profile
Georjana Barnes, Professor. Biochemistry, genetics, cancer, biology, microtubule cytoskeleton, cell cycle controls, cellular imaging.
Research Profile
Gregory M. Barton, Professor. Immunology, cell biology, infectious disease, innate immunity.
Research Profile
Helen Bateup, Assistant Professor. Molecular and cellular neuroscience, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism, epilepsy.
Research Profile
Diana Bautista, Associate Professor. Ion channels, sensory physiology, chemosensation, touch, thermosensation, somatosensory system.
Research Profile
Eric Betzig, Professor. Imaging microscopy, biophysics.
Research Profile
David Bilder, Professor. Genetics, cancer, Drosophila, cell biology, cell polarity, tumor suppressor, epithelial architecture, polarity, and proliferation control.
Research Profile
Michael R. Botchan, Professor. Eukaryotic gene expression, drosophila chromosomes, papilloma viral DNA, chromosomal dynamics.
Research Profile
Gloria Brar, Assistant Professor. Meiosis, translation, sORFs, stress responses.
Research Profile
Steve Brohawn, Assistant Professor. Neurobiology.
Research Profile
Carlos J. Bustamante, Professor. Nanoscience, structural characterization of nucleo-protein assemblies, single molecule fluorescence microscopy, DNA-binding molecular motors, the scanning force microscope, prokaryotes.
Research Profile
Jamie Cate, Professor. Molecular basis for protein synthesis by the ribosome, RNA, antibiotics, a thermophilic bacterium, escherichia coli.
Research Profile
Christopher J. Chang, Professor. Chemistry, inorganic chemistry, neuroscience, bioinorganic chemistry, general physiology, organic chemistry, new chemical tools for biological imaging and proteomics, new metal complexes for energy catalysis and green chemistry, chemical biology.
Research Profile
Michelle Chang, Associate Professor. Biochemistry, enzymology, synthetic biology, biophysics .
Research Profile
Kathleen Collins, Professor. RNA, telomerase, Telomere function, Telomere replication.
Research Profile
Jacob E. Corn, Assistant Adjunct Professor.
Laurent Coscoy, Associate Professor. Immunology, viruses, viral infection, immune responses, immune evasion.
Research Profile
Jeffery S. Cox, Professor. TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M tuberculosis, genetics, proteomics, transcriptional profiling, host-pathogen interactions, host-directed therapy.
Research Profile
Yang Dan, Professor. Neuronal circuits, mammalian visual system, electrophysiological, psychophysical and computational techniques, visual cortical circuits, visual neurons.
Research Profile
Xavier Darzacq, Associate Professor. Transcription regulation during cellular differentiation Linking the biophysical rules of nuclear organization and gene expression control mechanism .
Research Profile
Karen Davies, Assistant Adjunct Professor.
Research Profile
Abby Dernburg, Professor. Genomics, chromosome remodeling and reorganization during meiosis, Down syndrome, DNA.
Research Profile
Andrew Dillin, Professor. Endocrinology, genetics of aging.
Research Profile
Jennifer A. Doudna, Professor. RNA machines, hepatitis C virus, RNA interference, ribosomes.
Research Profile
David G. Drubin, Professor. Cellular morphogenesis, plasma membrane dynamics, microtubule cytoskeletons, cytoskeletal proteins, morphological development.
Research Profile
Peter H. Duesberg, Professor. Genetic structure of retroviruses, carcinogenesis, aneuploidy, virology, HIV-AIDS.
Research Profile
Michael DuPage, Assistant Professor. Immunology, cancer, tumor immunity, immune responses, chronic inflammation and cancer, tumor biology, epigenetics.
Research Profile
Michael B. Eisen, Professor. Genomics, genome sequencing, bioinformatics, animal development.
Research Profile
+ Dan Feldman, Associate Professor. Neurobiology, learning, neurophysiology, sensory biology.
Research Profile
Marla B. Feller, Professor. Neurophysiology, developmental neuroscience.
Research Profile
+ Gary L. Firestone, Professor. Cancer, steroid hormones, molecular endocrinology, tumor biology, growth factors, dietary compounds, tumor cells, glucocorticoids.
Research Profile
John Gerard Flannery, Professor. Neurobiology, optometry, vision science, cell and molecular biology of the retina in normal and diseased states.
Research Profile
Hernan G. Garcia, Assistant Professor. Biophysics.
Research Profile
Gian Garriga, Professor. Developmental neurobiology, molecular genetics, development of nervous systems, cell division, cell migration, axonal pathfinding, caenorhabditis elegans.
Research Profile
Britt Glaunsinger, Associate Professor. Virology, gene expression, herpesvirus.
Research Profile
Ming Chen Hammond, Assistant Professor. Molecular biology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, synthetic biology, chemical biology.
Research Profile
Iswar Krishna Hariharan, Professor. Growth regulation, regeneration, cancer.
Research Profile
Richard M. Harland, Professor. Molecular biology, early vertebrate development, Xenopus, embryo development.
Research Profile
Lin He, Associate Professor. Comparative genomics, developmental biology, cell biology.
Research Profile
Rebecca Heald, Professor. Cell division, Xenopus, mitotic spindle assembly and function, size control of intracellular structures.
Research Profile
Dirk Hockemeyer, Assistant Professor. Developmental biology, cell biology.
Research Profile
James Hurley, Professor. Structural Biology, reconstitution, membrane biology, autophagy, HIV, x-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy.
Research Profile
Nicholas Ingolia, Assistant Professor. Ribosome Profiling, translation, genomics.
Research Profile
Ehud Y. Isacoff, Professor. Ion channel function, synaptic plasticity, neural excitability, synaptic transmission, the synapse.
Research Profile
Na Ji, Associate Professor. Neuroscience, microscopy techniques, in vivo imaging, biophotonics, biophysics, adaptive optics, optics.
Research Profile
Gary H. Karpen, Adjunct Professor. Gene expression, cell biology, chromosome structure and function, drosophila melanogaster, centromere identity and function.
Research Profile
Nicole King, Professor. Genetics, developmental biology, biology, choanoflagellates, multicellularity, evolution of animals, comparative genomics, eukaryotes, host-microbe interactions, bacterial signals.
Research Profile
Douglas E. Koshland, Professor. Higher order chromosome structure, genome integrity, sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, desiccation tolerance, microbial genetics.
Research Profile
Richard H. Kramer, Professor. Cells, synaptic transmission, chemical signaling between neurons, ion channels, electrical signals, chemical reagents, synapses.
Research Profile
John Kuriyan, Professor. Structural and functional studies of signal transduction, DNA replication, cancer therapies, phosphorylation.
Research Profile
Stephan Lammel, Assistant Professor. Neuroscience, Optogenetics, dopamine, addiction, depression.
Research Profile
Polina Lishko, Assistant Professor. Reproductive and Developmental Biology, ion channels, Physiology of Fertilization and Early Embryo Development.
Research Profile
Ellen Lumpkin, Professor.
Kunxin Luo, Professor. Signal transduction pathways, mechanisms controlling the receptor kinases, regulation of mammary epithelial cell differentiation, breast carcinogenesis.
Research Profile
Michael A. Marletta, Professor. Chemical biology, molecular biology, structure/function relationships in proteins, catalytic and biological properties of enzymes, cellular signaling, nitric oxide synthase, soluble guanylate cyclase, gas sensing, cellulose degradation, polysaccharide monooxygenases.
Research Profile
Susan Marqusee, Professor. Amino acids, determinants of protein structure and folding, biophysical, structural and computational techniques, translocation, protein synthesis.
Research Profile
Andreas Martin, Associate Professor. Proteasome.
Research Profile
Sabeeha Merchant, Professor.
Research Profile
Barbara J. Meyer, Professor. Developmental biology, gene expression, genetic determination of sex, regulatory genes, chromosome dynamics, X-chromosome.
Research Profile
Craig Miller, Associate Professor. Genetics, developmental biology, evolutionary biology, evolution, quantitative genetics, developmental genetics, evolutionary genetics, craniofacial development.
Research Profile
Evan W. Miller, Assistant Professor. Biochemistry, biophysics, Structural Biology .
Research Profile
Priya Moorjani, Assistant Professor. Human evolutionary genetics.
Research Profile
John Ngai, Professor. Nervous system, molecular and cellular mechanisms of olfaction, detection of odors, odorant receptors, olfactory neurons, DNA microarray technologies, genome-wide patterns of gene expression.
Research Profile
Eva Nogales, Professor. Biochemistry, complex biological assemblies, structure and regulation of the cytoskeleton, microtubule dynamics, human transcriptional initiation machinery, biophysics.
Research Profile
Daniel Normura, Associate Professor. Chemistry, molecular and cell biology, nutritional sciences and toxicology, metabolism, chemical biology, cancer, drug discovery, chemoproteomics, metabolomics.
Research Profile
Eunyong Park, Assistant Professor. Protein function, Structural Biology, biochemistry, membrane proteins.
Research Profile
Nipam Patel, Professor. Genetics, evolution, crustaceans, insects, arthropods, homeotic (Hox) genes, segmentation, embryonic pattern formation, neural patterning.
Research Profile
Daniel A. Portnoy, Professor. Mammalian cells, molecular and cellular basis of microbial pathogenesis, defense against infection, listeria monocytogenes, cell biology of infection, mechanisms of secretion.
Research Profile
Michael Rape, Professor. Cancer, protein degradation, siRNA, Berkeley Screening Center.
Research Profile
David H. Raulet, Professor. Biology, pathogens, viruses, T-cell development and function, natural killer (NK) cells, lymphocyte receptors, microorganisms, cancer cells, tumor immunity.
Research Profile
+ Jasper D. Rine, Professor. Biology, cell biology, DNA replication, gene regulation, saccharomyces cerevisiae, genetic analysis, genome, cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, modification of proteins, prenylated proteins.
Research Profile
Donald C. Rio, Professor. Molecular genetics, drosophila melanogaster, transposable elements, RNA splicing, nucleic acid rearrangement reactions, P elements and their cellular host, HIV, proteomic diversification, nucleoprotein complexes.
Research Profile
Ellen Robey, Professor. Fate determination in the T-lymphocyte lineage, T cell development in the mouse, thymic development, cellular maturation, parasitic infection, chronic infection, host-pathogen interactions, Toxoplasma gondii.
Research Profile
Henk Roelink, Associate Professor. Stem cells, neural development, embryonic induction.
Research Profile
Daniel S. Rokhsar, Professor. Biology, collective phenomena and ordering in condensed matter and biological systems, theoretical modeling, computational modeling, behavior of quantum fluids, cold atomic gases, high temperature superconductors, Fermi and Bose systems.
Research Profile
Kaoru Saijo, Assistant Professor. Neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disease, neurodegenerative disease, immunology, pathogenesis.
Research Profile
David Savage, Associate Professor. Synthetic biology and metabolism.
Research Profile
David Schaffer, Professor. Neuroscience, biomolecular engineering, bioengineering, stem cell biology, gene therapy.
Research Profile
Randy W. Schekman, Professor. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, organelle assembly, intracellular protein transport, assembly of cellular organelles, Alzheimer's Disease.
Research Profile
Kristin Scott, Professor. Nerve cell connectivity in developing nervous systems, taste perception in the fruit fly, taste neural circuits, sensory maps in the brain.
Research Profile
Bill Sha, Associate Professor. B cell gene regulation, fate determination, gene regulatory pathways, antibody-secreting plasma cells, memory B cells, apoptotic cells, B7 costimulatory ligands.
Research Profile
Sarah Stanley, Assistant Professor. Mechanisms of pathogenesis and immune subversion in tuberculosis, protective immunity to tuberculosis, metabolic interactions between hosts and pathogens, development of novel therapeutics for tuberculosis, scientific capacity building, tuberculosis.
Research Profile
Jeremy W. Thorner, Professor. Biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology, signal transduction mechanisms, protein kinase function and regulation, GPCRs, membrane biology, control of cell growth/morphology and division, regulation of gene expression by extracellular stimuli.
Research Profile
Denis Titov, Assistant Adjunct Professor.
Robert T. Tjian, Professor. Eukaryotic molecular biology, biochemistry, cellular differentiation, chromatin function, RNA synthesis, single cell imaging, single molecule imaging.
Research Profile
Elcin Unal, Assistant Professor. Gametogenesis, genetics, genomics and development.
Research Profile
Russell E. Vance, Professor. Immunology, microbiology, infectious disease, molecular and cell biology.
Research Profile
David A. Weisblat, Professor. Annelid developmental biology, leech embryo, evolution and development, cell fate determination, lineage tracingt.
Research Profile
Matthew D. Welch, Professor. Biology, cell motility, the role of the actin cytoskeleton in cell locomotion, shape change, actin filament assembly, bacterial and viral pathogens.
Research Profile
Astar Winoto, Professor. Cancer, genomics, apoptosis, innate immunity and infectious diseases, cell cycle, signal transduction, immune tolerance.
Research Profile
Ahmet Yildiz, Assistant Professor. Single molecule biophysics, molecular motors, telomeres.
Research Profile
Qiang Zhou, Professor. Biochemistry of HIV gene expression, transcriptional elongation, Tat activation, stage of transcriptional elongation, HIV replication, anti-HIV therapy.
Research Profile
Roberto Zoncu, Assistant Professor. Biochemistry, biophysics, Structural Biology.
Research Profile
Lecturers
Robin W. Ball, Lecturer.
P. Robert Beatty, Lecturer.
Natalia Caporale, Lecturer.
Isabelle Le Blanc, Lecturer.
Helen Lew, Lecturer.
David E. Presti, Senior Lecturer SOE.
Steve Takata, Lecturer.
Gary Joseph Wedemayer, Lecturer.
Visiting Faculty
Tamira M. Elul, Visiting Associate Professor.
Emeritus Faculty
Mark Alper, Professor Emeritus.
Bruce N. Ames, Professor Emeritus. Molecular biology, cancer, aging, mitochondrial decay, oxidants and antioxidants, micronutrient deficiencies and DNA damage, chronic inflammation and cancer.
Research Profile
Giovanna F.-L. Ames, Professor Emeritus.
Clinton E. Ballou, Professor Emeritus.
Steven K. Beckendorf, Professor Emeritus. Genetics, biology, organogenesis, Drosophila, salivary morphogenesis.
Research Profile
David R. Bentley, Professor Emeritus.
Phyllis B. Blair, Professor Emeritus.
Beth Burnside, Professor Emeritus. Cell biology of photoreceptors, cytoskeletal motors, morphogenetic events, photomembrane turnover.
Research Profile
Richard Calendar, Professor Emeritus. Listeria monocytogenes, phage-based integration vector, Bacillus anthracis, vaccine.
Research Profile
W. Zacheus Cande, Professor Emeritus. Genetics, cell biology, microbial biology, plant biology.
Research Profile
M. J. Chamberlin, Professor Emeritus.
Alvin J. Clark, Professor Emeritus.
Thomas W. Cline, Professor Emeritus. Drosophila melanogaster, developmental genetics, sex determination.
Research Profile
R. David Cole, Professor Emeritus.
John Gerhart, Professor Emeritus. Developmental biology, Xenopus laevis, Spemann's organizer, cortical rotation, cell cycle after fertilization, vegetal materials, blastula stage, egg cytoplasm.
Research Profile
Robert M. Glaeser, Professor Emeritus.
Alexander N. Glazer, Professor Emeritus. Photosynthetic systems, phycobiliproteins, design of fluorescent probes, protein structure-function relationships, macromolecular complexes, environmental sciences, natural resource management.
Research Profile
Stuart M. Linn, Professor Emeritus. Biology, enzymology of DNA metabolism, DNA repair and replication in mammalian cells, mechanisms of DNA damage by reactive oxygen species, structure of iron: DNA complexes, DNA damage and repair, DNA polymerases.
Research Profile
Robert I. Macey, Professor Emeritus.
Terry Machen, Professor Emeritus. Physiology pathophysiology secretory epithelial cells, airway, ion transport, cell regulationm, imaging microscopy, calcium pH redox, electrophysiology, green fluorescent protein, genetic targeting, innate immune defense.
Research Profile
G. Steven Martin, Professor Emeritus. Cell biology, signal transduction pathways, tumor virology, cell division cycle, viral and cellular oncoproteins, breast cancer.
Research Profile
Howard C. Mel, Professor Emeritus.
Hsiao-Ping H. Moore, Professor Emeritus.
Satyabrata Nandi, Professor Emeritus.
Alexander V. Nichols, Professor Emeritus.
Hiroshi Nikaido, Professor Emeritus. Membrane biochemistry, bacterial physiology, bacteria, channel-forming proteins of the outer membrane, the diffusion of lipophilic compounds, mechanism and regulation of multidrug efflux transport systems, mycobacterial cell wall.
Research Profile
W. Geoffrey Owen, Professor Emeritus. Biology, nervous system, membrane biophysics, retinal neurophysiology.
Research Profile
Edward E. Penhoet, Professor Emeritus. Public health, health policy and management.
Research Profile
Mu-Ming Poo, Professor Emeritus. Neurobiology, cellular and molecular mechanisms, axon guidance, synapse formation, activity-dependent refinement of neural circuits.
Research Profile
Gerald M. Rubin, Professor Emeritus. Molecular genetics, molecular neurobiology, mapping and sequencing of the drosophila genome, genome organization and function, development and evolution.
Research Profile
Harry Rubin, Professor Emeritus. Tumor biology, cell biology, regulation of neoplastic development, epithelial cells, oncogenic mutations, tumor development, RNA and DNA tumor viruses.
Research Profile
Howard K. Schachman, Professor Emeritus. Physical biochemistry, biological macromolecules, aspartate transcarbamylase, revisiting allostery, holoenzyme, mutations, polypeptide chains, helical regions.
Research Profile
+ Nilabh Shastri, Professor Emeritus. Cancer cells, mechanims of immunesurveillance, microbial pathogens, antigen genes, autoimmunity.
Research Profile
Herbert H. Srebnik, Professor Emeritus.
Frank S. Werblin, Professor Emeritus. Retina, biological image processing, visual neuroscience.
Research Profile
Gerald Westheimer, Professor Emeritus. Neurobiology, psychophysics, primate visual cortex, neural circuits, brain mechanisms, response modifications, active perception, learning, stereoscopic vision, optometryoptics of the eye, ophthalmic instrumentation.
Research Profile
Fred H. Wilt, Professor Emeritus. Molecular embryology, cell biology, the regulation of gene expression, of sea urchin embryos, blastomeres, endoskeletal spicule of the larva, glycoproteins, immunoelectron microscopy, fluorescent labeling.
Research Profile
Leon Wofsy, Professor Emeritus.
Robert S. Zucker, Professor Emeritus. Synaptic transmission, cellular neurophysiology, synaptic biophysics, properties of neural circuits, photolysis, vital dyes of vesicle membrane, electrophysiological techniques, neuromodulator.
Research Profile
Contact Information
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
3060 Valley Life Sciences Bldg
Phone: 510-642-2651
Undergraduate Advising
Undergraduate Affairs Office
3060 Valley Life Sciences Building
Phone: 510-643-8895