This comprehensive course, 7.06x Cell Biology, is the final installment in a trio of cell biology courses offered by MITx. It builds on fundamental concepts from earlier courses in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology to explore cell biology at an experimental and applied level. Professors Rebecca Lamason and Sebastian Lourido lead the course, encouraging students to apply foundational knowledge to advanced cell biology topics. The course also emphasizes the dynamic nature of modern biology and its relevance to real-world issues, particularly in medicine.
What You Will Learn
- Application of biochemical and genetic principles in cellular function regulation.
- Critical evaluation of scientific models and experimental results in cell biology.
- Selection of appropriate empirical methods and techniques for different scientific inquiries.
- Design of experiments with suitable controls to explore cell biology questions.
- Comparison of different cell types regarding their properties and functionalities.
- Understanding of cell biology principles that impact human health.
Course Prerequisites
To enroll in this advanced course, students should have prior undergraduate knowledge in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology as covered in 7.00x Introductory Biology and 7.05x Biochemistry.
Course Coverage
- Scientific thinking and experimental design
- Data-driven learning and hypothesis testing
- Integration of daily scientific updates into learning
- Application of the science of learning in course design
Target Audience
This course is ideally suited for students and professionals eager to deepen their understanding of cellular processes, especially those related to human health and disease, as well as anyone interested in the experimental side of cell biology.
Application of Skills
Skills acquired from this course are invaluable in scientific research fields, particularly biomedical research and academic sectors dealing with cellular studies, genetics, and related scopes. It prepares learners for roles in health sciences, research methodologies, or further studies in advanced sciences.
Syllabus Overview
- Cell Adhesion and Polarity
- Morphogenesis, Stem Cells, and Regeneration
- Cell Death and Autophagy
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Cell Biology of Immune Systems
- Cancer and Metastasis