X. Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG)

Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Biological Science

The B.Sc. program with a Major in Molecular Biology and Genetics is a broadly based program in genetics including related areas of cell and molecular biology. In consultation with the Faculty Advisor, students can choose a general program or can focus their courses in areas such as molecular biology, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, or agricultural genetics. The program qualifies students for postgraduate training in cell or molecular biology and genetics including clinical genetics and genetic counselling, and provides an excellent background for careers in biotechnology, toxicology, agriculture and medical research. Students may enter this major in Semester 1 or any semester thereafter. A student wishing to declare the major must consult the Faculty Advisor.

Major (Honours Program)

A total of 20.00 credits is required to complete the major.

Semester 1
BIOL*1030 [0.50] Biology I
CHEM*1040 [0.50] General Chemistry I
MATH*1080 [0.50] Elements of Calculus I
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Introductory Physics for Life Sciences
0.50 Arts or Social Science electives
Students who are admitted deficient in one OAC/4U course in Biology, Chemistry or Physics must take the equivalent introductory course in first semester. The first-year science core in that subject should be completed by Semester 3.
Semester 2
BIOL*1040 [0.50] Biology II
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
PHYS*1080 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences
One of:
CIS*1200 [0.50] Introduction to Computing
CIS*1500 [0.50] Introduction to Programming
0.50 Arts or Social Science electives
Semester 3
BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introductory Biochemistry
MBG*2000 [0.50] Introductory Genetics
MCB*2210 [0.50] Introductory Cell Biology
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 4
MBG*2020 [0.50] Introductory Molecular Biology
MICR*2030 [0.50] Microbial Growth
STAT*2050 [0.50] Statistics II
1.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 5
MBG*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology I
1.75 electives or restricted electives
Semester 6

2.50 electives or restricted electives

Semester 7*
MCB*4500 [1.00] Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology I
1.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 8*
MCB*4510 [1.00] Research Project in Molecular & Cellular Biology 2
1.50 electives or restricted electives

*instead of the 2 semester sequence of MCB*4500 / MCB*4510 students may choose to take MCB*4600 and 1.50 subject area electives

Note: Students are reminded that AT LEAST 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level in order to complete the major.

Arts and Social Science Electives - 2.00 credits

Restricted Electives
  1. Ecology Elective - 0.50 credits

    BIOL*2060 [0.50] Ecology
    BIOL*3110 [0.50] Population Ecology
    BOT*3050 [0.50] Plant Functional Ecology
    MICR*4280 [0.50] Microbial Ecology
  2. Arts and Social Science Electives - 2.00 credits

  3. Physiology Elective - 0.50 credits

    BIOM*3100 [0.50] Mammalian Physiology I
    BOT*3310 [0.50] Plant Growth and Development
    HK*3940 [1.25] Human Physiology
    ZOO*3200 [0.50] Comparative Animal Physiology I
  4. Subject Area Electives - 3.00 credits (4.50 if MCB*4600 is taken instead of MCB*4500 and MCB*4510)

    BIOC*3560 [0.50] Structure and Function in Biochemistry
    BIOL*3020 [0.50] Population Genetics
    BIOL*3300 [0.50] Applied Bioinformatics
    MBG*3050 [0.50] Human Genetics
    MBG*3060 [0.50] Quantitative Genetics
    MBG*3080 [0.50] Bacterial Genetics
    MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    MBG*3360 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology II
    MBG*3600 [0.25] Introduction to Genomics
    MBG*4030 [0.50] Animal Breeding Methods
    MBG*4080 [0.50] Molecular Genetics
    MBG*4110 [0.50] Advanced Concepts in Genetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    MBG*4240 [0.50] Applied Molecular Genetics
    MBG*4270 [0.50] DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair
    MBG*4300 [0.50] Plant Molecular Genetics
    MCB*4010 [0.50] Advanced Cell Biology
    MCB*4050 [0.50] Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
    MICR*3330 [0.50] World of Viruses
    MICR*4330 [0.50] Molecular Virology
    One of:

    MBG*4040 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
    MBG*4070 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development

Minor (Honours Program)

A minor in Molecular Biology and Genetics requires 5.00 credits in Molecular Biology and Genetics chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor, and will include:

MBG*2000 [0.50] Introductory Genetics
MBG*2020 [0.50] Introductory Molecular Biology
4.00 credits from:
BIOC*3560 [0.50] Structure and Function in Biochemistry
BIOL*3020 [0.50] Population Genetics
BIOL*3300 [0.50] Applied Bioinformatics
MBG*3050 [0.50] Human Genetics
MBG*3060 [0.50] Quantitative Genetics
MBG*3080 [0.50] Bacterial Genetics
MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
MBG*3600 [0.25] Introduction to Genomics
MBG*4030 [0.50] Animal Breeding Methods
MBG*4080 [0.50] Molecular Genetics
MBG*4110 [0.50] Advanced Concepts in Genetics
MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
MBG*4240 [0.50] Applied Molecular Genetics
MBG*4270 [0.50] DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair
MBG*4300 [0.50] Plant Molecular Genetics
MCB*4010 [0.50] Advanced Cell Biology
MCB*4050 [0.50] Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
MICR*3330 [0.50] World of Viruses
MICR*4330 [0.50] Molecular Virology
One of:
MBG*4040 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
MBG*4070 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1

Canada
519-824-4120