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*1090 [0.50] Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
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 lacking one 4U /grade 12 course in Biology, Chemistry or Physics must take the equivalent introductory course in first semester. The required first-year science courses in that subject should be completed according to the revised schedule of studies available at: http://www.bsc.uoguelph.ca/revisedss
Semester 2
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080 [0.50] Biological Concepts of Health
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
Semester 3
BIOC*2580 [0.50] Introduction to Biochemistry
MBG*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
MICR*2420 [0.50] Introduction to Microbiology
STAT*2040 [0.50] Statistics I
0.50 electives or restricted electives
Semester 4
MCB*2050 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Cell
MICR*2430 [0.50] Microbiology Methods I
STAT*2050 [0.50] Statistics II
1.00 electives or restricted electives
Semester 5
MBG*2400 [0.50] Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics
MBG*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology I
1.25 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 at the 4000 level.

Restricted Electives
  1. At least 2.00 Arts and/or Social Science electives are required. The list of approved Arts and Social Science electives for B.Sc. students is available at: http://www.bsc.uoguelph.ca/Approved_electives.shtml#arts

  2. Physiology Elective - 0.50 credits

    BIOM*3200 [1.00] Mammalian Physiology
    BOT*3310 [0.50] Plant Growth and Development
    HK*3940 [1.25] Human Physiology
    ZOO*3200 [0.50] Comparative Animal Physiology I
  3. 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*3660 [0.50] Genomics
    MBG*4030 [0.50] Animal Breeding Methods and Applications
    MBG*4040 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
    MBG*4070 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
    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
Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

4.50 - First year science core

6.75 - Required science courses semesters 3 - 8

3.50 - Restricted electives (#2 and 3 in restricted electives list)

1.25 - Approved science electives

2.00 - Arts and/or Social Science electives (#1 in the restricted electives list)

2.00 - Free electives - any approved elective for B.Sc. Students

Of the total credits required, students are required to complete 16.00 credits in science of which a minimum of 2.00 credits must be at the 4000 level and an additional 4.00 credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

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*2040 [0.50] Foundations in Molecular Biology and Genetics
MCB*2050 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Cell
A minimum of 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*2400 [0.50] Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics
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*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology I
MBG*3660 [0.50] Genomics
MBG*4030 [0.50] Animal Breeding Methods and Applications
MBG*4040 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
MBG*4070 [0.50] Genetics and Molecular Biology of Development
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
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road East
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
519-824-4120