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 may wish to 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*1080 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences
0.50 Liberal Education electives

Students lacking Grade 12 or 4U Biology, Chemistry or Physics should follow the revised schedule of study for this major found at https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/revised_SS

Semester 2
BIOL*1070 [0.50] Discovering Biodiversity
BIOL*1080 [0.50] Biological Concepts of Health
CHEM*1050 [0.50] General Chemistry II
PHYS*1070 [0.50] Physics for Life Sciences II
0.50 Liberal Education electives
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 Liberal Education electives
Semester 4
BIOC*3560 [0.50] Structure and Function in Biochemistry
CHEM*2700 [0.50] Organic Chemistry I
MCB*2050 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Cell
MICR*2430 [0.50] Methods in Microbial Culture and Physiology
0.50 Liberal Education electives
Semester 5
MBG*3040 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Gene
MBG*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology
Electives or restricted electives to a maximum of 2.75 total credits in this semester.
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
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

Note: Some courses have prerequisites, so be sure to consult the undergraduate calendar.

  1. A minimum of 2.00 credits of Liberal Education electives is required. The list of Liberal Education electives for B.Sc. students can be found at: https://www.uoguelph.ca/bsc/

  2. Physiology Elective - 0.50 credits

    BIOM*3200 [1.00] Biomedical Physiology
    BOT*3310 [0.50] Plant Growth and Development
    HK*2810 [0.50] Human Physiology I - Concepts and Principles
    ZOO*3600 [0.50] Comparative Animal Physiology I
  3. Subject Area Electives - 2.50 credits (4.00 if MCB*4600 is taken instead of MCB*4500 and MCB*4510)

    BIOC*4050 [0.50] Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
    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*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
    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*4110 [0.50] Epigenetics
    MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
    MBG*4240 [0.50] Applied Molecular Genetics in Medicine and Biotechnology
    MBG*4270 [0.50] DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair
    MBG*4300 [0.50] Plant Molecular Genetics
    MCB*3010 [0.50] Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling
    MCB*4010 [0.50] Advanced Cell Biology
    MICR*3240 [0.50] Microbial Physiology and Genetics
    MICR*3280 [0.50] Microbial Cell Biology
    MICR*3330 [0.50] World of Viruses
    MICR*4330 [0.50] Molecular Virology
    STAT*2050 [0.50] Statistics II
Credit Summary (20.00 Total Credits)

4.00 - First year science core

7.25 - Required science courses semesters 3 - 8

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

1.75 - Approved science electives

2.00 - Liberal Education electives (# 1 in restricted elective 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
BIOC*4050 [0.50] Protein and Nucleic Acid Structure
BIOL*3020 [0.50] Population Genetics
BIOL*3300 [0.50] Applied Bioinformatics
MBG*2400 [0.50] Fundamentals of Plant and Animal Genetics
MBG*3040 [0.50] Molecular Biology of the Gene
MBG*3050 [0.50] Human Genetics
MBG*3060 [0.50] Quantitative Genetics
MBG*3100 [0.50] Plant Genetics
MBG*3350 [0.75] Laboratory Methods in Molecular Biology
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*4110 [0.50] Epigenetics
MBG*4160 [0.50] Plant Breeding
MBG*4240 [0.50] Applied Molecular Genetics in Medicine and Biotechnology
MBG*4270 [0.50] DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair
MBG*4300 [0.50] Plant Molecular Genetics
MCB*3010 [0.50] Dynamics of Cell Function and Signaling
MCB*4010 [0.50] Advanced Cell Biology
MICR*3240 [0.50] Microbial Physiology and Genetics
MICR*3280 [0.50] Microbial Cell Biology
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