PREFACE This course involves the study of the molecular structures associated with living things. It combines the related subjects of biophysics, biochemistry, and genetics in order to give a clearer picture of the molecules that interact on a cellular level. The major macromolecules studied in the course include proteins, which make up structural molecules and enzymes, as well as nucleic acids, the underlying biochemical structures seen in ribonucleic acid (or RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (or DNA). The course also looks into the molecules used in the making of biomembranes, such as those that comprise the outer cell membrane and organelles. The molecular basis of the functions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including animal and plant cells, is also covered in this course. Chapter one in the course introduces molecular biology by talking about the basics of biochemistry as it applies to life and living things. All of human life is based on water, which is a polar molecule that acts as a solvent for many biological molecules in living things. The bonds that make up biochemical molecules are also important in the discussion of molecular biology. The types of molecules that make up living organisms is also covered as are the different biochemical reactions that take place inside and outside the cell. In chapter two of the course, the discussion moves from biochemistry to the biology of cells and cell structures. There are two major types of cells: prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells. These are quite different from one another in structure and function, which will be covered in the chapter. Cells inside multicellular organisms must communicate with one another through different mechanisms. Animals that are complex and multicellular (such as are seen in the human body) have different cell types that form tissues. The tissues together form organ systems. The different types of tissues are covered in this chapter. The focus of chapter three is the integration of cells into tissues. This chapter looks specifically into intercellular connections and how some of these connections create cell-
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