Course Spotlight: Molecular Structure and Cellular Function

As recently as 2012, credible sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were reporting that there are ten times as many microbial cells in our bodies as human cells, including a high concentration of bacteria. Consider that for a moment, but don’t be too concerned.

By 2016, the NIH and other institutions were significantly revising their figures. Contemporary research divides human and microbial cell counts to approximately 43% and 56%, still in favor of microbes, but the weight difference between the cell types puts us just shy of 100% human.

Cells are a fascinating subject of study, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s online Molecular Structure and Cellular Function (CMB 705: Biochemistry I) course puts them under the microscope, exploring the structure and function of cells and molecules — the building blocks of cells — in detail.

Join us now for a brief preview of this first-semester, 4-credit course in our online Molecular Medicine Graduate Certificate Program.

The Molecular and Cellular Topics You Need to Know

Molecular Structure and Cellular Function is a foundational biochemistry course designed to help you hone your expertise in cellular function, dysfunction, growth, differentiation and organization, and the chemistry, synthesis and function of biomolecules. In addition, you’ll refine problem-solving and analytical skills that will prove beneficial to you in many careers in the life sciences.

This course will reinforce your knowledge of:

Cell components:
Membranes
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Amino acids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Enzymes
Nitrogen metabolism
Tissue function

Key Course Takeaways That Translate to Marketable Skills

Students in our course develop the skills to:

Illustrate biochemical structures of amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids.
Explain the synthesis of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates.
Analyze protein and nucleic acid regulation at epigenetic, transcriptional and post-translational levels.
Identify similarities and differences in cell component structures and their functions.
Name and develop a resolution for an ethical issue in the biomedical/molecular life sciences.
Explore the connection between biology and chemistry in biochemistry.
Examine medical diagnoses and treatments at the cellular and molecular levels.
Present research findings effectively through written and oral communication.

Empowered with this expertise, you can aid in the research and development of new therapies, medications and other treatments, including the targeted treatments that define molecular medicine. The field is making huge strides in cancer research and other critical areas, and the skills you’ll gain in this course and across the Graduate Certificate curriculum will prepare you to make a difference in countless lives through rewarding work in clinical or laboratory settings.

This could lead to such significant contributions as developing personalized treatment plans and cutting-edge gene therapies, participating in life-saving procedures, improving healthcare outcomes through the interpretation of medical data, providing highly accurate diagnostic and preventive care and guiding other aspiring healthcare professionals to success as an educator.

The Building Blocks of a More Rewarding Career

Molecular structure and cellular function are the essential building blocks for the advanced topics you’ll explore in UMMC’s online Molecular Medicine Graduate Certificate Program. View the full list of available courses here.

Choose from 11-22 credits based on your areas of interest and schedule. (Molecular Structure and Cellular Function is required for all Graduate Certificate students.) At the completion of our Program, you’ll be equipped with a mastery of molecular medicine and a credential that will benefit you in a broad range of careers. And that’s just one of many advantages:

Affordable tuition.
Year-round start dates.
Low student-to-teacher ratio.
Tutoring and other personalized assistance.
Flexible course path options.
Ongoing communication with UMMC.
Credential completion in as little as two semesters.

Is our Program right for you? Enroll if you’re seeking:

A comprehensive understanding of targeted medical interventions.
A more compelling health-profession school application (full credit load recommended).
The groundwork for an advanced degree program.
Qualification to teach college-level biological sciences (additional licensure or certification may be required).
Greater career advancement potential.

Get started building a stronger educational foundation and career. Apply today!

Sources:
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/am-i-more-bacteria-than-human
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43674270
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4991899/