Unit 1

Unit 1 is an up-to-date overview of topics in cellular and molecular biology. The lectures will provide a foundation on which many other subjects in medical school will be based.

The key element in this segment is DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The lectures will investigate DNA structure and function, including transcription and translation into proteins, normal protein function and chromosome structure. This will be followed by discussions on how changes in DNA (mutations) disrupt the normal biological patterns and lead to a variety of disease phenotypes. Patterns of inheritance, principles of genetics, and methods of genetic testing will also be explored. Specific examples of human disease will illustrate these points.

   Unit 2

Unit 2 continues the discussion of biological processes with an greater emphasis on the cellular level. Information regarding cell to cell interactions, intracellular control mechanisms, and cellular organelles will be covered. Disease causing defects in cell regulation, such as cancer, will be investigated..

Units 1 and 2 together lay the basic groundwork that you will need in understanding courses throughout medical school.

   Unit 5

MCP returns with a discussion of the function and control of enzymes. The basic background will allow a discussion of specific biological pathways such as glycolysis, electron transport, oxidative phosphorylation and carbohydrate metabolism. An introduction into immunology is also presented.

     Unit 6

This unit continues the investigation of immunology that was begun in Unit 5. In addition, further elements of metabolism are considered, including protein turnover, purine and pyrimidine metabolism, heme and iron metabolism. An overview of lipids begins in this unit.

   Unit 7

Unit 7 is the shortest unit of the year. MCP revisits genetics with a lecture on prenatal diagnosis and genetic screening. Lipoproteins and atherosclerosis will also be discussed.

This unit features a nice coordination of topics dealing with male and female physiology, microscopic anatomy, and reproductive genetics.

   Unit 9

This unit will continue the examination of metabolism and nutrition. Key areas of discussion include vitamins, minerals, and cofactors. Building on a basic understanding of these topics and the lipids information from Units 6 and 7, clinical examples of obesity, alcoholism, and Alzheimer disease will provide a more detailed understanding of how the individual elements function together as essential elements of human biology.