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Quinebaug Valley
Community College
742 Upper Maple Street
Danielson, CT 06239

Quinebaug Valley Community College

Molecular and Cell Biology Studies
at UConn

Students interested in the cellular and molecular basics of life and the application of molecular techniques would find molecular and cell biology an interesting major. Students study physical sciences and need to have a strong base in mathematics. Molecular and cell biology looks at single cell and multi-cellular level processes, studying how biologically derived molecules, such as DNA function and carry out specific tasks in organisms. Some examples of what’s studied by molecular and cell biologists are how cells respond to external stimuli, like hormones, cell motility, secretion, and the uptake of substances. Cancer cells are studied, looking at how they vary from normal cells as well as the role of genes in multi-cellular organisms. An important aspect of research in molecular and cell biology is cell culture techniques. As a molecular and cell biology major one will have a strong basis in life sciences and will develop strong analytical skills. Students take courses in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and genetics as well as in mathematics. Laboratory courses give students hands-on experience for various methods and techniques used in Molecular and Cell Biology.

Useful skills for a molecular and cell biologist include being good at math, some computer skills, and some statistics skills. It is also helpful to have good reading and writing skills as well as having a strong interest in science.

Molecular and cell biologists work in a variety of fields; their duties varying from one to the next, but in all of the fields working in life science is involved. Molecular and cell biologists study molecular aspects of various cellular structures and processes. Molecular and cell biologists can work on finding cures to various diseases by studying genes and how they mutate to cause diseases (such as cancer). Drug companies are always researching new products and molecular and cell biologists are a part of that research. They can work on developing therapeutic drugs to working on stem cell research and in many other areas within the medical development field. A molecular and cell biologist may find themselves working on research that involves cloning, subcloning, synthetic RNA transcription, gene expression, cell growth and development, cell and organelle structure and assembly, and DNA dynamics and chromosome structure, and other types of laboratory work. Recording and analyzing various types of data is an important part of working as a molecular and cell biologist and will often be a part of one's job. Applying research to help solve health problems and to help cure diseases will also be an option for molecular and cell biologists.

Molecular and cell biologists are prepared to enter various fields; biotechnology, toxicology, and biomedical engineering all offer potential employment. Many companies have laboratories as well as government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health. Scientific journalism can also use people with knowledge of molecular and cell biology as well as sales and marketing. Drug companies hire molecular and cell biologists to find new cures and study the effects of new drugs and to work in research labs. Biotechnology companies are another potential employer of molecular and cell biologists. Business consulting firms have interest in biology majors because of strong problem solving skills, and teaching is always an option for an MCB major as well.

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