Course Description
BIO130H1 provides a university level introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology. One of the goals of modern biology is to understand how the basic building blocks of life give rise to biological form and function. This course provides students with a common lexicon to understand the key principles and concepts in molecular and cell biology, with a focus on how the building blocks of life lead to functioning cells.
BIO130H1 is a core course in CSB and EEB undergraduate programs, as well as a requirement in many programs in the basic medical sciences. The laboratories reinforce molecular and cell biological concepts introduced in the lectures. Students will learn current and relevant laboratory techniques used in cell and molecular biology research labs by attending 5 bi-weekly laboratories.
Exclusion
BIO240H1, BIO241H1, BIO250Y1, BIO255Y1, BIOA01H3, BIO152H5
Prerequisite
SBI4U and SCH4U (Grade 12 University Preparation Biology and Chemistry) or permission of the course coordinator. Please e-mail bio130@utoronto.ca for more information.
Ancillary Fees
This course has a Lab fee of $11.
Lab coat and safety glasses are required and the approximate cost is $26.
Students are responsible for purchasing these items.
For more information, please contact:
BIO130 Office
Elly Chen
RW206A
Lecturer(s)
Prof. Melody Neumann (Team Leader) (day)
Prof. Daphne Goring (day)
Prof. Kenneth Yip (evening)
Course and Laboratory Coordinator
Prof. Adriana Caragea
Contact Hours
36L, 15P
Required Text(s)
Essential Cell Biology. 6th Edition. 2023. Alberts B, Hopkin K, Johnson A, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, and Walter P. WW Norton and Company.
Evaluation (Subject to change)
Midterm exam: 30%
Final exam: 35%
Labs: 35%
Additional Information
**Student Schedule Planning Tips**
- Cycle 1 labs (those ending in 01 e.g., P0101) begin the week of January 13th. Cycle 2 labs (those ending in 02 e.g., P0102) begin the week of January 20th. If you are trying to schedule labs in another course to alternate at the same time-slot with BIO130 labs, please compare the start dates for the lab in both courses to ensure that they alternate (so you don’t schedule yourself to be in 2 places at once!).
- Please note that if you have a course conflict with a BIO130H Lab, you need to keep trying to resolve this using ACORN until the evening of Monday, January 6th, 2025. The course office cannot put students into labs before ACORN closes for lab enrolment. The best way to get a lab that fits your schedule is to check ACORN frequently through the fall and into the December break—spots will open up at any time. If you still cannot get a lab that fits your schedule, beginning January 10th, you may come to the BIO130H office, and we will do our best to assist you. Labs do not begin until the week of January 13th, so try not to worry in the meantime—there is ample time to sort out conflicts.
- Many students in BIO130H will need to take Labs on Monday or Tuesday evenings. If you find that you have a term test in another course scheduled out of the regular class activities time and during the BIO130 Lab time slot, please be aware that course will offer alternative sittings for term tests to accommodate your BIO130 Lab. In that situation BIO130H students will be asking the admin office for that course for permission to write the test during these alternative sittings. Please schedule your BIO130H lab in the best way you can, and be assured that conflicts that arise due to term test schedules will be resolved.
- AP and IB students—if you have received a transfer credit for BIO with an exclusion to BIO130H and also have a full first year university chemistry credit, then that means that you can take BIO230H1 this academic year provided that you have CHM135 and CHM13, or equivalent, and do not have to take BIO130H. If in doubt, please check with the BIO230 course office (bio230@utoronto.ca).
Last updated on June 5th, 2024