CSB Programs
The Department of Cell and Systems Biology offers two core programs: Animal Physiology (Major) and Cell & Molecular Biology (Specialist and Major each with the option of Disciplinary Focuses).
We also contribute to multi-Departmental programs (Biology, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, and Genome Biology).
Please Contact Us For Help
If you are enrolled in one of the programs that we administer (Animal Physiology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology or Genome Biology), we strongly recommend that you review your progress in your program(s) regularly on Degree Explorer. If you have any questions or concerns about your CSB program, please contact us and we will be happy to review your program with you.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Programs can be found on our FAQ page. To receive notices regarding any events and opportunities available to undergraduate students, please follow us on our CSB Undergrad Instagram page.
Open Programs

Requirements
- open to all students who have successfully completed at least 4.0 credits in any subject
- no application for entry
- no limit to the number of students that enter the program
Important
Logon to ACORN to enroll in these programs. Enroll in these programs from 1 March to 21 September 2022.
Explore Open Programs
Limited Programs

Requirements
- apply for entry
- limit to the number of students accepted
- see each program for admission requirements
Important
Logon to ACORN to apply for, then enroll in these programs.
- The first round of application for these programs is 1 March to 29 April 2022.
- The second round of application is 9 July to 23 August 2022.
Explore Limited Programs
Disciplinary Focuses

Requirements
- optional
- apply for entry after enrolment in the general Cell & Molecular Biology Major or Specialist
- limited number of students accepted. Each focus organizes restricted numbers of highly motivated students with interest in one of three major areas of cell and molecular biology that match major research topics in our Department.
- requires a minimum grade of 80% in BIO130H1
- if 80% is not earned in 130, you can apply with a minimum grade of 80% in BIO230H1, BIO255H1 or CSB349H1
- a statement of interest is required as part of the application form
- meeting these criteria does not guarantee entry into a focus; it only makes you eligible to apply
Important
- you can only apply to one focus
- follow the application instructions for each focus below
- application deadline: September 8, 2020 (Status in focuses will be announced the week of September 20)
- Once accepted, focus students are required to: 1. complete a subset of related program courses, 2. participate in a learning community for the focus
- Individual Cell and Systems Biology professors will prioritize focus students for independent research projects (CSB497H1/498Y1/499Y1).
Explore Disciplinary Focuses
Congrats to the @tepasslab! Crumbs complex–directed apical membrane dynamics in epithelial cell ingression https://rupress.org/jcb/article/221/7/e202108076/213229/Crumbs-complex-directed-apical-membrane-dynamics#.Yoy6Ji51PY8.twitter
In @Dev_Bio_Journal, past president @Planaria1 writes: “Simply put, we have but barely scratched the surface of development: we do not know what is already possible. The sheer number of species out there waiting to show us what is indeed biologically possible is staggering.” https://twitter.com/Planaria1/status/1528071356545392641

A few thoughts about the exciting future of Developmental Biology
And accompanied by a couple of figures designed by the talented @molecularmirror
@Dev_Bio_Journal
@SocDevBio
@ScienceStowers
@HHMINEWS
@theNASciences
@americanacad
@aaas
https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1f60C2mzTZVhS
Great work from Prof Ba! Before this impressive discovery, Alex Nguyen Ba earned his PhD in the @AMosesLab as part of our Genome Biology and Bioinformatics specialization. Check out this link for more on this program: https://gbb.csb.utoronto.ca

New research by @UTMBiology's Alex Nguyen Ba and team shows that different combinations of genetic mutations can have an impact on the evolutionary process—and it could help us understand diseases and lead to more precise medicine.
Read the #UTM story at http://bit.ly/3yFIIA8.