Catalog

Introductory Biology

Biology MIT CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 35 lectures

_7.016 Introductory Biology_ provides an introduction to fundamental principles of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics for understanding the functions of living systems. Taught for the first time in Fall 2013, this course covers examples of the use of chemical biology and twenty-first-century molecular genetics in understanding human health and therapeutic intervention. The MIT Biology Department Introductory Biology courses [7.012](/courses/7-012-introduction-to-biology-fall-2004/), [7.013](/courses/7-013-introductory-biology-spring-2013/), [7.014](/courses/7-014-introductory-biology-spring-2005/), 7.015, and [7.016](/courses/7-016-introductory-biology-fall-2018) all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material.

Syllabus

  1. 1 Lecture 1: Welcome; Introduction and Course Organization
  2. 2 Lecture 2: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Interactions; Lipids and Membranes
  3. 3 Lecture 3: Structures of Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins
  4. 4 Lecture 4: Enzymes and Metabolism
  5. 5 Lecture 5: Carbohydrates and Glycoproteins
  6. 6 Lecture 6: Nucleic Acids
  7. 7 Lecture 7: Replication
  8. 8 Lecture 8: Transcription
  9. 9 Lecture 9: Chromatin Remodeling and Splicing
  10. 10 Lecture 10: Translation
  11. 11 Lecture 11:Cells, The Simplest Functional Units
  12. 12 Lecture 12: Genetics 1—Cell Division and Segregating Genetic Material
  13. 13 Lecture 13: Genetics 2—Rules of Inheritance
  14. 14 Lecture 14: Genetics 3—Linkage, Crossing Over
  15. 15 Lecture 15: Genetics 4—The Power of Model Organisms in Biological Discovery
  16. 16 Lecture 16: Recombinant DNA, Cloning, & Editing
  17. 17 Lecture 17: Genomes and DNA Sequencing
  18. 18 Lecture 18: SNPs and Human Genetics
  19. 19 Lecture 19: Cell Trafficking and Protein Localization
  20. 20 Lecture 20: Cell Signaling 1—Overview
  21. 21 Lecture 21: Cell Signaling 2—Examples
  22. 22 Lecture 22: Neurons, Action Potential, and Optogenetics
  23. 23 Lecture 23: Cell Cycle and Checkpoints
  24. 24 Lecture 24: Stem Cells, Apoptosis, and Tissue Homeostasis
  25. 25 Lecture 25: Cancer 1
  26. 26 Lecture 26: Cancer 2
  27. 27 Lecture 27: Visualizing Life—Dyes and Stains
  28. 28 Lecture 28: Visualizing Life—Fluorescent Proteins
  29. 29 Lecture 29: Cell Imaging Techniques
  30. 30 Lecture 30: Immunology 1—Diversity, Specificity, and B Cells
  31. 31 Lecture 31: Immunology 2—Memory, T Cells, and Autoimmunity
  32. 32 Lecture 32: Infectious Disease, Viruses, and Bacteria
  33. 33 Lecture 33: Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance
  34. 34 Lecture 34: Viruses and Anti-viral Resistance
  35. 35 Lecture 35: Reproductive Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cells

Course materials