Cellular functioning, movement, and communication rely on the cytoskeleton, a large internal network of protein filaments embedded in the cytosol and anchored to the cell membrane. In this course, the student will be introduced to the composition and function of the cytoskeleton, mechanisms of molecular transport, modes of cell communication, and second messengers. For optimal comprehension, the student will be required to be familiar with the basic concepts of college-grade biology and chemistry.

Cells, as the fundamental unit of living organisms, also have a life cycle. The cell cycle is a series of phases a cell undergoes to reach division into a new generation of cells and perpetuate its genetic material. Each phase encapsulates different processes required to ensure the daughter cells are well equipped to begin their own cycles after division. In this course, the student will be given a walkthrough of the phases of the cell cycle and all the processes that take place during each one, finishing with a discussion of diploid and haploid cell division. For optimal comprehension, the student will be required to be familiar with the basic concepts of college-grade biology and chemistry.

All organisms require energy to function. By utilizing energy, living organisms oppose the breakdown of their systems brought about by contact with the external environment. Energy is extracted from biomolecules by cells via catabolic pathways and cellular respiration. In this course, the student will be introduced to the cellular processes of energy synthesis in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). For optimal comprehension, the student will be required to be familiar with the basic concepts of college-grade biology, chemistry, and physics, with an emphasis on the laws of thermodynamics.