Welcome to BIO101: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology

Specific information about this course and its requirements can be found below. For more general information about taking Saylor Academy courses, including information about Community and Academic Codes of Conduct, please read the Student Handbook.

Course Description

Explore fundamental concepts of molecular biology, including the four essential macromolecules for life (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids) and other essential compounds. This course covers the cell membrane and transport, cell division, gene expression, and cellular metabolism.

Course Introduction

This course is intended for students interested in understanding and appreciating common biological topics, studying the smallest foundational units within biology: molecules and cells. Molecular and cellular biology is a dynamic field. There are thousands of opportunities within the medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, educational, and industrial fields for experts in molecular and cellular processes. This course introduces these topics and provides a deeper understanding of how environmental factors affect and are affected by molecular and cellular processes. It will prepare you for diverse career paths and help you make sound everyday decisions that can improve your diet and health.

This course includes the following units:

Unit 1: Introduction to Biology. Unit 2: Basic Chemistry. Unit 3: Biological Molecules. Unit 4: Cells and Cell Membranes. Unit 5: Enzymes, Metabolism, Cellular Respiration. Unit 6: Photosynthesis. Unit 7: Cellular Reproduction: Mitosis. Unit 8: Cellular Reproduction: Meiosis. Unit 9: Mendelian Genetics and Chromosomes. Unit 10: Gene Expression

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

[1] explain and characterize biological concepts and properties common to living organisms; [2] describe how molecular and cellular metabolism affect environmental and biological processes; [3] discuss applying the scientific method to problem-solving and gaining information through testable evidence; [4] describe physical and chemical principles in metabolic processes of biological organisms; [5] describe the structure and function of biological macromolecules and how they contribute to overall health; [6] describe the structure and function of cellular components common to living organisms and outline differences among cell types; [7] explain how living systems store and transform matter and energy, maintaining the laws of thermodynamics; [8] compare anabolic and catabolic biochemical pathways within living organisms and in their environment and their role in sustaining life; [9] differentiate how organisms reproduce cells and the functional differences in types of cell division; [10] apply genetic principles to solve problems in Mendelian and molecular genetics and predict future populations based on genetic traits; [11] explain how biological systems store, copy, transfer, maintain, and express information; [12] identify important scientific contributions using testable scientific research and discovery

Throughout this course, you will also see learning outcomes in each unit. You can use those learning outcomes to help organize your studies and gauge your progress.

Course Materials

The primary learning materials for this course are articles, lectures, and videos.

All course materials are free to access and can be found in each unit of the course. Pay close attention to the notes that accompany these course materials, as they will tell you what to focus on in each resource and will help you understand how the learning materials fit into the course as a whole. You can also see a list of all the learning materials in this course by clicking on Resources in the navigation bar.

Evaluation and Minimum Passing Score

Only the final examination is considered when awarding you a grade for this course. To pass this course, you will need to earn 70% or higher on the final exam. The exam will be password-protected and requires a proctor.

Your score on the exam will be calculated as soon as you complete it. There is a 14 days waiting period between each attempt. You may only attempt the final exam a maximum of 3 times. Be sure to study in between each attempt! If you do not pass the exam after 3 attempts, you will not complete this course.

There is also a practice exam that you may take as many times as you want to help you prepare for the final exam. The course also contains end-of-unit assessments in this course. The end-of-unit assessments are designed to help you study and do not factor into your final course grade. You can take these as many times as you want to until you understand the concepts and material covered. You can see all of these assessments by clicking on Quizzes in the course's navigation bar.

Tips for Success

BIO101: Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology is a self-paced course, meaning you can decide when to start and complete the course. We estimate the "average" student will take 36 hours to complete. We recommend studying at a comfortable pace and scheduling your study time in advance.

Learning new material can be challenging, so here are a few study strategies to help you succeed:

  • Take notes on terms, practices, and theories. This helps you understand each concept in context and provides a refresher for later study.
  • Test yourself on what you remember and how well you understand the concepts. Reflecting on what you've learned improves long-term memory retention.

Technical Requirements

This course is delivered entirely online. You will need access to a computer or web-capable mobile device and consistent internet access to view or download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.

To access the full course, including assessments and the final exam, log into your Saylor Academy account and enroll in the course. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free here. Note that tracking progress and taking assessments require login.

For additional guidance, check out Saylor Academy's FAQ.

Optional Saylor Academy Mobile App

You can access all course features directly from your mobile browser, but if you have limited internet connectivity, the Saylor Academy mobile app provides an option to download course content for offline use. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.

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Fees

This course is entirely free to enroll in and access. All course materials, including textbooks, videos, webpages, and activities, are available at no charge. This course also contains a free final exam and course completion certificate.

Last modified: Thursday, 1 May 2025, 2:25 PM