Courses and major requirements

 The BBMB major at Whitman College: 

 The molecular life sciences have  roots in the core disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. Since 1991, the Whitman College curriculum has included a rigorous course of study in the molecular life sciences by offering a combined major in biology and chemistry. With the addition of biophysics to the curriculum in 2002, we crafted BBMB as a new interdisciplinary program.  Introductory courses in biology, chemistry, math, and physics provide the foundation for the major.  The junior and senior year includes the core courses of biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology, along with electives in the area of interest for each student.  The major concludes with a senior seminar that explores the newest developments in this rapidly changing field and provides a forum for students to present their senior research projects to faculty and students. 

Required courses for the BBMB major:

Biology:  111, 205
Chemistry  125, 135, 126, 136, OR  140;  245, 251, 246, 252
Physics 155, 156 OR 165, 166
Mathematics 125, 126, 225 (determined by placement tests) 

BBMB 324, 325, 326, 334, 335, 336, 400, and three credits of 490 or 498

Electives:  at least seven additional credits taken from biology, chemistry or physics courses numbered 200 and above and approved by the BBMB faculty. The P-D-F grade option is not allowed for any BBMB, biology, chemistry, or physics course that can apply to the BBMB major

Comprehensive major exam requirements: In the senior year, all BBMB majors must take a senior comprehensive exam containing both an oral and written component. The written component consists of the GRE exam in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology. A score in the 20th percentile or higher is required to Pass. The oral exam consist of a one-hour comprehensive question exam with two or more participating faculty.

   
Sample 4-yr course schedule

The following is a sample schedule to illustrate how students might complete the BBMB major. 

  Fall yr 1:      

     Spring yr 1:
    
 GenS 145 Encounters
  (4)  GenS 146
  Encounters  (4)
 Chem 125*
  Gen Chem
  (3)  Chem 126*
  Gen Chem
  (3)
 Chem 135*
  Gen Chem Lab
  (1)  Chem 136*
  Gen Chem Lab
  (1)
 Math 125
  Calciulus I   (3)  Math 126   Calculus II
  (3)
       Biol 111%
  Biological Prin
  (4)
           
 Fall yr 2:
     Spring yr 2:     
 Chem 245
 Organic Chem
  (3)  Chem 246
  Organic Chem
  (3)
 Chem 251   Org Chem Lab
  (1)   Chem 252  Org Chem Lab
 (1) 
 Phys 155¶
  Gen Phys
  (4)  Phys 156¶  Gen Physics  (4)
 Bio 205#  Genetics  (3)  
  
  
           
 Fall yr 3:
      Spring yr 3:
    
 Math 225#
  Calculus III
  (4)  BBMB  Biophysics  (3)
Biol/Chem/Phys elective       BBMB  Biophysics Lab
  (1)
       BBMB  Biochemistry  (3)
       BBMB  Biochemistry Lab
  (1)
           
 Fall yr 4:
      Spring yr 4:    
 BBMB 326
  Molecular Biology   (3)  BBMB  Senior Seminar
  (1)
 BBMB 326  Molecular Biology
 (1)  BBMB  Senior Research
  (3)
 Biol/Chem/Phys elective
      Biol/Chem/Phys elective
    
           
           

 
                     

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES: 
*  Chem 140 and 240 can be substituted for Chem 125,135,126,136
%  Biol 111 can be taken Spring yr 1 OR Fall yr 2 (prior to Biol 205)
#   Math 225 and Biol 205 can be taken Fall/Spring of yr 2 or Fall yr 3
¶   Phys 165 & 166 can be substituted for Phys 155,156


Electives may include:

BBMB  
430     Infectious Diseases

                           Fall

BIOL
228      Biostatistics                                      Spring
259      Comparative Vert Anatomy               Spring
278/9   Marine Biology + Lab                       Spring
303/4   Cell Biology + Lab                            Spring
305/6   Cell Physio & Signal + Lab                Fall      (not offered 2012-13)
310      Physiology                                        Fall
319      Developmental Biology  Seminar       Spring (not offered 2012-13)
320      Neurobiology                                    Fall      (not offered 2012-13)
328      Evol & Develop Biol                           Fall
329      Developmental Biology                      Spring (not offered 2012-13)
330      Pathophysiology    
                            Spring               
339      Microbiol & Immunol                         Fall
    
350      Evolutionary Biology                          Spring
402B    ST: Issues in Nutrition                        Spring (not offered 2012-13)
405      Bioethics                                            Spring (not offered 2012-13)
471      ST: Neurobiology                               Fall             

CHEM
320      Instrumental Anal
                              Fall
345/46 Physical Chem I-II                             Fall,Spring
360      Adv Inorganic
                                    Spring
388      Environmental Chem
                         Spring
411      Org Chem of Drug Design                 Spring  (not offered 2012-13)
425      Computational Biochem                    Fall      (not offered 2012-13)
460      Bioinorganic Chem                            Spring

MATH 247     Statistics with Applications     Fall

PHYS
245/55 20th cent Phys + Lab                          Fall
246/56  Waves, Elect, & Quantum +Lab         Spring
318      Computational Physics
                       (not offered 2012-13)
325      Electricity & Magnetism
                      Fall
348      Optics
                                                (not offered 2012-13)
357      Thermal Physics                                 Fall                                    

Rev 8/12

 

BBMB Course Descriptions

324 Biophysics

x, 3 D Juers This course presents the molecular side of the broad field of biophysics, in which physical concepts are applied to biological systems. Topics may include thermodynamics, equilibrium, quantum mechanics, statisti-cal mechanics, classical mechanics and spectroscopy of biological systems such as membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids. Prerequisites: Physics 155or 165, 156 or 166; Biology 111 or consent of instructor.

325 Biochemistry
x, 3 J Russo
The first semester of a yearlong sequence on the biochemistry and molecular biology of the living cell. Topics include an introduction to the techniques used to study biological macromolecules; characterization, structure, and function of proteins; enzyme kinetics, mechanisms, and regulation; composition of biological membranes; bioenergetics; and catabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: Biology 111, Chemistry 246.

326 Molecular Biology
3, x D Vernon
The second semester of a yearlong sequence on the biochemistry and molecular biology of the living cell. Topics include a detailed examination of DNA and RNA, the mechanism of DNA replication, transcription and translation, the control of gene expression in procaryotes and eucaryotes, the molecular biology of vi-ruses, oncogenes/cancer, mobile genetic elements, and genomics. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: Biology 205 and BBMB 325.

334 Biophysics Laboratory
x, 1 D Juers
Laboratory exercises on a range of biophysical topics. Physical characterization of macromolecules using techniques that may include absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic reso-nance, circular dichroism, crystallization and x-ray diffraction. Mathematical modeling and simulation of small molecules, macromolecules, and fluctuations in biological systems. Co-requisite: BBMB 324. Required of BBMB majors. Open to other students only with consent of instructor.

335 Biochemistry Laboratory
x, 1 J Russo
Laboratory exercises in protein biochemistry, which will include biochemical reagent preparation, en-zyme isolation and purification, enzyme and protein assays, and gel electrophoresis. One three- to four-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: Biology 111 and Chemistry 136 or 140; Co-requisite: BBMB 325. Chemis-try 240 is strongly recommended. Required of BBMB majors. Open to other students only with consent of instructor.

336 Molecular Biology Laboratory
1, x D Vernon
Laboratory exercises in nucleic acid biochemistry, with emphasis on molecular cloning and PCR techniques. One three- to four-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BBMB 335; Co-requisite: BBMB 326.

400 BBMB Senior Seminar
x, 1 Staff
The senior seminar serves as the capstone of the major by providing a forum for all seniors to make a full-length oral presentation.  Each student will describe the background, methodologies, and experimental results of the senior research project and respond to questions and critiques of his or her peers.   Required of BBMB seniors. Open to other students with consent of instructors.

430 Current Topics in Biochemistry: Infectious Disease
3, x J Russo
The role of infectious disease in human mortality and morbidity. Discussion topics include: epidemiology and etiology of disease, cellular targets of microbial infection, immune responses, design and mechanisms of action of antibiotic drugs, drug resistance, the development of vaccines for disease prevention, and the ethical dilemmas and social consequences of infectious disease. Case studies may include polio, influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, and HIV. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Distribution area: science or alternative voices.

490 Senior Research
1-3, 1-3 Staff
Each student will collect data and write a thesis on his or her research in accepted scientific style. One or more initial drafts of the thesis will be required before the final version is due in the last week of classes. Each student will also give a short presentation of his/her results in a public forum. Prerequisite: consent of the research adviser.

498 Honors Thesis
3, 3 Staff
Required of senior honors candidates, who will conduct more extensive research than students who take only BBMB 490. Honors students will finish data collection and write a thesis on the research in accepted scientific style. One or more initial drafts of the thesis will be required before the final version is due in the library. Presentation of results in a public forum to the staff and other BBMB majors is required. Credit cannot be earned simultaneously for BBMB 498 and 490. Prerequisites: consent of the research adviser, and admis-sion to honors candidacy.