The Little Stuff: Energy, Cells, and Genetics

In this course, we will explore the smaller side of biology: molecular biology. We’ll cover basic topics including cell biology and how cells can go “rogue” and turn into cancer, how energy from the sun is transferred to fuel our bodies, basics of genetics and inheritance, and genetic technologies. At the end of this course, we will discuss ethical and moral implications of several exciting and new genetic technologies.

• Explain how the body controls cells and how loss of control causes cancer
• Describe energy transfer in the biosphere and the sun's role in sustaining life
• Explain genetics basics including epigenetics and phenotype relations
• Describe genetic technologies affecting society with pros and cons