BIOL 300: Cellular and Molecular Biology

Learn about the path of blood flow in the mammalian heart and circulatory system. Discover how oxygen-rich blood from the lungs enters the left atrium and understand why other statements about blood flow are incorrect.

Learn about the role of Erythropoietin (EPO), a natural kidney hormone, in controlling red blood cell production and oxygen transport. Discover how athletes misuse synthetic EPO for performance enhancement, despite the associated health risks.

Explore how viruses replicate and the various ways in which new viruses emerge. Understand the importance of mutation, cross-species transmission, and the significance of wider spread in host species for disease control strategies.

Explore the critical components of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), including nerves and ganglia. Understand the distinction between sensory and autonomic ganglia and the composition of nerves' layers. Learn why nerves and ganglia lack the protective meninges found in the CNS and how they facilitate essential signal transmission within the body.

Discover the role of Okazaki fragments in DNA replication and the importance of DNA Ligase in ensuring their correct joining. Learn how a malfunction in this enzyme might disrupt the formation of continuous DNA strands on the lagging strand.

Discover the significance of protobionts in the evolution of life, acting as a bridge from non-living to living entities. Understand their boundary formations akin to cell membranes and their rudimentary replication methods. Gain insights into the pivotal role they played in life's origin story.