Welcome to the fascinating world of molecular biology! In this introductory class, we'll explore the basic building blocks that make up living organisms - cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins. Get ready to zoom in deep to see these microscopic molecules up close. We'll start by looking at cells under a microscope. What do they look like? How do they function? Then we'll dive into the structure of DNA and how it acts like an instruction manual, containing all the information needed to build an organism. We'll learn how DNA is copied and passed on to new cells during cell division. Next up is RNA, which helps transmit genetic information from DNA and assists in building proteins. Proteins do most of the work in cells and make up much of your hair, skin, muscles and organs. We'll see how mutations in DNA can lead to changes in proteins, affecting how an organism looks and functions. This introductory class will give you an overview of the fundamental concepts of molecular biology. Get ready to explore the nanoscale world that makes life possible! Discover how cells work and what DNA, RNA and proteins do to create the diversity of living things, from bacteria to blue whales. It will be a fascinating journey!

Molecular biology opens up a fascinating world of invisible processes that sustain all life on Earth. In this introductory class, we will explore the basic molecules that compose living organisms – cells, DNA, RNA, and proteins. We will first examine cells, the fundamental units of life. Peer inside them with microscopes to understand their structure and function. Next, we will study DNA, the molecule that operates as an instruction manual containing all the information required to build an organism. We will learn how DNA replicates itself and gets passed to new cells during cell division. From there, we will look at RNA, which translates genetic information from DNA and assists in assembling proteins. Proteins, in turn, carry out most of the work within cells and comprise much of your tissues and organs. We will see how changes in DNA can alter proteins and affect an organism’s traits. This class will provide an overview of key concepts in molecular biology. You will get to explore the microscopic world that makes life possible! See how cells work and how DNA, RNA, and proteins interact in creative ways to produce the amazing diversity of living things – from simple bacteria to complex humans. It will be an illuminating journey!