Cell Biology, Development & Physiology

Upper Division Requirements, Sample 4-yr Plans, Elective List

The CDP (formerly Cell and Developmental Biology, CDB) emphasis with tracks in Cell & Systems Biology and Medical Biology & Physiology well suited for those interested in basic research, medical and health sciences, and in teaching. Cells are the most basic unit of life. They house DNA, make proteins, produce energy, provide structure, transmit neural information, and sometimes cause disease. The dramatic array of structures and functions that cells perform are enabled by the process of development, which coordinates fundamental and diverse cellular changes and, at the most impressive, produces an entire complex organism like ourselves from one simple starting cell.

Armed with an array of modern methods, including advanced microscopy and powerful genomic approaches, cell and developmental biologists uncover the molecular cues that are responsible for the complex structures within cells, their functions, and the striking changes they undergo during development. The faculty in Cell Biology, Development & Physiology at Berkeley are at the cutting edge of study in a range of important topics including stem cell development, cancer and cellular dysfunction, and understanding of mechanisms that allow cells to divide, move, sense and transmit signals, and regenerate.

Upper Division Requirements

Cell Biology, Development & Physiology
Track 1: Cell & Systems Biology Track 2: Medical Biology & Physiology
MCB 102: Survey of Biochem & Molecular Biology
(Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un)
MCB 102: Survey of Biochem and Molecular Biology
(Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un)
MCB 104: Genetics, Genomics & Cell Biology (Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un) OR MCB 140: General Genetics (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
MCB 104: Genetics, Genomics & Cell Biology
(Fa, Sp, Su; 4 un)
MCB C130: Cell Bio: From Discovery to Disease (Sp; 4 un) MCB 136: Physiology (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
MCB 133L: Cell Biology & Physiology Lab (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
OR MCB 170L: Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory (Su only; 4 un)
MCB 133L: Cell Biology & Physiology Lab (Fa, Sp; 4 un)
OR MCB 170L: Molecular & Cell Biology Laboratory (Su only; 4 un)
CDP Elective A (see list below) CDP Elective B (see list below)
CDP Elective A (see list below) CDP Elective B (see list below)

Sample 4-yr Plans

These are just examples, for more sample schedules including spring start and transfer see guide.berkeley.edu or meet with an advisor to explore your options. It is recommended by MCB advisors and faculty to take the upper division lab as early as you can if you are interested in research and/or honors research. 

Track 1: Cell & Systems Biology   Track 2: Medical Biology and Physiology
Year 1   Year 1
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
Math 10A 4 Math 10B 4   Math 10A 4 Math 10B 4
Chem 1A/1AL 5 Chem 3A/3AL 6   Chem 1A/1AL 5 Chem 3A/3AL 6
Year 2   Year 2
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
Chem 3B/3BL 6 Biology 1A/1AL 5   Chem 3B/3BL 6 Biology 1A/1AL 5
Biology 1B 4 Physics 8A 4   Biology 1B 4 Physics 8A 4
Year 3   Year 3
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
Physics 8B 4 MCB 104 or 140 4   Physics 8B 4 MCB 104 4
MCB 102 4 MCB C130 4   MCB 102 4 Elective B 3-4
Year 4   Year 4
Fall Un Spring Un   Fall Un Spring Un
MCB 133L 4 Elective A 3-4   Elective B 3-4 MCB 133L 4
Elective A 3-4       MCB 136 4    

 

Approved Electives Lists

CDP Elective List A

CDP Elective LIst B

Molecular and Cell Biology

  • C103 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Sp, 3 units) 
  • C112 General Microbiology (F, Su; 4 units)
  • C114 Introduction to Comparative Virology (Sp, 4 units)
  • C116 Microbial Diversity (F, 3 units)
  • C117 Advanced Plant Biochemistry (Sp, 4 units)
  • 120 Therapeutics Discovery and Development (Fa, 4 units)
  • 132 Biology of Human Cancer (F, 4 units)
  • C134 Chromosome Biology / Cytogenetics (Sp, 3 units)
  • 135A Molecular Endocrinology (F; 3 units)
  • 136 Physiology (F, Sp; 4 units)
  • 137L Physical Biology of the Cell (Sp, 3 units)
  • 141 Developmental Biology (Sp, 4 units)
  • C144 Evolution (F, 4 units)
  • C148 Microbial Genomics & Genetics (Sp, 4 units)
  • 149 The Human Genome (F, 3 units)
  • 150 Molecular Immunology (F, Sp, 4 units)
  • 153 Molecular Medicine (F, 4 units)
  • 160 Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology; offered as NEU 100A from Fall '24 onward (F, 4 units)
  • 161 Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience; offered as NEU 100B from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 4 units) *MCB 160 is a prerequisite*
  • 165 Neurobiology of Disease; offered as NEU 165 from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 3 units) *MCB 160 is a prerequisite*
  • C175 LSBE Capstone (F, 4 units) (restricted to LSBE students only)

Neuroscience

  • 100A Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (F; 4 units)
  • 100B Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience (Sp; 4 units) *NEU 100A is a prerequisite*
  • 165 Neurobiology of Disease (Sp, 3 units) *NEU 100A is a prerequisite*

 

Molecular and Cell Biology

  • C103 Bacterial Pathogenesis (Sp, 3 units) 
  • C112 General Microbiology (F, Su; 4 units)
  • C114 Introduction to Comparative Virology (Sp, 4 units)
  • C116 Microbial Diversity (F, 3 units)
  • C117 Advanced Plant Biochemistry (Sp, 4 units)
  • 120 Therapeutics Discovery and Development (Fa, 4 units)
  • C130 Cell Biology: From Discovery to Disease (Sp, 4 units)
  • 132 Biology of Human Cancer (F, 4 units)
  • C134 Chromosome Biology / Cytogenetics (Sp, 3 units)
  • 135A Molecular Endocrinology (F; 3 units)
  • 137L Physical Biology of the Cell (Sp, 3 units)
  • 141 Developmental Biology (Sp, 4 units)
  • C144 Evolution (F, 4 units)
  • C148 Microbial Genomics & Genetics (Sp, 4 units)
  • 149 The Human Genome (F, 3 units)
  • 150 Molecular Immunology (F, Sp, 4 units)
  • 153 Molecular Medicine (F, 4 units)
  • 160 Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology; offered as NEU 100A from Fall '24 onward (F, 4 units)
  • 161 Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience; offered as NEU 100B from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 4 units) *MCB 160 is a prerequisite*
  • 165 Neurobiology of Disease; offered as NEU 165 from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 3 units) *MCB 160 is a prerequisite*
  • C175 LSBE Capstone (F, 4 units) (restricted to LSBE students only)

Integrative Biology

  • 103LF Invertebrate Zoology (Sp, 5 units)
  • 104LF Natural History of Vertebrates (Sp, 5 units)
  • 123AL Exercise and Environmental Physiology (F, 5 units)
  • 131 General Human Anatomy (F, Su, 3 units)
  • 137 Human Endocrinology (F, 4 units)
  • 140 Biology of Human Reproduction (Sp, 4 units)
  • C143A Biological Clocks: Physiology & Behavior (Alt F, 3 units)
  • C143B Hormones and Behavior; offered as NEU C126/PSYCH C116 from Spring '25 onward (Sp, 3 units)
  • 148 Comparative Animal Physiology (Alt F, 3 units)

Neuroscience

  • 100A Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (F; 4 units)
  • 100B Circuit, Systems and Behavioral Neuroscience (Sp; 4 units) *NEU 100A is a prerequisite*
  • C126 Hormones and Behavior (Sp, 3 units)
  • 165 Neurobiology of Disease (Sp, 3 units) *NEU 100A is a prerequisite*

Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology

  • 103 Nutrient Function & Metabolism (F, 3 units)
  • 108A Introduction & Application of Food Science (F, 3 units)
  • 110 Toxicology (F, 4 units)
  • 160 Metabolic Bases of Human Health and Diseases (Sp; 4 units)
  • 161A Medical Nutrition Therapy I (F; 4 units)

Plant & Microbial Biology

  • 135 Physiology & Biochemistry of Plants (F; 3 units)
  • 150 Plant Cell Biology (F; 3 units)
  • 160 Plant Molecular Genetics (Sp; 3 units)

Psychology

  • 110 Introduction to Biological Psychology (F, Sp, Su; 3 units)
  • C113 Biological Clocks: Physiology & Behavior (Alt F; 3 units)
  • C116 Hormones & Behavior (Sp; 3 units)

Public Health

  • 142 Intro to Probability & Statistics in Bio & Public Health (F, Sp, Su; 4 units) 
  • 150B Intro to Environmental Health Sciences (F; 3 units)
  • 162A  Public Health Microbiology (F, Su; 4 units)

Statistics

  • C131A Statistical Methods for Data Science (F, Sp; 4 units)

Approved Courses but NOT Regularly Offered

Track 1 and Track 2:

  • MCB 113 Applied Microbiology & Biochemistry
  • MCB 115 Molecular Biology of Animal Virus
  • MCB 137 Computer Simulation in Biology (replaced by MCB 137L)
  • MCB 143 Evolution of Genomes, Cells & Development (F, 3 units)
  • MCB 163 Mammalian Neuroanatomy
  • MCB 167 Physiological & Genetic Basis of Behavior 
  • MCB C145 Genomics
  • MCB C146 Topics in Computational Biology and Genomics
  • MCB 166 Biophysical Neurobiology (F, 3 units)
  • MCB 168 Sensory Neuroscience (F, 4 units)

Track 2 only:

  • IB 117 & 117LF Medical Ethnobotany with Lab (F, Su, 2 & 2 units)* BOTH required to satisfy one elective requirement
  • NSTX 150 Mechanics of Metabolic Regulation
  • Pb Hlth 141 Intro to Biostatistics (Su; 5 units)
  • Pb Hlth 150A Intro to Epidemiology & Human Disease