Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology

Subject abbreviation: GNBT College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

The B.S. in Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology major is designed to prepare UCR undergraduates for careers that involve genetic discovery, interpreting genetic information, and/or using genetic knowledge to create novel solutions to problems facing human health, food production, or the environment. This program emphasizes the development of practical skills for entering the workforce directly after graduation or pursuing postgraduate studies, including training in current laboratory and computational methods for genetic analysis and manipulation, analysis of scientific literature, and critical thinking. After establishing a foundation of basic genetic and biological principles, students may specialize in one of three tracks: Genetics and Genomics, Pre-Genetic Counseling, or Molecular Biotechnology. The Genetics and Genomics track provides broad training in genetic theories and analysis. The Pre-Genetic Counseling track has a reduced lab requirement and focuses on the typical prerequisites for postgraduate genetic counseling programs. It provides preparation for working with human genetic data that may be applicable to healthcare settings. The Molecular Biotechnology track offers more opportunities for organism-specific training in preparation for careers in the biomedical, microbial, or plant biotechnology industries. This track is focused on modifying living systems through genetic manipulation.

Students planning to transfer to UCR with a major in Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 in transferable college courses and “C” or higher grades in a one-year sequence of general chemistry and in courses equivalent to our BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA, and BIOL 005B. We also require that transfer students complete two quarters of college calculus (equivalent to our MATH 007A and 007B or our MATH 009A and MATH 009B) before admission. Exceptions may be granted by the faculty advisor.

Genetics and Genomics, Pre-Genetic Counseling, or Molecular Biotechnology Tracks

Core Requirements

• 1. Lower-division requirements (72-73 units)

Students must complete all required Core Curriculum courses with a grade of C- or better and with a cumulative GPA in the courses of at least 2.0. Grades of D or F in two required courses, either separate courses or repetitions of the same course, are grounds for discontinuation from the major.

• a) BIOL 005A, BIOL 05LA or BIOL 020, BIOL 005B, BIOL 005C

• b) CHEM 001A, CHEM 001B, CHEM 001C,

CHEM 01LA, CHEM 01LB, CHEM 01LC or CHEM 01HA, CHEM 01HB, CHEM 01HC, CHEM 1HLA, CHEM 1HLB, CHEM 1HLC

• c) CHEM 008A, CHEM 008B, CHEM 008C,

CHEM 008LA, CHEM 008LB, CHEM 008LC or CHEM 08HA, CHEM 08HB, CHEM 08HC, CHEM 08HLA, CHEM 08HLB, CHEM 08HLC

• d) MATH 007A or MATH 009A or MATH 09HA, MATH 007B or MATH 009B or

MATH 09HB

• e) PHYS 002A, PHYS 002B, PHYS 002C,

PHYS 02LA, PHYS 02LB, PHYS 02LC or PHYS 02HA, PHYS 02HB, PHYS 02HC, PHYS 02HLA, PHYS 02HLB, PHYS 02HLC or PHYS 040A, PHYS 040B, PHYS 040C or PHYS 040HA, PHYS 040HB, PHYS 040HC

• f) STAT 010

• g) GNBT 010

• 2. Upper-division requirements (24 units)

• a) BCH 100 or BCH 100H or BCH 110A or

BCH 110HA

• b) BIOL 102, BIOL 107A or BCH 110C or BCH 110HC, GNBT 100, GNBT 110, GNBT 114

Genetics and Genomics Track

• 1. Upper-division requirements

(16-20 units)

• a) GNBT 130

• b) One laboratory course: GNBT 120 or

BIOL 118 or MCBL 121L/BIOL 121L or 4 units of GNBT 197/199*

• c) Two or more of the following (8-12

units): BCH 185, BCH 188, BIOL 105, BIOL 107B, BIOL 108, BIOL 115, BIOL 119, BIOL 148/ BPSC 148, BPSC 109/CBNS 109, BPSC 150, BPSC/ENTM 184, CBNS 108, CBNS 150/ ENTX 150, CBNS 165, ENTM 101, ENTM 111, ENTM 112/BIOL 112/BPSC 112, MCBL 121/ BIOL 121, MCBL 139/ENTM 139

Pre-Genetic Counseling Track

• 1. Upper-division requirements

(16-20 units)

• a) GNBT 120 or GNBT 130 or BIOL 107B or

BIOL 119

• b) One of the following: PSYC 178, PBPL 160, PBPL 167/SOC 167, PBPL 127/SOC 127, or PBPL 162

• c) Two or more of the following (8-12

units): BCH 185, BCH 188, BIOL 107B, BIOL 108, BIOL 115, BIOL 118, BPSC 109/CBNS 109, BPSC 148/BIOL 148, CBNS 108, CBNS 121/PSYC 121, CBNS 150/ENTX 150, CBNS 165, CBNS 169, ENTM 111, ENTM 139/ MCBL 139, GNBT 120, GNBT 130, 4 units of GNBT 197/199*, MCBL 121/ BIOL 121, MCBL 123/BIOL 123/PLPA 123, MCBL 124/ BIOL 124, MCBL 129

Molecular Biotechnology Track

• 1. Upper-division requirements

(16-20 units)

• a) One or two laboratory courses (4-8

units): BPSC 104/BIOL 104, BPSC 143/BIOL 143, GNBT 120, 4 units of GNBT 197/199*, MCBL 121L/BIOL 121L, PLPA 120/BIOL 120/MCBL 120 and PLPA 120L/BIOL 120L/MCBL 120L

• b) Two or more of the following (8-16

units): BCH 188, BIOL 107B, BIOL 119, BPSC 109/ CBNS 109, BPSC 135, BPSC 148/BIOL 148, BPSC 149, BPSC 150, BSPC 183, BPSC 184/ ENTX 184, CBNS 108, CBNS 150/ENTX 150, CBNS 165, ENSC 120/NEM 120, ENSC 134/BPSC 134, ENTM 101, ENTM 111, ENTM 125/ENTX 125/PLPA 125, ENTM 126, ENTM 173/BIOL 173, GNBT 130, MCBL 121/BIOL 121, MCBL 123/BIOL 123/PLPA 123, MCBL 126, MCBL 127, MCBL 129, MCBL 133/ENSC 133, MCBL 139/ENTM 139, NEM 159/BIOL 159

*GNBT 197/199 can be replaced by equivalent research-focused courses (e.g., BIOL 197/199, BPSC 197/199, etc.) with undergraduate advisor approval. Research pursued for credit of GNBT 197/199 or equivalent research-focused courses must be taken for letter grades and serve the training goals of the respective GNBT track.

Note: No more than 4 units of GNBT 197 or GNBT 199 may be used to fulfill major requirements. Additional units of GNBT 197 or GNBT 199, or equivalent research-focused courses, may be used toward graduation.