T-shirt logo, American Society for Cell Biology Cells comprise the fundamental building blocks of life. All organisms are either single cells or arrangements of cells that function together. By studying molecules involved in cell function, their organization, and interactions between cells, the field of CMMB falls between biochemistry and physiology. The CMMB program has two paths, representing two of the major cell types in biology.
Students can focus on the important roles of microbes, ranging from nutrient cycling to disease.
Complementing this understanding is a detailed study of bacterial cell function, which forms the basis of recombinant DNA technology. Graduates will be able to use their skills in experimental, diagnostic or industrial settings. Alternatively, the organization of the animal cell will be examined in relation to how the cell functions. Regulation of gene expression, which is critical in such processes as animal development and cancer, is explored in detail. Graduates who specialize in molecular cell biology will have attained an extensive understanding of the way animal cells work.