Molecules of Life: Molecular Biology for Middle Schoolers

This molecular biology class is intended for learners who are curious about how living systems work. The learner does not need previous foundational knowledge as the course targets learners who have no prior biology expertise.

In this course, students will appreciate the uniqueness and vastness of the three molecules that keep life going  - DNA, RNA and Proteins. How are they produced? What do they do? How do they function? Topics like DNA replication, RNA transcription and Protein Translation will be covered. These topics will be covered in a way that the student will appreciate that these processes are occurring in their own bodies and are not just abstract concepts. We will also cover what happens when these processes fail- mutations, and how genome editing may or may not be the answer to that.

This is a learning adventure to appreciate the beauty of life and the elements that make life happen. There will be active learning tools such as pop up quizzes, an intriguing narrative style to engage the learners, lots of images and videos to help students visualize the processes as well as conversations about the applications of concepts in real life. I encourage you to view the syllabus for more details.