School of Life Sciences · Life science foundations
Molecular & Cell Biology Essentials
Strong practical and computational work rests on a clear understanding of how cells work. This course rebuilds that foundation efficiently, with an eye on the experiments and data you will meet later.
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Course overview
Molecular & Cell Biology Essentials covers the central dogma in modern detail (replication, transcription, splicing and translation), gene regulation, protein structure and function, cell organisation, signalling and the cell cycle.
Each topic is linked to the methods that study it, from PCR and sequencing to microscopy, so that the course prepares you directly for Vedicgen’s bench and data courses.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Explain replication, transcription, splicing and translation
- Describe how genes are regulated in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
- Relate protein structure to function
- Describe cell organisation, signalling and the cell cycle
- Connect biological questions to the techniques used to answer them
Skills you will practise
Eligibility and prerequisites
Who can apply
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students in any life-science, health-science, agriculture or pharmacy programme
- Graduates preparing for research positions, higher studies or a move into biotechnology
- Professionals from adjacent fields (engineering, computing, chemistry) who need a working command of biology
Prerequisites
- School-level biology and chemistry
Best suited to
- First-year students and those changing field into biology
- Engineers and computer scientists entering bioinformatics
- Graduates refreshing fundamentals before a specialised course
Module-wise syllabus
4 modules. Each pairs instructor-led sessions with a hands-on lab on public data.
Topics
- DNA structure and genomes
- Replication and repair
- Mutation
Topics
- Transcription and splicing
- Translation and the genetic code
- Gene regulation
Topics
- Protein structure and function
- Organelles and membranes
- Transport
Topics
- Receptors and pathways
- Cell-cycle control
- Cell death
Practical sessions and projects
Capstone project
Final assessment
An open-book assessment that asks you to explain experimental results using molecular and cellular mechanisms.
Assessed on the correctness of the analysis, the quality of the code and the reasoning in the write-up. A pass is required for the certificate.
- DNA and replication
Problem set: trace mutations from DNA to protein consequences.
- Gene expression
Problem set: predict expression outcomes from regulatory changes.
- Proteins and cells
Case study: relate a disease mutation to protein and cell function.
- Signalling and the cell cycle
Case study: interpret an experiment on a signalling pathway.
Software, tools and datasets
Software and tools
All software is free and open source or free for academic use. Recommended computer: 8 GB RAM, 30 GB free disk, Linux, macOS or Windows with WSL2.
Core reading
- Alberts B et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 7th edition. W. W. Norton, 2022.
- Lodish H et al. Molecular Cell Biology, 9th edition. W. H. Freeman, 2021.
Duration, format and fees
- Next cohort
- Dates are sent with your admission offer
- Timetable
- Three evening or weekend sessions a week (IST), plus a lab clinic; intensive and weekend-only schedules on request
- Payment
- Secure online payment link with your admission offer (UPI, cards, net banking). Instalments on request for fees above ₹15,000.
- Refunds
- See the refund and cancellation policy.
Instructor
The instructor for each cohort is named in your admission offer and on this page when the cohort is announced. Vedicgen instructors are selected for hands-on research or industry experience in the subject they teach, and every course is reviewed by a second subject expert.
Questions about who teaches a cohort? [email protected]
Certificate
Learners who complete the course and pass its capstone receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion for Molecular & Cell Biology Essentials, issued by Vivofold, stating the guided hours and skills assessed. Each certificate has a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check.
Apply for Molecular & Cell Biology Essentials
Apply
Send the form below. It takes about five minutes.
Review
An adviser confirms your fit and format within two working days.
Offer
You receive dates, timetable and a secure payment link.
Onboard
Set-up guide, pre-reading and joining links.
Frequently asked questions
Online. The live cohort meets for instructor-led sessions with problem-solving in small groups; the self-paced format offers the same lessons with quizzes and a mentor-reviewed final assignment.
Yes. Learners who complete the course and pass its assessment receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion, issued by Vivofold. Every certificate carries a unique ID and a QR code that anyone, including an employer or admissions office, can check on the certificate verification page.
Apply with the form on this page. Live and in-person cohorts run through the year; the dates, timetable and joining details of the next cohort are sent with your admission offer and listed on this page once announced. Self-paced enrolment opens as soon as your application is accepted.
Yes. No course runs longer than four weeks, and the length is customisable: choose the standard schedule, an intensive one- to two-week schedule, weekends only, or a custom timetable. Pick your preference on the application form; colleges and teams can book their own dates.
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