This was originally posted as an answer to a Quora question in October 2023
The classes that you should be taking will of course depend on your interests, career objectives, as well as what is offered by your university.
Here are some of my favourite topics, and what I would have taken if I could go back in time during my Biochemistry undergraduate:
- Biophysics Courses: The field of Biology is becoming increasingly quantitative. I personally find that applied mathematics gives you new glasses to look at the world. It allows you to answer questions and test hypotheses that were previously unreachable! I like mathematics and physics very much, and I absolutely love molecular biology! Seeing both of them together and learning how to apply maths in biology would have been incredible during undergrad! Thankfully, I’m now getting very exposed to this world during my graduate studies.
- Developmental Genetics: How the hell does a single cell (at fertilization) become a multicellular organism as complex as a human being?! I briefly touched this subject in one of my courses in undergrad and I wish I had the time to learn more! It’s absolutely incredible how gene regulation in embryonic development leads to a fully functional complex organism.
- Molecular Biology of Aging: Everyone says that “aging is just part of life”. But does it have to be? Recent scientific advancements suggest that it doesn’t, and our understanding of the mechanisms of aging in some model organisms has allowed us to reverse this natural phenomenon to a certain extent. A class on this topic would be fascinating.
- Independent Research Projects: This is not exactly a class, but many universities allow you to work on a research project for course credits. If you can, I’d absolutely pursue this opportunity. Learning the ins and outs of how knowledge is created is an incredibly rewarding experience. Plus, this would give you the chance to explore a topic of interest in an amount of debt that very few people ever will.
I hope these were insightful!
Good luck with your studies! Follow for more content on Molecular Biology and Biophysics 🙂
