Skip to main content

MITx: Cell Biology: The Cytoskeleton and Cell Cycle

How do we know what we know about cells? Enhance your scientific thinking and data analysis skills with this in-depth adventure through cell biology.

Cell Biology: The Cytoskeleton and Cell Cycle
7 weeks
4–6 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

5,314 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 19
Ends May 28

About this course

Skip About this course

This is the second cell biology course in a three-part series. Building upon the concepts from biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology from our 7.00x Introductory Biology and 7.05x Biochemistry MOOCs, these cell biology courses transition to a comprehensive discussion of biology at an experimental level. How do we know what we know about cells at a molecular level and how can we use that knowledge to design experiments to test hypotheses in cell biology?

Do you think you know how cells grow and divide? Professor Iain Cheeseman will challenge you to see the cytoskeleton in new and beautiful ways. You will explore these structural elements of cells with an expanded toolkit to better understand the dynamic processes that generate incredible amounts of force and regulate function throughout the cell cycle.

We developed the 7.06x Cell Biology series with an emphasis on:

  • Developing your scientific thinking skills including articulating hypotheses, performing thought experiments, interpreting data, and designing experiments.
  • Using data based on real scientific experiments and highlighting the scientific process in assessments.
  • Asserting that biology is an active field that changes daily through examples of research and relevance to medicine, not static information in a textbook.
  • Uniting themes and principles that inform how scientists conduct and interpret research.
  • Implementing the science of learning in the course design.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated skills:Cell Biology, Scientific Methods, Data Analysis, Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  1. How to apply biochemical and genetic approaches to address fundamental questions regarding the regulation of cell structure and division.
  2. How to evaluate the conclusions and models that scientists develop about cell biology from experimental approaches and results.
  3. How to select specific empirical methods and techniques based on the different types of questions scientists ask.
  4. How to design experiments with proper controls to answer cell biology questions.
  5. How to compare and contrast the roles of actin and microtubule cytoskeletal elements.
  6. How to identify recurring themes in maintaining cellular architecture throughout the cell cycle.
  • Microscopy
  • The Actin Cytoskeleton
  • The Microtubule Cytoskeleton
  • Force Generation and Movement
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Cycle Regulation

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip Frequently Asked Questions

How can I take other parts of this 7.06x Cell Biology course series or other prerequisites?

The other MITx Biology courses run throughout the year. Check out the MITx Biology website for more details and registration links.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.