molecular biology

noun

: a branch of biology dealing with the ultimate physicochemical organization of living matter and especially with the molecular basis of inheritance and protein synthesis

molecular biologist noun

Examples of molecular biology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Researchers are studying the natural defense mechanisms of Christmas trees — focusing on a popular variation called Fraser firs — in hopes of using genetics and molecular biology to help the trees acclimate to climate change and increase their chances of survival. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2024

Tej Patel is studying molecular biology, healthcare management and policy, and statistics at the University of Pennsylvania. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

Perry is a molecular biology and biochemistry double major who holds a 3.96 GPA and made first-team All-New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in 2023. —Bruce Feldman, The Athletic, 7 Aug. 2024

The two teams complemented each other because the Stanford group had expertise in genetics and genomics, while the Harvard team excelled at sensory functions, behavior, and molecular biology. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

molecular biology

noun

: a branch of biology that investigates the structure and function of usually large molecules (as DNA and proteins) of living matter in order to understand their role in biological processes (as inheritance and cell function)

Medical Definition

molecular biology

noun

: a branch of biology dealing with the study and understanding of biological activity and processes at the molecular level and especially the molecular basis of gene function and protein synthesis

Molecular biology experiments proved that small pieces of DNA did sometimes move within or between chromosomes, thereby triggering changes in gene expression.

—John Rennie, Scientific American

The test is based on several recent advances in molecular biology, including the new insight that cells slip into the uncontrolled growth known as cancer through defects in specific enzymes that monitor and control division.

—Lawrence K. Altman, The New York Times