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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
The actor, who was born in 1957 in Sagamihara, Japan, later graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology.
—Eva Hartman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024
Holland was in grad school studying molecular biology and Noodles was working as a custodian at a Garden Grove elementary school.
—Kelli Fadroski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2024
Rosey will attend Bellarmine University in the fall to study neuroscience and minor in biochemistry and molecular biology.
—Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 6 May 2024
Holland was a student at USC, already with a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in molecular biology to his name, and was working on his PhD. Noodles worked as a janitor at Earl Warren Elementary School in Garden Grove.
—Daniel Kohn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for molecular biology
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'molecular biology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of molecular biology was
in 1884
Articles Related to molecular biology
Dictionary Entries Near molecular biology
Cite this Entry
“Molecular biology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molecular%20biology. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on molecular biology
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about molecular biology
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