Molecular biology focuses on the functions and interactions of macromolecules that make up living organisms, primarily proteins and nucleic acids. The central goal of molecular biology is to increase understanding of the mechanisms by which these molecules drive biological phenomena. This provides insights into the essential regulatory processes that keep organisms alive and how cells respond when these processes are impaired. Ultimately, such studies can reveal new targets and strategies for treating a variety of diseases. Molecular biology research in MCDB includes the study of chromatin organization of nuclear DNA, DNA repair, gene expression regulation, functions of non-coding RNAs, regulation of RNA stability and RNA modification, mechanisms of catalytic RNA, regulation of protein translation, roles of protein modifications, makeup of metabolic pathways, and functioning of signal transduction pathways.
