Research areas of faculty include heart development, neural development, cellular toxicology and microcirculation, membrane traffic and cytoskelton, cell-surface reception. The Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy offers a program of study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Master of Science degree is offered only in rare instances in which students are unable to continue in the doctoral program. Applicants for admission normally should have completed course work in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics through calculus, and biochemistry. Additional courses in advanced biology, advanced chemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and statistics are recommended. In addition, applicants must submit scores from the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); submission of the score on one of the advanced tests is optional. Application requirements also include 3 letters of recommendation from former science instructors and a statement of career goals. The program of study is very flexible with only one required lecture course (CBA 577), two laboratory rotations, and a research presentation every year. Each student selects a personalized program of additional course work and study with guidance and approval from the student's dissertation advisor and members of the dissertation committee. Students are required to take a total of 36 units, 18 of which must be obtained from graded (A,B,C) courses. Students are required to teach one semester as part of their training. Students also must select a minor field and fulfill the requirements of that department for the minor. Doctoral students majoring in other disciplines may select cell biology and anatomy as a minor field of study. The minor program must consist of 9 units in cell biology and anatomy, 5 of which must be obtained from graded (A or B) courses, and approval from a Cell Biology and Anatomy minor advisor who serves on the dissertation committee.