Biology Courses
BIOL
BIOL 344G MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY LABORATORY (0-8-3)Â (F). Modern molecular and cellular techniques including cloning, computer analysis of DNA sequences, karyotyping, DNA amplification, and use of Southern and Western blots for transgene detection and expression analysis. Some laboratory time will be arranged. PRE/COREQ: BIOL 343 and PERM/ INST.
BIOL 500 ORGANIC EVOLUTION (3-0-3)(S). Philosophical basis of evolutionary theory. Detailed examination of genetic variation, mechanisms of evolutionary change, adaptation, speciation, and phylogeny. Genetics recommended. PREREQ: BIOL 323 and BIOL 310 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 509 MOLECULAR ECOLOGY (3-0-3)(F)(Odd years). Theory and methodologies. Use of molecular genetic markers to study ecological phenomena (e.g., mating systems, parentage and kinship, population structure, gene flow, dispersal, natural selection). Emphasis on an hypothesis-testing approach. Appropriateness of particular molecular techniques to specific
research questions. PREREQ: BIOL 323 and BIOL 310 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 510 PATHOGENIC BACTERIOLOGY (2-6-4)(S). Medically important bacteria, rickettsia, and chlamydia are surveyed with emphasis on their pathogenicity, host-parasite relationships, and the clinical and diagnostic aspects of the diseases they produce in humans and animals. PREREQ: BIOL 320 and BIOL 303.
BIOL 511 (BMOL 511) ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY (3-0-3)(S). Contemporary and frontier topics in the biology of microbial, plant, and animal cells covering signal transduction, protein trafficking, membrane structure and transport, cell to cell communication, cellular compartmentalization, and cell biotechnology applications. May be taken for BIOL or BMOL credit, but not both. PREREQ: BIOL 320 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 512 GENERAL PARASITOLOGY (2-3-3)(intermittently). Study of animal parasites with emphasis on those of man and his domestic animals. Lectures cover general biology, life history, structure, function, distribution, and significance of parasites. Laboratory provides experience in identification and detection. PREREQ: BIOL 320 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 513 SYMBIOSIS (3-0-3)(S)(Odd Years). Explores parasitic, commensalistic, and mutualistic relationships among different organisms. The diversity, evolution and ecology of symbioses will be analyzed through discussion of primary research articles. Students lead discussion sessions and prepare a mini-review essay. PREREQ: Graduate standing.
BIOL 514 (BMOL 514) FLOW CYTOMETRY RESEARCH TECHNIQUES (0-3-1) (F/S/SU). Provides a basic understanding of flow cytometry principles and applications in research and clinical setting. Students gain ‘hands-on’ experience including staining and separating blood cells, staining of DNA for cell cycle analysis, and purification of rare cell types using a cell sorter. Students apply flow cytometry to a specific research topic. May be taken for BIOL or BMOL credit, but not both. PREREQ: BIOL 320 or equivalent.
BIOL 515 APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY (3-3-4)(S). Microbial populations and processes in soil and water. Water- and food-borne pathogens. Microbial and biochemical methods of environmental assessment. PREREQ: BIOL 303, and CHEM 301-302 or CHEM 307-308, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 520 IMMUNOLOGY (3-0-3)(S). Principles of immunology, host defense mechanisms, the immune response, immune disorders, serology, and related topics. PREREQ: BIOL 320.
BIOL 521 IMMUNOLOGY LABORATORY (0-6-2)(F/S). Modern immunological laboratory techniques including flow cytometry, immune system physiology, antibody-based assays including ELISA, vaccine design, and immuno-bioinformatics. COREQ: BIOL 520.
BIOL 522 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (3-0-3)(S)(Odd years). An introduction to the field of conservation biology, the applied science concerned with understanding the effects of human activities on natural biological systems and with developing practical approaches to prevent the loss of biodiversity. Topics covered will include conservation genetics, demographic analysis, habitat degradation, overexploitation, and restoration ecology. Discussion of the social, political, and economic aspects of conservation biology. PREREQ: BIOL 323.
BIOL 525 BASIC AND APPLIED DATA ANALYSIS IN BIOLOGY (2-0-2) (F/S). Univariate statistics using computer software (JMP, SAS Institute, Inc.) with applications to biology, natural resources, health care, education, industry, and other professional disciplines. PREREQ: BIOL 323, BIOL 601, or PERM/ INST.
BIOL 526 INSECT ECOLOGY (3-0-3)(S)(Even years). An in-depth exploration of insect ecology, evolution and behavior. Topics include life history evolution, insect-plant interactions, predation and parasitism, reproduction, insect societies, chemical ecology, biodiversity and pest
management. PREREQ: BIOL 323 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 527 STREAM ECOLOGY (3-3-4)(F)(Odd years). The biology and ecology of flowing waters is emphasized; their biota, management, and ecology at both the community and ecosystem level will be discussed. PREREQ: BIOL 323 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 531 PHARMACOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Basic pharmacological principles including mechanisms of drug action in relation both to drug-receptor interactions and to the operation of physiological and biochemical systems. Pharmacokinetics, metabolism, receptor theory and an examination of major classes of therapeutic agents used in humans. PREREQ: BIOL 227-228 or BIOL 191-192, and BIOL 320.
BIOL 533 BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY (3-0-3)(Odd years). This course focuses on the evolutionary significance of animal behavior in relation to the ecology of the organisms. Using theoretical background and recent empirical evidence, mating systems, foraging, parental care, selfishness and altruism, competition, territoriality, and other behavioral patterns will be assessed in relation to the survival and reproduction of animals. PREREQ: BIOL 323 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 534 PRINCIPLES OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTÂ (3-0-3)(S). Integrative approach to managing game and non-game populations and habitat. Tools to determine population status, strategies to increase or decrease populations, and the implementing of monitoring programs. Current quantitative approaches within context of the ecosystem-based view of wildlife and habitat management. PREREQ: BIOL 323 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 540 GENERAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). General and molecular principles of mammalian toxicology including toxicant disposition, mechanisms of toxicity, target organ toxicity, and major classes of toxic agents. PREREQ: BIOL 320 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 541 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CANCER (3-0-3)(S). A treatment of the basic biology of cancer and the process of tumor progression. Topics examined will include oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and the causes of cancer. PREREQ: BIOL 320, BIOL 310.
BIOL 542 MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Emphasis will be on the molecular aspects of neurobiology. Topics will include: cells of the nervous system, neurochemical transmission, nerve terminals, membrane structure and function, electrical signaling, neural development, process outgrowth and myelination and glia, and specific neural diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. PREREQ: BIOL 320 and PHYS 112, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 543 ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (1-6-2)(F)(Odd years). Application of molecular and cellular methods to current topics in developmental biology. Analysis of current literature in biology with emphasis on the coordinated regulation of gene expression, cellular differentiation and migration. Laboratory studies include model systems such as chick, zebrafish, sea urchin and mouse, utilizing cell/tissue culture, histology, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, protein purification, SDS-PAGE, western blot and others. Previous enrollment in BIOL 344 and ZOOL 351 recommended.
BIOL 544 VACCINOLOGY (3-0-3)(S). Discussion of the history, safety, epidemiology, molecular biology and immunology of vaccines. Development of the next generation of vaccines to combat infectious disease of global importance, such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, also will be discussed. PREREQ: BIOL 320 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 545 HUMAN GENETICS (3-0-3)(S)(Intermittently). Discussion of important aspects of human heredity. Topics include the reproductive system, single gene disorders, chromosome abnormalities, hemoglobinopathies, inborn errors of metabolism, somatic cell and molecular genetics, immunogenetics, gene screening, and human variation and evolution. PREREQ: BIOL 310 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 546 BIOINFORMATICS (2-3-3)(F). Practical training in bioinformatics methods: accessing sequence data bases, BLAST tools, analysis of nucleic acid and protein sequences, detection of motifs and domains of proteins, phylogenetic analysis, gene arrays, and gene mapping. PREREQ: BIOL 310 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 547 FORENSIC BIOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). Analysis and interpretation of biological evidence in forensic contexts. Topics include entomology, botany, fingerprints, toxicology, DNA, pathology, anthropology and odontology. PREREQ: BIOL 310.
BIOL 548 PERL FOR BIOINFORMATICS APPLICATIONS (3-0-3)(F/S). The PERL programming language is used to introduce skills and concepts to process and interpret data from high-throughput technologies in the biological sciences. Key bioinformatics concepts are reinforced through lectures, computer demonstrations, weekly readings, and programming exercises from biological sequence analysis and real-world problems in proteomics and
genetics. PREREQ: BIOL 446 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 549 GENOMICS (3-0-3)(F/S). A fusion of biology, computer science, and mathematics to answer biological questions. Topics include analyzing eukaryotic, bacterial, and viral genes and genomes; locating genes in genomes and identifying their biological functions; predicting regulatory sites; assessing gene and genome evolution; and analyzing gene expression data. PREREQ: BIOL 310 and MATH 254, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 551 DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (2-6-4)(S)(Odd years). Germ cell development, comparative patterns of cleavage and gastrulation, neurulation and induction, and development of human organ systems with emphasis on molecular and cellular mechanisms. Laboratory studies of sea urchin, frog, chick, and pig development. PREREQ: BIOL 191-192 or PERM/ INST.
BIOL 561 ADVANCED TOPICS IN AQUATIC BIOLOGY (1-0-1)(F/S). An exploration of the current primary literature of aquatic biology. Topics vary, and may include community dynamics of algae, fish, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates; tropic relationships; stream and reservoir management; primary and secondary production; organic matter and nutrient dynamics; and wetland ecology. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 323 and PERM/INST.
BIOL 562 ADVANCED TOPICS IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (1-0-1)(F/S). Exploration of current animal behavior and behavioral ecology literature through group discussion and presentations. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 433 or 533 or ZOOL 434 or 534 and PERM/INST.
BIOL 563 ADVANCED TOPICS IN GENETIC ANALYSIS (1-0-1)(S). Presentation and discussion of topics such as human chromosome evolution, forensic DNA analysis, artificial evolution, mutation and disease, genetic patents, drug target development. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 310 and PERM/INST.
BIOL 564 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND PHYLOGEOGRAPHY (1-0-1)(F/S). Presentations and group discussion of molecular aspects of ecology, evolution, and phylogeography. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 401 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 565 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES (1-0-1)(F). Discussion of scientific literature with emphasis on modern molecular biology techniques. Students lead discussions and present articles from relevant primary literature. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 310 and PERM/INST.
BIOL 566 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MOLECULAR, CELLULAR, AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (1-0-1)(S). Discussion of current research. Students lead discussions and present articles, as well as monitor recent relevant primary literature. Previous enrollment in BIOL 465 or BIOL 565 recommended. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: BIOL 310 and PERM/INST.
BIOL 567 ADVANCED TOPICS IN EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX IN DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE (1-0-1)(F/S). Review, presentation and discussion of current literature. Students present original research in context of current literature, including statement of hypothesis, review of literature, analysis and discussion of original data, in written and oral presentation format. May be repeated once for credit. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
BIOL 570 GENETIC ENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY (3-0-3)(F/S). Applications of biotechnology, genetic engineering, and recombinant DNA technology in medical diagnosis and therapy, agriculture, microbial biology and environmental systems. The principles and application of recombinant DNA technology in industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and biomedical fields are discussed. PREREQ: BIOL 310.
BIOL 577 (ME 577)(MSE 577) BIOMATERIALS (3-0-3)(F/S). Theory of biomaterials science. Medical and biological materials and their applications. Selection, properties, characterization, design and testing of materials used by or in living systems. PREREQ: CHEM 112 or ENGR 245.
BIOL 579 RESEARCH IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES (1-0-1)(F/S). Seminars by biologists on a wide range of subjects. Students will attend seminars, write summaries, and search for relevant literature. May be repeated once for credit. (Pass/Fail.)
BIOL 601 BIOMETRY (4-0-4)(F). An application of statistical methods to problems in the biological sciences. Basic concepts of hypothesis testing; estimation and confidence intervals; t-tests and chi-square tests. Linear and nonlinear regression theory and analysis of variance. Techniques in multivariate and nonparametric statistics. PREREQ: MATH 147, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 602 POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY (3-0-3)(F). The structure of populations and communities. Competition, predation, life history strategies, demography, population regulation, and species diversity are examined from experimental and theoretical perspectives. PREREQ: BIOL 323 or equivalent, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 603 ADVANCED BIOMETRY (3-3-4)(S)(Even years). A survey of experimental design and selected multivariate techniques. The course is designed to assist students in selecting proper statistical techniques for gathering and analyzing biological data, and correctly interpreting the statistical analysis of their data. Prior experience with Statistical Analysis System (SAS) is helpful. PREREQ: BIOL 601 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 604 INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE BIOLOGY TEACHING (1-0-1)(F). An introduction to evidence-based instructional practices and how they can be applied in college biology courses. Discussion of unique challenges of being a graduate teaching assistant (TA), explore campus resources available to support TA’s and reflect on teaching practices. PREREQ: Graduate Standing.
BIOL 605 APPLIED RAPTOR BIOLOGY (0-3-2)(F)(Odd years). A study of the techniques appropriate to the study of the ecology, behavior, and physiology of raptors and other birds. Field trips will be taken in addition to regularly scheduled class. PREREQ: Graduate standing in Biology or Raptor Biology or PERM/INST.
BIOL 606 RAPTOR ECOLOGY (3-0-3)(F)(Even years). Theoretical ecology as applied to birds of prey. Strategies of reproduction, habitat selection, foraging and spacing; theory of competition and predatorprey interactions; niche theory and community structure; raptor management. PREREQ: BIOL 323, or PERM/INST.
BIOL 613 (BMOL 613) MOLECULAR GENETICS (3-0-3)(F/S). An advanced study of genetics in microbial, animal and plant systems, focused on the biochemical and molecular aspects of genetic structure and function. Information obtained from recent genomic analysis and comparisons will be included as well as discussion of contemporary molecular biology techniques and applications and an introduction to genomics. May be taken for BIOL or BMOL credit, but not both. PREREQ: BIOL 310 or equivalent.
BIOL 617 SPECIES AND SPECIATION (3-0-3)(F)(Odd years). Species definitions are fundamental for all investigations in the biological sciences. This course will investigate the numerous species concepts proposed over the last 100 years with an emphasis on primary literature. Concepts to be discussed will include biological, phylogenetic, genealogical, and evolutionary species concepts. The second part of the course will emphasize the processes involved in speciation, looking at both micro- and macroevolutionary events. PREREQ: BIOL 400 or BIOL 500 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 623 ADVANCED IMMUNOLOGY (1-0-1)(S). Advanced study of the cellular and molecular regulation of the immune response. The course will include formal lectures, student presentations, and in-depth discussion of selected topics using the current literature. PREREQ: BIOL 520 or PERM/INST.
BIOL 628 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BIOLOGY (3-0-3)(S). Discussion of the use of Geographic Information Systems to apply spatial data to ecological problems. Analysis of the ways that spatial relations affect patterns, processes, and decision making at multiple scales. Specific topics covered include GAP analysis, habitat modeling, spatially-explicit population modeling, landscape ecology, home range analysis, interpretation of satellite imagery, and natural resource issues. PREREQ: Graduate standing or PERM/INST.
BIOL 629 MODERN METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR (2-3-3) (S)(Odd years). Instruction in the theory, practice, and analysis of modern methods used in ecological and evolutionary studies will be provided. Methods to be covered include: cytology, isozyme electrophoresis, DNA restriction site analysis, DNA sequencing, and RAPD analysis. PREREQ: PERM/INST.
BIOL 650 WRITING FOR BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (1-0-1)(F/S). This writing course is designed for graduate students in biomedical science disciplines who are ready to begin, or who are currently working on, a manuscript. Examination of principles and practice of writing research manuscripts, articles, abstracts, and oral presentations will be included. Detailed examination of scientific publication process includes issues of style, organization, and ethics. Students draft, critique, and revise their own manuscripts and learn to review the manuscripts of others. PREREQ: PERM/ INST.