Current as of July 2007. This is for general information only. Please
use the official course catalog for advising and planning your
academic program.
Introductory courses |
BIOL 104 (3)—Plants
and Human Affairs |
| No
prerequisite. An introduction to plants and their remarkable impact on
diverse aspects of human activity. This course will explore
the ways in which humans use plants for food, medicine, and
other products; the role of plants in our environment; and
the implications of plants in areas such as economics and
human culture. Some topics will be based on student interest
and may include current concerns such as world hunger, use
of chemicals in agriculture, use of genetically-engineered
foods, and uses of native plants. Three hours lecture. V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 107 (1)—Laboratory
in Plants and Human Affairs |
Prerequisite or co-requisite: BIOL 104. An
introduction to the scientific method and its application
in plant biology. Observations and experiments will emphasize
crop plants, plant growth and morphology, human impacts on
natural systems, genetic engineering, and the properties
of plant products. Students will present their findings in
oral and written form. V.8b. |
| |
BIOL 111 (4)—Introduction
to Organisms |
| No
prerequisite. An introduction to organismal and population
biology. Topics include genetics, evolution and ecology,
and the interactions of organisms with their environment.
Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory. V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 112 (3)—Introduction
to Cells |
Prerequisite: BIOL 111. An introduction to
cell biology, including the chemistry of biological macromolecules,
cell structure, function, and reproduction. Additional topics
include genetic engineering, viruses and cancer, and the
cellular basis of immunity. Three hours lecture. V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 113 (1)—Introductory
Laboratory Techniques |
| Prerequisite or co-requisite: BIOL 112. An introduction
to basic methods and instrumentation in biology, emphasizing
fundamental laboratory procedures. Techniques to be studied
include light and electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, electrophoresis,
and chromatography. The use of computer applications for the
basic analysis and presentation of data is also examined. One
three-hour laboratory. III.Q, V.8b. |
| |
Intermediate level courses |
BIOL
205 (3)—Genetics |
| Prerequisite:
BIOL 112. An introduction to gene action and the principles
of inheritance. Topics include Mendelian genetics, chromosome
theory, and molecular genetics, as well as recombinant DNA,
extranuclear genomes, and population genetics. Four hours lecture
and discussion. V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 206 (1)—Laboratory
in Genetics |
| Prerequisite
or co-requisite: BIOL 205. A laboratory study of concepts
in genetics ranging from classical to molecular genetics.
Students learn to apply the tools of genetics to explore
Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance patterns and to investigate
the nature of DNA. The interpretation of quantitative data
is explored using appropriate statistical analyses. One three-hour
laboratory. |
| |
BIOL 209 (3)
- Marine Biology |
Prerequisites:
BIOL 111 and BIOL 112. A survey of marine organisms and
their adaptations to seawater chemistry, seafloor geology,
and waves, tides, and currents. Our comprehensive survey
of marine microbes, fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates
will then enable us to discuss the ecology of specialized
marine communities, such as kelp forests, polar seas, the
open ocean, intertidal zones, seagrass beds, coral reefs,
and the deep sea. |
| |
BIOL
214 (4)—The Plant Kingdom |
| Prerequisite:
BIOL 104 or BIOL 111. A survey of the plant kingdom with
emphasis on the flowering plants. The structure, reproduction,
evolution, adaptations, and economic significance of the
major plant groups will be covered. Three hours lecture and
one three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years. III.W,
V.8ab. |
| |
BIOL 216 (4)—Insect
Biology |
| Prerequisite: BIOL 111. An
introduction to insects and other terrestrial anthropods,
with an emphasis on evolution, morphology, physiology, ecology,
and behavior. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
Offered alternate years |
| |
BIOL
218 (4)—Field Natural History |
| Prerequisite:
BIOL 111; or one course of laboratory science and permission.
This course will develop three important traits of a scientific
naturalist: skill at seeing patterns in nature and framing interesting
questions about them; knowledge of the names, classification,
and identifying characteristics of local organisms; and the
understanding of a modern theoretical framework in ecology,
evolution, and behavior. Offered alternate years. Three hours
lecture and three hours laboratory or field work. V.8a. |
| |
BIOL
222 (4)—Animal Behavior |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 111; and one additional 3- or 4-credit course in biology,
or PSYC 219 or PSYC 231. An introduction to the causes,
development, evolution, and function of behavior. Alternate
years. Three hours lecture and a one-hour workshop. This
course may be counted towards the major or minor in either
biology or psychology. III.W, V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 224 (4)—General
Ecology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 111 or ENVR 101; and one additional
lab course in biology, chemistry, environmental science,
physics, or calculus. This course examines the interrelationships
between individuals and their abiotic environment, among
members of a population, and among populations in a given
habitat or community. General principles and theories will
be applied to a range of organisms, including plants, animals,
microorganisms, and humans. Labs emphasize the collection
and evaluation of numerical data to test hypotheses, and
include field problems, computer models, and student-designed
experiments. Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory/discussion.
III.Q, V.8ab. |
| |
BIOL 228 (4) - Microbiology |
Prerequisites: BIOL 112, BIOL 113, and BIOL 205. Structure,
physiology, and ecology of bacteria and other microorganisms.
Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory. Offered
alternate years. |
| |
BIOL
230 (4)—Comparative Vertebrate Morphology |
| Prerequisite:
Three credit hours of biology. First-year students by permission. Functional
anatomy of vertebrates, with emphasis on evolutionary adaptations.
Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory. V.8a. |
| |
Advanced courses |
BIOL
301 (4)—Plant Physiology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 112, BIOL 113, and BIOL 104 or BIOL 214; and one year
of chemistry. An exploration of
how plants function, including the flowering process, dormancy,
hormonal regulation, nutrition, and behavior. Examples from
applied areas of the plant sciences such as agriculture and
horticulture will be discussed. Three hours lecture and one
three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years. |
| |
BIOL 303 (4)—Principles
of Development |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 205 and either BIOL 214, BIOL 218, or BIOL 230. Sophomores
by permission. An examination of the processes by which a
single cell, the fertilized egg, gives rise to a multicellular
organism. The modern study of development relies heavily
on the tools and perspectives of cell and molecular biology.
This course will integrate these new methods and approaches
with those of classical embryology in the study of several
model organisms. Offered alternate years. III.O, V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 310 (3)—Evolution |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 205 and one additional 200-level biology course. Sophomores
by permission. A good grasp of algebra will be assumed. As
the unifying principle of all biology, evolution overlaps
genetics, molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, behavior,
ecology, and development. This course will cover the processes
responsible for the changes in living things over time; evidence
demonstrating the shared evolutionary history of all living
things; and the history of life on earth. Additional topics
that may be covered include: co-evolution among species,
human evolution, the origin of life, creationism. Three hours
lecture/one hour discussion. Offered alternate years. III.O. |
| |
BIOL
316 (3)—Seminar in Conservation Biology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 224; and BIOL 205 , ENVR 316 or ENVR 329. This advanced
seminar will use case studies to explore the main threats
to biological diversity: habitat loss and fragmentation,
habitat degradation, introduced species, and overharvesting.
Although the emphasis is on biological science issues, these
will be examined as well in their social, economic, and
political contexts. Readings and discussions will concentrate
on the primary literature. Offered alternate years. III.O. |
| |
BIOL 320 (4) - Topics in Biomathematics |
Prerequisites:
BIOL 111, BIOL 112, MATH 124, and MATH 205 or PSYC 219.
The course focuses on developing quantification skills
for biomathematics - the discipline that uses mathematical
models to help understand phenomena in biology and related
sciences through analysis and interpretation of experimental
data. The skills developed in the course include the ability
to look at an unfamiliar problem, analyze it to determine
the type of data necessary to address the problem, select
the appropriate mathematical tools to be applied to the available
data sets, and draw conclusions on the adequacy of the results.
III.O, V.8a. |
| |
BIOL 326 (4)—Comparative
Animal Physiology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 112, BIOL 113 and BIOL 216 or BIOL 230; and one year
of chemistry. Sophomores by permission. A study of animal
function, with examples drawn from all the major phyla. Emphasis
is placed on functional adaptations used by animals to overcome
common evironmental challenges, such as obtaining sufficient
quantities of food, oxygen, and water. The roles of thermoregulation,
osmoregulation, and animal sensory systems in maintaining
homeostasis also are emphasized. Three hours lecture/discussion
and one three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years. III.Q. |
| |
BIOL
342 (4)—Cell and Molecular Biology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 205 and one year of chemistry. Sophomores by permission.
An examination of recent work in major areas of cell biology
including membranes, regulation, cellular compartmentalization,
and cellular and molecular aspects of immunology and development.
Three hours lecture and one hour discussion. Offered alternate
years. III.W. |
| |
BIOL 344 (2)—Experimental
Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Biology |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 205, BIOL 206, and one year of chemistry; or CHEM 321
and permission. Sophomores by permission. An introduction
to current techniques and modern experimental approaches
used in the study of cells and their components. Includes
electrophoretic and chromatographic analysis of DNA and proteins,
organelle characterization, advanced techniques in light
microscopy and photomicrography, and basic techniques of
genetic engineering. One four-hour laboratory. Offered alternate
years. |
| |
BIOL
350 (3)—Scanning Electron Microscopy |
| Prerequisites:
BIOL 102 or 113, BIOL 112, and two additional laboratory
courses in biology, chemistry, or physics; and permission.
Sophomores by permission. Enrollment is limited. Biology
majors have priority. An introduction to the theory of electron
microscopy, emphasizing the applications of the scanning
electron microscope. Students will learn to prepare specimens,
to examine them with the microscope, and to record and analyze
data photographically. Six hours lecture/laboratory. III.O. |
| |
Research and independent study |
| |
BIOL 261 (1,
2, or 3)—Directed Study |
Prerequisites: One BIOL course and permission of the instructor.
The study of introductory level material by an individual
student or by a small group of students under the immediate
supervision of a faculty member. |
| |
BIOL 351 (3) - Independent Research |
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. An independent
research project selected and carried out in consultation
with a faculty sponsor. A written report and an oral presentation
are required. III.W. |
| |
BIOL 361 (1, 2, or 3) - Special Study |
| Prerequisites: 100-level BIOL course and permission of the
instructor. The study of an intermediate level topic by an
individual student or by a small group of students under the
immediate supervision of a faculty member. |
| |
BIOL 377 (1, 2, or 3) - Internship |
| Prerequisites: Three credits in BIOL and permission of instructor,
department chair, and dean. This course is graded P/CR/NC only. |
| |
BIOL
451 (3)—Senior Research |
| An
independent research project selected and carried out in consultation
with a faculty sponsor. Required of all senior majors in biology.
Bachelor of Science candidates will conduct a laboratory or
field investigation; Bachelor of Arts candidates may elect a
library project. A written report and an oral presentation are
required. III.O, III.W |
| |
BIOL 452 (1)—Senior
Colloquium |
| A
seminar on current student research in the department. Required
of all senior majors. |
| |
BIOL
461 (1, 2, or 3)—Independent Study |
Prerequisites: One 100-level BIOL course, one 200-level
BIOL course, and permission of the instructor. Pursuit of
an upper level research project determined in advance by
the student in consultation with a faculty member who will
act as the sponsor. |
