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Biology
2001-2002 Faculty: Benedix, Dudle, Fornari, Gonser, Hazel (chair),
Jagger, Kinney, Mays, Seketa, Serlin, Stark.
Biology is the scientific study of living things. Therefore, the major
and minor in biology are designed to introduce students to the methodology
of science while providing a broad exposure to the diversity of life at
all levels. In addition, biology majors, through their choice of
upper-level classes, are able to build programs in specific areas of
interest, such as genetics, molecular biology, organismal biology, ecology
and evolutionary biology.
In addition to its standard course offerings, the department offers
numerous opportunities for collaborative research and teaching with
faculty. For example, internships and other research opportunities, both
on and off campus, are available during the January Winter Term and in the
summer. During the academic year, students often spend one semester
off-campus, either in the U.S., e.g., Oak Ridge and Argonne National
Laboratories, Sea Semester, Philadelphia and Washington Semesters, or in
other countries, e.g., Denmark, England, Scotland, Mexico and Australia.
Biology majors often serve as teaching assistants, working along side
faculty in the teaching laboratories.
Requirements for a major in Biology:
| Total courses
required: |
nine courses |
| Core
courses: |
BIO 120, BIO 140, BIO 160, BIO 180, BIO 190, BIO
450. |
| Other
required courses: |
The remaining six courses can be selected from any of
the approved courses for a major. |
| # 300 and 400
level courses: |
three courses |
| Senior
requirement: |
The senior requirement consists of the completion of
BIO 450 with a grade of C- or better. |
| Additional
information: |
No more than one and one-half courses from Research Problems
(BIO 490) and Intern Topics (BIO 395) can count toward the major.
No more than two courses from off campus programs can count
toward the major.
It is recommended that biology majors take a minimum of two
courses in chemistry, a year of physics and a semester of calculus.
Course work in computer science and statistics is also
desirable. |
Requirements for a minor in Biology:
| Total courses
required: |
five and one-half courses |
| Core
courses: |
BIO 120, BIO 140, BIO 160, BIO 180, BIO
190 |
| Other
courses: |
The remaining three courses must be at the
200 level or above. |
| # 300 and 400
level courses: |
one course |
Courses in Biology
BIO 101. Understanding Evolution --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. The course examines origin and implications of Darwin's theory
of evolution. Topics covered include: the historical development of the
theory, the origin of adaptation, human evolution, and human behavior.
May substitute for BIO 180.
BIO 104. Human Biology --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. An entry level course that examines general biological
principles with emphasis on humans. May not be counted toward a
major.
BIO 105. Human Genetics --1 course
An entry level course
examining basic principles of genetics emphasizing human genetics, various
disorders and their ethical and economic impact on society. May
substitute for BIO 140. Not open to students with junior or senior status
when taught as a W course.
BIO 120. Introduction to Cell Biology --1/2 course
An
introduction to the biology of cells. Topics covered include
macromolecules, membrane and organelle structure and function, cellular
metabolism and cell cycle. Normally taken with BIO 140.
BIO 130. Plants in Human Cultures --1 course
Includes
laboratory. In this course, students will address the many ways that
humans interact with the botanical world. Topics covered include but are
not limited to: the history and evolution of agricultural practices and
crop plants, the botanical and chemical aspects of food and spice crops,
genetic engineering of crops, traditional uses of medicinal plants in
human cultures, modern searches for cures for human diseases using
plant-derived chemicals, the effects of humans on the distribution of
plant species, and the evolutionary origins of such plant products as
wood, cotton, oils, etc.
BIO 140. Introduction to Genetics --1/2 course
An
introduction of the principles of genetics. Topics covered include the
transmission genetics of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, DNA structure and
function, gene expression and genetic engineering. Normally taken with
BIO 120.
BIO 156. Advanced Placement in Biology --1 course
Credit for
students earning advanced placement in biology.
BIO 160. Introduction to Ecology --1/2 course
An introduction
to the principles of physiological, population, community and ecosystem
ecology. Topics covered include adaptive responses to environmental
variation, population growth and structure, interactions within among
species, energy flow and nutrient cycling. Normally taken with BIO
180.
BIO 180. Introduction to Evolution --1/2 course
An
introduction to the principles of biological evolution. Topics covered
include natural selection and adaptation, population genetics, speciation,
phylogenetics and macroevolution. Normally taken with BIO
160.
BIO 190. Laboratory in Diversity --1/2 course
An introduction
to the diversity of life. Topics covered include phylogeny and systemics
and the defining attributes and life cycles of the major taxa. Must be
taken to declare a BIO major.
BIO 197. First-Year Seminar --1 course
A seminar focused on a
theme related to the study of biology. Open only to first-year
students.
BIO 203. Human Anatomy --1 course
Includes laboratory.
Examination of human structure as it relates to organ and body function
and human adaptation to the environment. Laboratory: dissection of a
mammal with reference to its comparison with the human. Not open to
students with credit in BIO 333.
BIO 211. Animal Biology --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. An introduction to the principles of animal biology. Topics
covered include animal reproduction, development and structure-function
relationships. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 and 190 or
permission of instructor.
BIO 220. Molecular Biology --1 course
Includes 3 hour
laboratory. A modern biotechnology course combining the scientific theory
of molecular biology with the experimental evidence and practice of
genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology. Lectures focus on
explaining biological phenomena in molecular and biochemical terms, and
provide conceptual support for the laboratory experiments. Laboratory work
focuses on a semester long project to investigate a genetic problem by
biochemical and molecular techniques. Prerequisites: BIOS 120 and BIO
140 half-courses; strongly recommended: one semester of chemistry (CHEM
120); or permission of instructor.
BIO 230. Plant Biology --1 course
Includes laboratory. An
introduction to the principles of plant biology. Topics covered include
plant reproduction, development and structure-function relationships.
Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 and 190 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 250. Microbiology --1 course
Includes laboratory. A
general overview of microbiology. Topics covered include microbial
genetics, physiology, evolution and ecology, microbial techniques and the
interplay between microbial life and the human environment.
Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 290. Topics --1/2-1 course
Selected topics in Biology.
May or may not include a laboratory, depending on the subject.
Prerequisite: one year of biology or permission of
instructor.
BIO 314. Biochemistry and Cellular Biology --1
course
Normally includes laboratory. A study of the dynamic aspects of
the structure, function and regulation of viruses and prokaryotic and
eucaryotic cells. The molecular nature of the gene and gene expression are
examined. Principles of biochemistry, including metabolic pathways and
enzymology, are examined. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 or
permission of instructor.CHEM 120 recommended.
BIO 320. Genetics --1 course
Normally includes laboratory.
The study of gene transmission, structure and function. Topics include
patterns of inheritance, microbial and molecular genetics, quantitative
and population genetics. Prerequisite: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 or
permission of instructor.
BIO 333. Comparative and Developmental Anatomy --1
course
Includes laboratory. A comparative study of anatomy and
morphogenesis of representative chordates. Laboratory work will include
dissections and examination of embryonic and histological slides from
representative chordates. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 and 190
. Not open to students with credit in BIO 203.
BIO 335. Animal Physiology --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. General principles of animal physiology are considered. All
major systems are included. Laboratory work: standard physiological
experiments. Prerequisites: BIO 120 and 140 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 339. Plant Physiology --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. Examines the physiological and biochemical factors that
influence plant growth, differentiation, adaptation to ever-changing
environments. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 342. Ecology --1 course
Includes laboratory. The study of
interrelationships between organisms and their environment, emphasizing
population ecology, computer simulations and ecological methods.
Prerequisites: BIO 160, 180 and 190 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 344. Population Genetics and Evolution --1
course
Normally includes laboratory. An examination of the role of
evolution as the central organizing concept in biology, and role of
population genetics as the core of evolutionary theory. Prerequisite:
BIO 120, 140, 160, 180, and 190 or permission of instructor. May not be
taken Pass-Fail.
BIO 346. Plant-Animal Interactions --1 course
Normally
includes laboratory. An examination of plants and animals from a holistic,
interactive perspective, focusing on the ongoing coevolution between
plants and animals. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160, 180 and 190 or
permission of instructor.
BIO 348. Behavioral Ecology --1 course
Includes laboratory.
This course is concerned with an evolutionarily based analysis of how the
behaviors animals contribute to survival and reproductive success.
Prerequisites: BIO 160 and 180 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 361. Immunology --1 course
Normally includes laboratory.
An investigation of the principles of immunology including the application
of the principles in the control of bacterial and viral diseases. Certain
serological techniques are introduced in laboratory. Prerequisite: BIO
250 or permission of the instructor.
BIO 364. Molecular Genetics --1 course
Includes laboratory. A
molecular analysis of gene structure, function and the regulation of gene
expression in a variety of procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms and their
viruses. Topics include: gene structure; function and regulation;
biotechnology; developmental genetics; and cancer biology.
Prerequisites: BIO 120 and 140, BIO 220 and CHEM 120 recommended, or
permission of the instructor. May not be taken
Pass-Fail.
BIO 375. Biostatistics --1 course
Normally includes
laboratory. A detailed survey of the techniques involved in the collection
and analysis of biological data. Topics include sampling and the types of
biological data, hypothesis generation and testing, parametric and
nonparametric statistical tests, categorical data analysis, and design of
experiments. Prerequisites: BIO 120, 140, 160 and 180 or permission of
instructor. Not open to students with credit in ECON 350, MATH 340 or PSY
210.
BIO 381. Entomology --1 course
Includes laboratory. The
biology and ecology of insects and their relatives. Laboratory includes
collection and identification. Prerequisite: one year of laboratory
science, including BIO 120, 140, 160 and 180 or permission of
instructor.
BIO 382. Neurobiology --1 course
Includes laboratory.
Examines the structure and function of individual neurons and glial cells,
the formation of integrative circuits, and the comparative organization
and evolution of animal nervous systems of increasing complexity from
nerve nets to humans. Prerequisite: BIO 120 and BIO 140 or permission
of instructor.
BIO 390. Topics --1/2-1 course
Selected topics in the biology
are offered. Prerequisite: one year of biology or permission of
instructor.
BIO 395. Intern Topics --1/2 - 1 course
Readings in selected
topics designed to enhance an internship experience. Prerequisite: A
major in biology and permission of instructor. May not be taken Pass-Fail.
Not open to students enrolled in HONR 390 .
BIO 400. Teaching of Biology --1/2 course
Deals with the
principles and problems of teaching biology. Not applicable to the major
or the minor. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
BIO 450. Senior Seminar --1/2 course
Students read, present
and discuss research papers from a variety of areas in biology.
Prerequisite: a major in biology and senior status. May not be taken
Pass-Fail.
BIO 490. Research Problems --1/2 course
Directed independent
study. Prerequisite: two years of biology and permission of department.
May be repeated once for credit.
BIO Experimental. Sex and Gender: A Biological Perspective --1
course
(offered second semester 2000-01)While sex is usually used to
describe discrete, qualitative categories, gender is defined differently
in different disciplines. This course will cover multiple biological
definitions of sex, gender roles in human and non-human organisms, and how
each of these affect and are affected by organic evolution.
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