Biology
(Program Homepage)
Faculty: L. Bedard, J. Benedix, D. Dudle, C. Fornari, K. Fortino, V. Fox, W. Hazel, K. Kinney, P. Lafontant, D. Leech, H. Schneider, B. Serlin, J. Vaglia
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. Students may also, through their choice of upper-level classes, explore specific areas of interest, such as cell and molecular biology, organismal biology, or ecology and evolutionary biology.
In addition to its standard course offerings, the department offers numerous opportunities for collaborative research and learning 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. Many students also spend a semester away from campus, either in an off-campus study program, such as the School for Field Studies, Denmark International Study, the School for International Training, or as an intern at such institutions as Oak Ridge or Argonne National Laboratories, Harvard Medical School, or the Mayo Clinic.
Requirements for a major in Biology
| Total courses required | Ten and one-half (including CHEM 120) |
| Core courses | BIO 135, BIO 145, BIO 215, BIO 450. |
| Other required courses | CHEM 120, required as a prerequisite for BIO 215. The remaining six Biology courses can be selected from any of the approved courses for the major, with a minimum of three courses at the 300 or 400 level. |
| # 300 and 400 level courses | Three |
| Senior requirement | The senior requirement consists of the completion of BIO 450 with a grade of C- or better. |
| Additional information | 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 or statistics. Course work in computer science is also desirable. |
| Recent changes in major |
Requirements for a minor in Biology
| Total courses required | Seven |
| Core courses | BIO 135, BIO 145, BIO 215 |
| Other courses | CHEM 120, required as a prerequisite for BIO 215. The remaining three Biology courses must be at the 200 level or above with a minimum of one course at the 300 or 400 level. |
| # 300 and 400 level courses | One |
| Recent changes in minor |
Courses in Biology
| BIO 104. Human Biology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. An entry level course that examines biological principles as they relate to the functioning of human body systems, and to advances in medical science (or just health) and biotechnology. May not be counted toward a major in biology. | ||
| BIO 105. Human Genetics | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. An entry level course examining basic principles of genetics, emphasizing human genetics, various disorders and their ethical and economic impact on society. May not be counted toward a major in biology. | ||
| BIO 130. Plants in Human Cultures | Group 1, lab | 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. May not be counted toward a major in biology. | ||
| BIO 135. Organismal Biology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. Introduces concepts of structure-function relationships in representative multicellular organisms (plants and animals). Aspects of organismal maintenance, environmental response, growth, and reproduction are related to structure, and comparisons made between specializations in representative plants and animals. Students with advance placement in biology may receive credit for this course. | ||
| BIO 145. Ecology and Evolution | Group 1 | 1 course |
| This course examines the principles and practice of evolutionary biology, Mendelian and population genetics, and ecology at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels. | ||
| BIO 156. Advanced Placement in Biology | 1 course | |
| Credit for students earning advanced placement in biology. | ||
| BIO 190. Topics | 1 course | |
| Selected topics in biology. May include laboratory depending on subject. May not be counted toward major in biology. | ||
| 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 | Group 1, lab | 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. | ||
| BIO 215. Cell and Genes | Group 1 | 1 course |
| An introduction to cell biology and molecular biology. Topics covered include macromolecules, membrane and organelle structure and function, cellular metabolism and cell cycle, molecular genetics of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, DNA structure and function, gene expression and genetic engineering, and genomics. Prerequisites: CHEM 120. | ||
| BIO 230. Plant Biology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. An introduction to the principles of plant biology. Topics covered include plant development and reproduction, responses to environmental variables, and applied uses. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 145, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 250. Microbiology | Group 1, lab | 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 215 (BIO 145 also recommended) or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 275. Biostatistics | 1 course | |
| (Formerly BIO 375) A detailed survey of the techniques involved in the collection and analysis of biological data, with a focus on the design of biological experiments. This course prepares students for research experiences in biology by using examples from ecology, evolutionary biology, physiology and biomedical science. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 145, or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit in ECON 350, MATH 441, MATH 442 or PSY 214. | ||
| BIO 285. Biodiversity | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. A diagnostic overview of major taxa within both prokaryotes and eukaryotes which includes phylogeny, systematics, defining attributes, and comparative life cycles. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 145, 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 | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. A study of the dynamic aspects of the structure, function and regulation of eukaryotic cells. The molecular nature of the gene and gene expression are examined. The intercellular functions that maintain cell viability and the coordination between cell in multicellular organisms are examined. Prerequisites: BIO 135, 145 and 215, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 315. Molecular Biology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes three hour laboratory. This course presents advanced concepts 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, including DNA-Protein interactions in gene regulation, and provide conceptual support for the laboratory experiments. Laboratory work focuses on a semester-long project using biochemical and molecular techniques. Prerequisites: BIO 215 and CHEM 120. | ||
| BIO 320. Genetics | Group 1 | 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 135, 145 and 215, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 325. Bioinformatics | 1 course | |
| Normally includes a 2 hour laboratory session per week. An introduction to the molecular theory and computational tools for analyzing gene and protein sequences. A major activity is the use of computer programs and algorithms to find and align gene and protein sequences, to predict protein structure and function, and to create network maps and phylogenetic histories from molecular sequences. Prerequisites: BIO 215 or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 334. Developmental Biology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. A comparative investigation of embryonic development, including cell differentiation, tissue organization and mechanisms of organ development. Prerequisites: BIO 135, BIO 145 and BIO 215. | ||
| BIO 335. Animal Physiology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| In Animal Physiology we use an integrative approach to study the mechanisms by which animals maintain interal environments that are compatible to life. The basis of organ systems function, homeostatic responses to environmental stresses, evolutionary and developmental adaptations and normal body functions are explored at the cellular and organismic level. Selected physiological topics including osmoregulation, metabolism, nerve function, cardiac and respiratory physiology are investigated in the accompanying laboratory sessions. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 215, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 342. Ecology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. The study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment, emphasizing fundamental concepts in ecology, natural history of local habitats and organisms, the process of ecological research, and current issues of interest in ecology. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 145, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 345. Conservation Biology | 1 course | |
| Includes laboratory. This course will address the impacts of humans on Earth's biodiversity, and strategies taken to conserve and protect global natural resources. Topics covered may include global patterns of biodiversity, ecological community structure, habitat exploitation and restoration by humans, genetics of small populations, design of nature reserves, problems associated with invasive species. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and BIO 145, Ecology and Evolution or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 346. Plant-Animal Interactions | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. An examination of plants and animals from a holistic, interactive perspective, focusing on the ongoing coevolution between plants and animals. Both positive and negative interactions for both types of organisms are examined. Prerequisites: BIO 135, 145 and 215, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 348. Behavioral Ecology | Group 2 | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. This course is concerned with an evolutionarily based analysis of how the behaviors of animals contribute to survival and reproductive success. Prerequisites: BIO 135 and 145, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 361. Immunology | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. Investigation of the principles of immunology, including clinical principles of pathogen resistance, autoimmunity, immunodeficiency and cancer. Both basic science and clinical science will be addressed, as will comparative aspects of innate and acquired immunity. Laboratory consists of basic and investigative projects involving the use of live animals. Prerequisite: BIO 135, 145 and 215, or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 382. Neurobiology | Group 1, lab | 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 135 and 215 or permission of instructor. | ||
| BIO 390. Topics | 1/2-1 course | |
| Selected topics in biology are offered. Prerequisite: one year of biology or permission of instructor. | ||
| 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 415 . Molecular Genetics | Group 1, lab | 1 course |
| Includes laboratory. This course presents advanced concepts of gene regulation and signal transduction in a variety of organisms, and includes topics in the molecular genetics of cancer, development, neurobiology, or virology. Prerequisite: BIO 315. May not be taken Pass/Fail. | ||
| BIO 444. Population Genetics and Evolution | Group 1 | 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 135, 145 and 215, or 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 | 1/2-1 course | |
| Directed independent study. Prerequisite: two years of biology and permission of department. Usually taken for one-half credit. Maximum 1 credit total. | ||
