91 courses with the subject BIOL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
BIOL 101Topics in Organismal Biology1.00
Introduces students to the complexities of biodiversity, from the ecosystem to the genetic level. By examining the factors affecting the structure and function of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater communities, students learn about the diversity of organisms in these systems. Students gain an appreciation for the roles of evolutionary and ecological history, as well as modern ecological interactions, in shaping biodiversity across the globe. Students are exposed to the many ways that human activities affect biodiversity. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Human beings are composed of nearly 100 trillion cells of over 200 different specialized types. For an individual to remain alive and healthy, these cells must be effectively organized into tissues and organs that perform specific functions. This course examines external and internal factors that influence both normal and abnormal cell, tissue, and organ function, providing students without an extensive science background with exposure to the biology of human health and disease. Course topics include human diet and nutrition and the cell biology of disease. Students examine how biologists address issues relating to health and disease and how our understanding of basic biology contributes to enhancing human health. The course is composed of lectures and discussions, and may include in-class laboratory-based exercises. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Recommended: First-year students and non-science majors. May be beneficial for entering students who do not have extensive biology background in preparation for enrollment in the foundation courses (BIOL 181 and BIOL 182). Not intended for students who have completed a biology foundation course. Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Concentrates on the evolutionary biology of organisms and the ecological processes that influence the distribution and abundance of plants and animals, as well as their interactions. The history of biological diversification (including the origin of life; the evolution of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; and the invasion of land by plants, fungi, and animals) is discussed. In addition, the mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, and extinction, are studied. Topics in population ecology as they relate to evolutionary processes including physiological and behavioral ecology, population growth, and species interactions (e.g., competition, predation, mutualism) are also covered; there is a strong focus on the physical, chemical, and
BIOL 181LEvolution, Ecology, and Diversity Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 181. Projects in the laboratory and field include experiments designed to understand evolutionary principles and to test ecological hypotheses. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
At the level of molecules and cells, the different forms of life on earth are surprisingly similar. This course introduces aspects of life at the cellular and molecular level that are broadly applicable to all living things. The course begins by examining the basic chemistry of life. Building on this chemical foundation we develop an appreciation for cellular structure, the central role of cellular membranes, cellular energetics, and cell growth and reproduction. Special emphasis is placed on proteins and nucleic acids as the informational macromolecules, and how cells use these molecules to encode and express a genetic program. Mechanisms of inheritance are examined from both a classical and a modern molecular perspective. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
None Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Corequisite
BIOL 182
BIOL 201Evolution1.00
Uses the study of evolutionary biology to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like in all 200-level courses, students focus on the "process" of exploring biology. Provides for a study of how evolutionary theory illuminates and unifies our vast and growing knowledge of the biological world and affects many aspects of our lives. Emphasis is on the observations and experiments that have led to our current understanding of evolutionary processes and on the dynamic nature of evolutionary research. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No Senior Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 181 with a grade of C- or better and BIOL 182 with a grade of C- or better
Corequisite
BIOL 201L
BIOL 201LEvolution Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 201 . The laboratory includes investigative experiments that familiarize students with the approaches used to address questions in evolutionary biology.
None Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Corequisite
BIOL 201
BIOL 202Genetics1.00
Uses the study of genetics to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like in all 200-level courses, students focus on the "process" of exploring biology. Provides students with a firm foundation in classical, quantitative and molecular genetics and covers topics in population genetics. Emphasis is on understanding how organisms encode, regulate, and inherit their genomes; current genetic applications; and the social and ethical issues that result from these technologies.
Required corequisite to BIOL 202. The laboratory includes investigative experiments that familiarize students with the classical techniques used to address questions in genetics. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Uses the study of ecology to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like in all 200-level courses, students focus on the "process" of exploring biology. Emphasizes the quantitative aspects of ecology by exploring concepts of population and community ecology including competition and predation, the use of diversity and community similarity indices, population regulation models, island biogeography, food web analysis, and community and ecosystem-level processes. In addition to textbook readings, students also read papers from the primary literature on topics covered in class. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No Senior Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 181 with a grade of C- or better and BIOL 182 with a grade of C- or better
Corequisite
BIOL 203L
BIOL 203LEcology Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 203 . The laboratory includes field trips to examine terrestrial and aquatic communities, exposing students to field methods that quantitatively measure population and community parameters.
None Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Corequisite
BIOL 203
BIOL 204Molecular Biology1.00
Uses the study of molecular biology to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like in all 200-level courses, students focus on the "process" of exploring biology. Provides for a study of biological processes at the molecular level, including transcription, RNA processing, translation, DNA replication and recombination. Emphasis is on understanding the experiments that have led to our current knowledge of molecular processes and, in particular, the means by which these processes are regulated. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No Senior Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 181 with a grade of C- or better and BIOL 182 with a grade of C- or better
Corequisite
BIOL 204L
BIOL 204LMolecular Biology Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 204. The laboratory includes investigative experiments that familiarize students with the molecular techniques used to analyze problems in molecular biology. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Cells are the basic units of life. This course uses the study of cell biology to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like all 200-level courses, this course focuses on the "process" of exploring biology. Course topics include regulation of the cell cycle and cell division, cell structure and motility, inter- and intracellular communication, and organelle structure and function. Students learn how to critically read and evaluate primary journal articles and will integrate content from the course and published literature into multi-week, lab-based investigative research projects. Major/Minor Restrictions: None
None Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Corequisite
BIOL 205
BIOL 206Organismal Biology1.00
Organismal biology is the study of how structure and function of individual organisms shape ecology, evolution, and biological diversity. This course uses the study of organismal biology to explore the collaborative process of scientific research, the critical reading of primary literature, the design and implementation of experimental studies, quantitative skills, and the interpretation and communication of research results. Like all 200-level courses, BIOL 206 focuses on the "process" of exploring biology. Students focus on physiological and ecological problems that arise as organisms interact with their environment, and examine these interactions between and within major groups of organisms. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No Senior Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 181 with a grade of C- or better and BIOL 182 with a grade of C- or better
Corequisite
BIOL 206L
BIOL 206LOrganismal Biology Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 206 . Includes field trips to terrestrial and aquatic environments that expose students to local diversity and to techniques frequently used in the field.
None Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Required corequisite to BIOL 250. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Opportunity for individual study in areas not covered by formal course offerings, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Credits: variable Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Introduces students to the range of eukaryotic organisms that cause parasitic diseases in humans. The focus is on globally important helminths, protozoans, and arthropods. The latter will be covered as both agents and vectors of human parasitic diseases. Topics covered include biology, geographical distribution, sources of infections, life cycles, route(s) of transmission, clinical disease, and control/preventive measures. The basic principles of laboratory diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases are included in the course to enhance the practical parasitology knowledge of the students. The course includes reading of the primary literature, and requires oral and written critical analysis of the literature.
Parasitology labs provide students with an opportunity to identify and study the various developmental stages of common parasites of humans. Labs focus on examining preserved specimens and prepared slides. Required corequisite to BIOL 301. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: None Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Systems Biomedicine is an interdisciplinary course that uses quantitative and computational approaches to develop a systems-level understanding of human health and disease. Students explore how interactions among genes, proteins, cells, and regulatory pathways collectively shape biological function, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic responses. Coursework emphasizes mathematical and computational techniques, including differential equations, mathematical modeling, machine learning, and network science, and applies them to problems in gene regulation, signal transduction, molecular and cellular networks, and complex human diseases. Through hands-on computational analysis, students learn to frame quantitative medical and biological questions and to investigate these questions using modern software tools. Students are expected to have prior background in one of the following areas: biology, mathematics, or computer science. No additional background is assumed; all necessary concepts are introduced during the course.
( BIOL 182 or MATH 163 or PHYS 201 or COSC 101 ) Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Corequisite
None
BIOL 304Invertebrate Zoology1.00
Covers the biology of the major animal groups. Attention is given to the phylogenetic history, functional morphology, development, physiology, medical importance, and ecology of representative invertebrates. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 304. Laboratories include field collections of freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates, as well as the study of major groups of marine invertebrates. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Has an evolutionary theme and investigates the diversity of vertebrate animal life. Emphasis is on evolutionary origins and phylogenetic relationships, basic structure and function, development and reproduction, behavior, zoogeography, and interrelationships with the environment. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Students examine the morphology of selected vertebrates with dissection of preserved materials and also includes study of vertebrate natural history of local species in the field. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
The great majority of people understand that plants are fundamental to life: they produce life sustaining oxygen, cleanse the air of carbon dioxide, provide material for construction, and more. Yet few people appreciate that modern medicine has its roots in the chemistry of plants. From headaches and malaria to
Provides an introduction to epidemiology, the basic science of public health. Epidemiology provides a systematic approach for acquiring and evaluating information on the distribution and causes of disease and other health outcomes in populations. Topics include the history of epidemiology, an overview of epidemiologic methods (e.g., study design, measures of disease distribution and association, interpretation), and the application of epidemiologic research to the development and evaluation of disease prevention and control strategies. Current or historically relevant infectious and chronic diseases are explored through lectures, interactive exercises, and independent assignments. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
All animals are faced with similar fundamental problems, namely, acquiring and using energy, exchanging nutrients and wastes with the environment, balancing water and electrolytes, and reproducing. This course is about how animals address these problems in the context of the varied (and sometimes extreme) environments in which they live. With evolution as a unifying theme, both the general principles of animal function (the similarities among different animals) and the exceptions to the general rules are investigated. Topics include size and scaling, energy metabolism, temperature tolerance and regulation, gas exchange, water and osmotic regulation, respiration and circulation, excitable tissue, and global climate change physiology. General principles of animal physiology are also explored using examples of animals that live in extreme environments. When offered, BIOL 311L is a required corequisite.
Required corequisite to BIOL 311. This laboratory involves hypothesis-guided experimentation with quantitative analysis of data. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Microbiology is an incredibly broad field that involves the study of organisms that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. Despite their small size, microbes are critical components of our bodies and ecosystems. This course examines the diversity of microbes in nature and their importance in human affairs from disease to agriculture. It also examines the characteristics of individual microorganisms that enable them to inhabit particular environments. Topics include microbial cell biology, genetics, metabolism, ecology and pathogenesis. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 313. Projects in the laboratory include identification of microbes and experiments aimed at understanding their growth, physiology, and genetics. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Covers organisms in three kingdoms: Protista, Fungi, and Plantae. Topics include cell structure, reproduction, transport, and metabolism. There is an emphasis on photosynthesis, diversity, and evolution in fungi, protists, and land plants. Features of seed plant morphology, anatomy, translocation of water and minerals, gas exchange, and reproduction are discussed. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 315. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Recent developments in biological data collection have led to the creation of large-scale experimental data sets of DNA and protein sequences and structures of biological molecules. These data are available for public use from an array of databases, and their analysis is intriguing. This course provides an introduction to the use of computational methods and tools to extract useful information from these large datasets, and focuses on interpreting this expanding biological information. Students discuss the basics of bioinformatics and focus on the identification and characterization of functional elements from protein and DNA sequences. Students also learn to use public databases and web-based sequence analysis tools, focusing primarily on human genome data. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning Core Component: None
Examines the relationship between structure and function in the vertebrate body, starting at the level of molecules and cells, and moving through tissues, organs, and organ systems. Major topics include the endocrine, nervous, and cardiovascular systems; digestive physiology; and water, salt, pH balance in the body and the effects of global climate change on vertebrate physiology. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 318. Includes hypothesis-guided experiments with quantitative analysis of data. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Explores issues of experimental design, data collection, parameter estimation, and hypothesis testing as they apply to the life sciences. Topics include samples and populations, tests for goodness of fit, hypotheses about samples drawn from normally distributed populations, the binomial and Poisson distributions, analysis of variance, correlation analysis, linear regression, non-parametric tests, and power analysis. Students learn computer software applications for the analysis and graphing of data. Course material is beneficial to students planning to do research.
BIOL 181 or BIOL 182 Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Recommended: The course could count as one of the two courses in mathematics required by some health science professional schools or graduate schools in the sciences. Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning Core Component: None Click here for Course Offerings by term
Examines the role of plants in the ecological world by studying the biological and historical factors affecting the structure of plant communities, with an emphasis on field and lab work. The topic is approached by viewing plants as individuals, members of populations, communities, and as key integrators of ecosystems. The course examines individual plants from a functional perspective by relating morphological and physiological traits with biological and biochemical processes, to understand spatiotemporal patterns of plant distribution in their natural environments. Beyond the individual, the course explores population and community dynamics and combines this knowledge to understand better the organization of plant communities and the roles they play in ecosystems. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 328. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Addresses tropical ecology starting with the discoveries and theories of early explorers to modern theories of biogeography of species richness. Students also learn about the human impacts on tropical diversity and the sustainability of tropical ecosystems. Students use seminal papers as readings and discuss questions that are still debated by tropical ecologists: Why are the tropics so diverse? How is this diversity maintained? How do communities respond to disturbance? And how does global warming affect communities and
A three-week trip to the tropics, where students conduct fieldwork, complete group projects, and present their findings. The trip combines hands-on research with cultural immersion, offering a comprehensive view of the interconnectedness of ecology and local traditions Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: None Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
BIOL 329
BIOL 330Conservation Biology1.00
The widespread loss of species and concerns over how to maintain maximum genetic variability in populations are at the heart of this course. Topics include biological diversity, its measurement, and differences in diversity among habitats. The course also considers threats to biological diversity such as habitat loss, exotic species introductions, pollution, and catastrophic events. This information is used to consider various conservation strategies and sustainable development. Students take a global perspective in this course and consider how globalization affects biodiversity directly and indirectly. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Confronting Collective Challenges and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 335Freshwater Ecology1.00
Introduction to freshwater ecology, including the study of the effects of physical, chemical, and geographical factors on the structure and function of freshwater lakes and streams. The effects of human activities on water quality are also examined. There are field trips to local lakes and streams.
Required corequisite to BIOL 335. Laboratories develop skills in water chemistry; sampling, identification, and quantification of algae, aquatic plants, and animals; and the quantitative presentation of data. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Emphasizes the quantitative aspects of ecology by exploring mathematical models of competition and predation, the use of diversity and community similarity indices, population regulation models, island biogeography, key factor analysis, food web analysis, and examining community and ecosystem level processes. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 337Cancer Biology1.00
Provides students with knowledge of the fundamental principles of the molecular and cellular biology of cancer cells. Focuses on understanding how changes in the normal growth and division processes lead to human cancer. Highlights multiple areas of cancer biology including the nature of cancer, signals in tumor cells, oncogenes, tumor suppressors, cancer-causing viruses, unregulated cell proliferation, DNA damage, epigenetics, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and current therapeutic approaches to cancer treatment. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 340Marine Biology1.00
Provides students with a comprehensive analysis of marine ecological processes and in-depth examination of the biology of marine organisms. Broad ecological concepts are emphasized in a survey of marine habitats ranging from the intertidal rocky shore to deep sea hydrothermal vents. The diversity of marine organisms is considered in the context of their physical and chemical environments, and their interspecific interactions. In addition, students deliberate on specific ways in which humans impact the marine environment, particularly focusing on the effects of climate change. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206 or GEOL 135
Corequisite
None
BIOL 341Animal Behavior1.00
Explores behavior patterns of both invertebrate and vertebrates with emphasis upon their ontogeny, evolution, and adaptive significance. Lecture topics include social organization, communication and sensory systems, molecular mechanisms behavior, and mating behavior. Laboratory exercises include observational and experimental studies of the behavior of diverse species. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
An introduction to biological physics including a survey of topics such as diffusion, Brownian motion, non- Newtonian fluids, self-assembly, cooperativity, bioenergetics, and nerve impulses, as well as experimental techniques and analytical approaches. Students first develop the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to address biophysical questions. The course then focuses on the reading, presentation, and critique of current biophysics research literature. Although challenging in its breadth, this course is intended to be accessible to juniors and seniors majoring in physics, chemistry, or biology. Crosslisted: PHYS 350 When Offered: Spring semester only, in alternate years grade of C- or better Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year, Sophomore Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
MATH 161 and (PHYS 111 or PHYS 112 or PHYS 131 or PHYS 232 or PHYS 233) with a
Corequisite
None
BIOL 351Topics in Advanced Cellular Physiology1.00
The physiology of a cell is determined by a complex set of interactions between a large number of proteins. Cells, whether they are unicellular organisms or individual parts of a multicellular organism, need to respond to changing conditions. Students examine particular aspects of cellular physiology from the molecular, cellular, or biochemical perspective. The topic addressed will vary by semester and will utilize the current scientific literature to address questions raised by the topic. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: No First-year Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 355Advanced Topics in Organismal Biology
Over the past few decades there has been increasing focus on multicellular organisms at the level of expression of genomes and interactions within and among cells. Recent advances in integration of scientific perspectives from across disciplines are leading to a renewed holistic approach to the study of organismal biology. In this course, the roles of organisms in environments, their functional and behavioral diversity, their evolutionary history, and their representation of physical and living systems are explored through historical and recent literature, case studies, and consideration of how the current growth in integrative science
BIOL 355LAdvanced Topics in Organismal Biology Lab0.25
Corequisite to BIOL 355 Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Examines fundamental processes in animal and plant development, including fertilization, the establishment of embryonic polarity, the determination of cell fate in the early embryo, and the mechanisms by which cells generate the specific organizational pattern of a developing embryo. Additionally, potential medical applications resulting from the study of developmental biology are considered. Emphasis is on understanding experimental systems (including sea urchins, fruit flies, frogs, and mice) and approaches (molecular genetics, biochemistry, and classical embryonic manipulations). Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 357 . Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience in analyzing plant structures, using identification keys, and working with herbarium specimens. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Provides students with an in-depth study of biological processes at the molecular level, focusing on topics such as the regulation of transcription, RNA processing, translation, DNA replication and recombination. Emphasis is on critical reading of the scientific literature and examining current experiments that lead us to our understanding of molecular processes. majors require only BIOL 182 and should contact the instructor before registration. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206. Biochemistry
Corequisite
None
BIOL 373Virology1.00
Viruses infect every organism and are a fundamental driver of biologic processes. This course is an in-depth examination of the biology of viruses, focused on general virus replication strategies; specific viruses and their impacts on human health; and specialized topics in virology, including cancer virology, vaccines, and the use of viral vectors in biotechnology. Critical reading of the primary virological literature is an important element of the course. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 374Immunology1.00
Provides an investigation of the molecular and cellular components of the vertebrate immune system, emphasizing human immunology. Investigates the general principles that govern different components of the immune system and integrates those principles to develop a broad understanding of immune function. Topics include the generation of immunologic memory, consequences of immune system malfunction, manipulation of the immune system to positively impact human health, and methods that facilitate investigation of new questions about immune system function. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 375Advanced Genetics1.00
Provides students an in-depth study of modern genetics, focusing on topics that may include quantitative genetics, molecular genetics, medical genetics, conservation genetics or the applications of technology in genetics. Emphasis is on critical reading of the scientific literature and examining current experiments that lead us to our understanding of these topics. When offered, BIOL 375L is a required corequisite. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
None
BIOL 375LAdvanced Genetics Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 375. This laboratory is a semester-long investigative project in which students have some responsibility for experimental design. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
This seminar and laboratory course examines the physiology of the nervous system. Topics include ion channel structure and function, synaptic transmission, second messenger systems, neuromodulation, the
Neuroethology is a sub-field of neuroscience focused on the study of the neural basis of natural behavior. Many types of behavior and a wide array of animals are studied, and the approach is often comparative and evolutionary. Students delve into the neuroethological literature, examining the neural basis of animal communication, navigation, movement, sensory processing, feeding, aggression, and learning. Crosslisted: NEUR 385 & PSYC 385 Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Recommended: PSYC 309 or BIOL 320 (formerly BIOL 220) is recommended. Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Required corequisite to BIOL 385. Laboratory exercises teach methods of behavioral analysis and electrophysiological recording techniques. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
Examines the cell biology behind the functioning of the nervous system. Students explore how cells make fate decisions during neural development, how neurons elaborate the complex structures they take on, how they form and refine specific connections, and how these together allow the precise transmissions of complex signals. Students also examine the molecular pathways by which sensory systems transduce physical stimuli into electrochemical signals and integrate that information into the nervous system.
Opportunity for individual study in areas not covered by formal course offerings, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Credits: variable Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 392Topics in Molecular Biosciences (NIH Study Group)1.00
This classroom-based course will meet one day weekly. Students take turns leading a discussion summarizing the primary literature relating to each individual's research project. Each student also is required to write a summary of the literature presented by the other students in the course. Students are evaluated on the basis of their oral presentation, weekly summaries, and class participation. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 393Study Group Research (Bethesda Biomedical Research Study group)1.00
Together, this course and BIOL 493 comprise the research component of the study group experience in Bethesda. Students choose a research lab and spend a minimum of 30 hours each week engaged in a research project under the direction of a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. Projects are meaningful and authentic, pushing the frontier of science in some area of biomedical science.
Multi-cellular plants and animals develop from totipotent stem cells that are capable of making every cell type within the organism and also preserving the information needed to make additional generations. In addition, stem cells within the body contribute cells to organs throughout life and can in many cases regenerate large amounts of tissue following damage. This course examines the biology behind stem cells, both embryonic and adult cells in plants and animals, focusing on the genes and pathways that make stem cells unique in their proliferative and differentiating capacity. Additionally, this course explores the basis for regeneration, including both stem cells and cellular dedifferentiation, and examines what may limit regeneration in certain systems where it does not occur. It also explores what happens when tight control over cell proliferation and differentiation is disrupted, leading to cancer. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 201 or BIOL 202 or BIOL 203 or BIOL 204 or BIOL 205 or BIOL 206
Corequisite
BIOL 407L
BIOL 407LBiology of Stem Cells Lab0.25
Required corequisite to BIOL 407. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
This research tutorial provides students the opportunity to plan, conduct, and present original research in the area of global health and infectious disease epidemiology. Projects involve investigations in the field, laboratory, and/or data analysis. Potential topics for projects include mapping neglected tropical disease (specifically soil transmitted helminths parasite), and their impact on maternal and child health. In addition the role of H. pylori infection in extra-gastroduodenal diseases in general, in child growth development, anemia and allergic disorders in particular will be investigated in this research tutorial laboratory.
This research tutorial investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate development in the nematode C. elegans. With the help of the instructor, students design and implement experiments that utilize genetic, molecular, and microscopic techniques to understand how small RNAs, called microRNAs, and the proteins that control their expression regulate development. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 476Investigations in Biodiversity, Community, and Ecosystem Ecology1.00
Research in the lab centers on the causes of species richness patterns and how perturbations (climate change) affect those patterns. Research projects often apply the lens of climate change (e.g., biodiversity loss, global warming, increased carbon dioxide, pollution) and test explicit hypotheses on plant, community, and ecosystem responses (i.e., N deposition, fire frequency) to perturbations. Students have the opportunity to use cutting-edge laboratory, computer, and field-based methods (e.g., mass spectrometry, ecophylogenetics, carbon dioxide flux) to address these questions. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Confronting Collective Challenges and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 477Molecular Control of Neural Development1.00
This research tutorial explores the molecular and cellular basis of the development and growth of the nervous system. With the guidance of the instructor, students design and carry out an experimental plan that applies techniques from molecular biology and cell biology to open questions in developmental neurobiology. Potential topics include signaling pathways that control neural stem cells, neural plasticity, and control of regeneration following damage. Major/Minor Restrictions: None
This research tutorial exposes students to the theory and practice of systematics and their application to the study of animal ecology, evolution and diversity. Topics include population genetics of marine and terrestrial invertebrates, biogeography of deep-sea hot vent animals, the spread of invasive species, and the biodiversity of threatened ecosystems. In the laboratory, students pursue independent research projects using molecular techniques, and phylogenetic analytical methods. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
BIOL 479Investigations in Evolutionary Ecology1.00
Evolutionary ecology is the study of how ecological interactions among organisms (e.g., pollination, predation, competition, etc.) influence evolutionary change. With the guidance of the instructor, individual students or small teams test novel hypotheses in evolutionary ecology using field and/or laboratory research methods. Projects usually fall under the umbrella of plant-animal interactions, evolutionary genetics, the maintenance of variation in natural populations, or disease ecology. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
In a normal eukaryotic cell cycle, the chromosomal DNA and the centrosome of a cell are replicated once, and only once, during S phase to ensure that each daughter cell receives exactly one complement of genomic material and centrosomes. In this research tutorial, students use cellular and molecular techniques to understand the mechanisms underlying this complex phenomenon. Specifically, they investigate mechanisms through which transcription factors regulate genomic stability, normal centrosome duplication, cellular senescence, autophagy, and DNA repair. Major/Minor Restrictions: None
BIOL 481Investigations in Computational Biology1.00
Quantitative techniques have become a crucial tool in recent years for analyzing biological systems, a field which has been flooded with highly detailed experimental data due to new advanced data acquisition techniques in the biological sciences. This interdisciplinary research tutorial explores the analysis of biological systems using quantitative approaches such as mathematical modeling, statistical learning, and computer programming. The research themes include (but are not limited to) mathematical modeling of key biological systems including human circadian clock, as well as analysis of human diseases using genomic datasets and machine learning. Crosslisted: MATH 481 Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
This laboratory-based, research-oriented course examines the molecular and cellular mechanisms that enable animals to withstand a variety of environmental conditions. Students design, implement, and report on their own original research using various approaches, from classical physiology and biochemistry to modern molecular biology. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
Microorganisms, including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes, can be found in nearly every environment on earth, from oceans to soils and from plant roots to the mammalian gut. The "microbiome" describes the total of all of the microbes (and their genes) found within a particular environment, and the composition and activity of the microbiome contributes greatly to the health and function of that environment. Students examine the composition of specific microbiomes to better understand the function of microbial communities and how the environment can impact their composition and activity. Students use molecular techniques and bioinformatics to identify the microorganisms found in an environment and to explore the function of the microbes within the microbiome.
This research tutorial examines the mechanism and regulation of cellular gene expression in response to infection by mammalian reovirus. Students address these questions by conducting independent laboratory research projects using biochemical, molecular biological, and cell biological approaches. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
This research tutorial explores issues, methodology, and experimental designs in fields associated with animal and human behavior including molecular ecology, behavioral ecology, conservation biology, and behavioral genetics of social insects and humans. Research can involve both field and laboratory work. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
This research tutorial allows students to learn a variety of molecular genetic and bioinformatic techniques to address questions of how genetic variation affects function in prokaryotic organisms. With the guidance of the instructor, students design projects to address questions on DNA repair mechanisms and gene expression in bacteria. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics
This research tutorial provides students the opportunity to plan, conduct, and present original research in terrestrial ecology. Projects involve investigations in the field, laboratory, or both. Students focus on a particular species or group of species according to interest and feasibility. Potential topics for projects include invasive species, acid deposition, and competition among similar species. Emphasis is placed on the application of ecological, behavioral, and physiological principles to understanding the abundance and distribution of species in real landscapes. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
This research tutorial uses plants to investigate the relationships between internal events (physiology) and external events (ecology) by combining current readings from the primary scientific literature with laboratory and field experiments. Topics include energetics, reproductive strategies, and seed dormancy and germination. The goal is completion of a project suitable for publication in a scientific journal. Students learn how to search literature, critique articles, design experiments, collect and analyze data, and present information in manuscript form to submit for publication. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
Opportunity for individual study in areas not covered by formal course offerings, under the guidance of a member of the faculty. Credits: variable Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: None Core Component: None
BIOL 493Study Group Research (NIH Study group)1.00
Together, BIOL 393 and this course comprise the research component of the study group experience in Bethesda. Students choose a research lab and spend a minimum of 30 hours each week engaged in a research project under the direction of a researcher at the National Institutes of Health. Projects are meaningful and authentic, pushing the frontier of science in some area of biomedical science. Major/Minor Restrictions: None Class Restriction: None Area of Inquiry: Natural Sciences & Mathematics Liberal Arts Practices: Quantitative and Algorithmic Reasoning and The Process of Writing Core Component: None
