Biology

Biology courses marked with an asterisk (*) are usually scheduled every other academic year. Courses marked with the symbol (†) may be offered at the discretion of the department.

BI 121-122 General and Human Biology with Laboratory I and II (back to previous page)
An introduction to the study of biology which integrates biological principles and human biology. Major topics covered are biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, anatomy and physiology, behavior, ecology, and evolution. The laboratory involves experimentation and demonstration of principles covered in lecture. BI 121 is a prerequisite for BI 122. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours each term.

BI 125 Contemporary Issues in Biology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
This course explores topics related to biological sciences. The goal is to foster an informed citizenship prepared for current biological debates. Students will learn the relevant biological principles in lecture and laboratory. The dynamic nature of scientific investigation may require adjustment and variation in the specific topics covered each year. Topics may include emerging diseases, cardiovascular health, reproduction, genetics, evolution, ecology, and conservation. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 250 Invertebrate Zoology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 122 or BI 254. A survey of invertebrate phyla focusing on taxonomy, evolutionary relationships, structure and function, physiological adaptations, and life modes. Laboratory include: examination of the structure and anatomy of representative taxa from the phyla, experiments and observations on behavior, and responses to varying environmental conditions. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 253-254 Biology for Science Majors with Laboratory I and II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite or corequisite: M 109. A discussion of the principles of biological organization from the molecular level through the ecological. The basic course for biology and environmental studies majors. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours each term.

BI 259-260 Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology with Laboratory I and II (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 121, BI 122, BI 253, or BI 254. Examination of structure and function of vertebrate organ systems with an emphasis on human systems. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours each term.

BI 261 Introduction to Biochemistry (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: CH 105 or equivalent. An introduction to biochemistry including the study of pH, water bioenergetics, enzymes, and the structure, function, and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. A non-laboratory course for students in dental hygiene and dietetics. Not open to biology majors. 3 credit hours.

BI 301 Microbiology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 121 or BI 253 and one college course in general chemistry. A history of microbiology and a survey of microbial life. Includes viruses, rickettsia, bacteria, blue-green algae, and fungi; their environment, growth, reproduction, metabolism, and relationship to man. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

*BI 303 Cells and Tissues with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 121 or BI 253. Microscopic and chemical structures of normal tissues, organs, and their cellular constituents as related to function. Laboratory includes microscopic observation, tissue staining, and slide preparation. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 304 Immunology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 121 or BI 253 and one college course in general chemistry. The nature of antigens and antibodies, formation and action of the latter, other immunologically active components of blood and tissues, and various immune reactions. Laboratory emphasizes current antibody methodology. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

*BI 305 Developmental Biology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 122 or BI 254. A survey of developmental biology integrating classical embryology with modern concepts of cellular development. Laboratory will include examination of embryonic serial sections as well as modern cellular and molecular studies of development. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 306 Genetics (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 253 or BI 121. This course is a survey of modern genetics that integrates the principles and concepts discovered in viruses, bacteria, and mammals including humans. Topics include organization of the chromosome, transmission genetics, DNA fingerprinting, linkage and mapping, mutations and chromosomal aberrations, organelle genetics, genetic engineering, population genetics, and evolution. 3 credit hours.

BI 308 Cell Biology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 121 or BI 253, one college course in general chemistry, and one college course in general physics. Basic theories of physiology as applied to cells. Emphasis on cellular structure and function as well as cell-cell interactions in multicellular organisms. Laboratory will stress practical aspects and modern techniques. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 311 Molecular Biology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 121, or BI 253, plus CH 115 and 117 . An in-depth discussion of nucleic acids, the flow of information from nucleic acids to protein and the control of gene activity. Laboratory emphasizes the techniques of modern molecular biology. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 320 Ecology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: CH 116 and BI 254 (or BI 122 with permission of instructor). An investigation of the major subdisciplines of ecology including organismal, population, community ecosystem, and landscape ecology. Human impacts and environmental management and assessment are also considered. Laboratory includes designing ecological studies, field sampling techniques, ecological analysis, using global positioning systems in ecological studies, and gathering information on the Internet. Several weekend field classes are required. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

†BI 433 Medical Microbiology with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 301, CH 115. A study of the more common diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including their etiology, transmission, laboratory diagnosis, and control. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 461 Biochemistry with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: CH 201, CH 202, CH 203, and CH 204. A survey of biochemistry including a discussion of pH, buffers, water, bioenergetics, oxidative phosphorylation, enzymology, metabolic regulation, and the structure, function, and metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, vitamins, and cofactors. Laboratory exercises are primarily designed to concentrate on various experimental techniques including electrophoresis, chromatography, spectrophotometry, centrifugation, and enzymology. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 493 Evaluation of Scientific Literature (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: science major with junior or senior standing. In this seminar-format course the student will be trained to present and critically analyze research papers. In the first part of the semester students will be instructed in critically reading and evaluating primary research articles. In the latter part of the semester the students will present primary research articles from the recent and historical literature and a review topic in a seminar format. Active class participation in seminars is mandatory. 3 credit hours.

BI 498 Internship (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: junior or senior standing; biology or environmental science major. Supervised field experience for qualified students in areas related to biology and/or environmental science. Minimum of 150 hours of field experience required. 3 credit hours.

BI 501 Protein Biochemistry and Enzymology (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 461, CH 201-204. First in a series of advanced biochemistry courses; examines the relationship between protein structure and function. Topics include properties of proteins and amino acids, protein folding, enzyme kinetics, and enzyme regulation. 3 credit hours.

BI 503 Biochemistry of Nucleic Acid (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 461, CH 201-204. Second course in the advanced biochemistry course series; examines cellular metabolism, the transfer of chemical energy, and the biosynthesis of amino acids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and nucleotides. 3 credit hours.

BI 506 Genomics (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 311. This course combines information from the most recent genomic projects with traditional genetic research methods to provide novel understanding of the role of the genome as the blueprint of life. Emphasis is placed on exploring the expression of genes in context of the activity and function of the whole genome. Topics include genome anatomy, functional genomics, regulation of the activity of the genome, genome evolution, proteomics, genome engineering, and computational genomics. 3 credit hours.

*BI 510 Environmental Health (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 260 and a college chemistry course. The emphasis is on the health effects of environmental and occupational pollutants and on the spread and control of communicable diseases. Toxicological and epidemiological techniques are discussed. 3 credit hours.

BI 511 Molecular Biology of Proteins with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: BI 311 and BI 461. Because the techniques for working with proteins are basic to the cell and molecular biologist and extend beyond the understanding of basic protein biochemistry, this course provides a theoretical understanding of methods commonly utilized for protein/peptide analysis. In the laboratory students will isolate proteins from various tissues or expression systems and analyze them by one–and two–dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 513 Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids with Laboratory (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 503 or permission of the instructor. Examination of gene expression and the techniques available for manipulating DNA, RNA, and protein expression. Course utilizes an extensive laboratory component to instruct students in the practical and technical aspects of working with nucleic acids. Laboratory fee; 4 credit hours.

BI 520 Bioinformatics (back to previous page)
Prerequisite: BI 311. Students will become familiar with uses of computers in cellular and molecular biology and will be introduced to databases that are presently available for nucleic acid and protein sequences as well as literature citations. Students will work with modeling software which looks for potential secondary structures within both protein and DNA sequences. 3 credit hours.

BI 590 Special Topics in Biology/Science (back to previous page)
Course(s) covering topics in biology or science which are of special or current interest. 1-4 credit hours.

BI 595-596 Laboratory Research I and II (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: biology major, consent of the department. Choice of a research topic, literature search, planning of experiments, experimentation and correlation of results in a written report, under the guidance of a department faculty member. Three hours of work per week required per credit hour. Laboratory fee; 1-6 credit hours.

BI 599 Independent Study (back to previous page)
Prerequisites: biology major, consent of the department. Weekly conferences with advisor. Three hours of work per week required per credit hour. Opportunity for the student, under the direction of a faculty member, to explore an area of personal interest. A written report of the work carried out is required. 1-3 credit hours; maximum of 6.

Biology  - Graduate Courses

BI 605 Biostatistics (back to previous page)
A non-calculus-based course which includes basic concepts of probability and statistics. These concepts are applied to problems in human biology, industrial/occupational health and epidemiology. Introduction to and use of the computer package SPSSx for data analysis. (See also M 605).