BIOLOGY 223: MICROBIOLOGY (Fall) -- Prof. Vargas
General topics covered in Microbiology include the history and development of microbiology, microbial metabolism, the role of microbes in disease, and microbial evolution. The biology of viruses and of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms is explored with special reference to bacteria and fungi. The course provides an overview of bacterial taxonomy and diversity, catabolic and biosynthetic pathways, microbial growth, genetics, symbiosis, and industrial and environmental microbiology. The laboratory emphasizes pure culture methods and diagnostic microbiology. It offers an exposure to modern instruments and techniques (e.g., microscopy, spectrophotometry, chromatography, and electrophoresis).
BIOLOGY 266: CELL BIOLOGY (Spring) -- Prof. Ledbetter
Prerequisites: Biology 131 and 132 or Biology 120; Chemistry 221.
The course involves the study of the structure and function of the generalized cell of higher organisms, both animal and plant, and their parts. This includes consideration of metabolism and enzyme action. Throughout, we emphasize the experimental approach, and the critical evaluation of experimental evidence. To that end, the laboratory exercises include experience with enzyme assays, cell fractionation, microscopy, cell culture and transport techniques, among others. Some experiments may require time in addition to scheduled laboratory periods. There may be the opportunity for independent laboratory projects in years when enrollment is low. If time permits, there is discussion of special topics and presentation of reports by the students of library or laboratory research projects. This part is flexible and may vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the students enrolled and the size of the class. Some experiments may require time in addition to scheduled laboratory periods. There may be the opportunity for independent laboratory projects in years when enrollment is low.
BIOLOGY 301: BIOCHEMISTRY I (Fall) -- Prof. Bellin
Prerequisite: Chemistry 101 and 221.
Objectives: To acquaint the student with the detailed chemistry of bio-organic and bio-inorganic molecules in biological systems. This course features a detailed consideration of buffers, protein structure, enzyme catalysis, intermediary metabolism and the bioenergetics and thermodynamics pertinent to these topics. More specifically, we study:
1. calculations for preparing biological buffers,
2. an overview of cell structure and its relationship to cell function,
3. the concept of active sites in enzyme molecules as well as the derivation and application of Michaelis-Menten kinetics,
4. amino acid chemistry as it relates to the structure and function of protein molecules,
5. the detailed biochemistry and bioenergetics involved in the conversion of:
a. glucose to carbon dioxide and water (glycolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase and Krebs cycle),
b. the oxidation of fatty acids to carbon dioxide and water(beta-oxidation and Krebs cycle),
c. the synthesis of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.
This course may be taken either with or without the lab (Biology 303).
BIOLOGY 302: BIOCHEMISTRY II (Spring) -- Prof. Bellin
Prerequisite: Biology 301.
This is a continuation of Biochemistry I. Specifically, we examine:
- 1. the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis,
- 2. the pentose phosphate shunt,
- 3. glycogen synthesis and degradation and its regulation,
- 4. carbohydrate synthesis,
- 5. fatty acid, phospholipid and cholesterol synthesis,
- 6. amino acid metabolism,
- 7. nucleotide structure and biosynthesis,
- 8. DNA structure and replication,
- 9. the molecular biology of transcription and translation.
This course may be taken either with or without the lab (Biology 304).
BIOLOGY 303: BIOCHEMISTRY I LABORATORY (Fall) -- Prof. Bellin
Objectives: To acquaint the student with several current biochemical laboratory techniques. Lab exercises include several of the following:
- 1. making biological buffers and utilizing a pH meter,
- 2. molecular exclusion chromatography,
- 3. quantitative spectrophotometry,
- 4. purification of an enzyme,
- 5. kinetics of this enzyme (measuring Vmax and Km),
- 6. polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis,
- 7. preparing mitochondria and measuring respiratory rates, P/O ratios and respiratory control rates,
- 8. preparing spinach chloroplasts and measuring light-dependent O2 evolution, electron flow and ATP production.
These experiments provide each student with "hands on" experience in these areas. The grade is determined primarily from the write-ups of the labs, which are comprehensive.
BIOLOGY 304: BIOCHEMISTRY II LABORATORY (Spring) -- Prof. Bellin
Prerequisites: Biology 301 and 302.
The Biochemistry II labs provide students with hands-on experience with techniques in molecular biology currently used by researchers worldwide. General areas of research covered include restriction endonucleases, DNA isolation, PCR, DNA sequencing, and molecular modeling. The emphasis in lab includes the principles behind modern molecular techniques and the reasons for selecting one approach over another to answer a given set of questions. Skills gained by students include data analysis, statistics, and experimental design.
The questions posed over the course of a semester will focus on DNA isolation and its biochemical and thermodynamic characterization. Students are introduced first to DNA isolation, amplification, and analysis. Subsequently, students sequence their purified DNA samples. Finally, students make predictions about the stability and structure of their DNA and then test these predictions through direct measurement and computer modeling.
BIOLOGY 320: MOLECULAR GENETICS (Spring) -- Prof. Constance
Prerequisites: Biology
Biology 120 or 261 or 262 or 266 or 301.
The molecular genetics course begins with an introduction of DNA, RNA, and protein structure and function, followed by an in-depth study of mechanisms that regulate gene expression at these three levels. A survey of cutting edge techniques that are used to evaluate gene expression, such as real-time PCR analysis, reporter gene technology, and microarray analysis, will then be covered from a historical perspective to the current capabilities of these technologies. As the field of molecular genetics is evolving rapidly, current literature will be an integral part of the course. The laboratory portion of the course will be a progressive project that uses molecular genetic techniques, with a central theme of evaluation of gene expression. In addition to attending scheduled laboratory sessions, students must come to laboratory at other times in order to maintain experiments in progress or record results. Evaluations are based on laboratory assignments, a laboratory notebook, student presentations of journal articles, three examinations during the semester, and a fourth exam during the final examination period. The examinations draw on the lectures, laboratory and readings.
BIOLOGY 341: VIROLOGY (Fall) -- Professor Sheehy
Prerequisites: Biology 261 or 262 or 266.
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the incredible world of viruses. It is taught as a survey course, using specific viruses as representatives of the virus families. The molecular events surrounding the individual stages of the viral lifecycle, as well as the interplay between viruses and their hosts (specifically the defenses an invading pathogen must evade), will be examined. “Hot” topics such as H5N1 (avian flu), “mad cow” disease and the HPV vaccine will be included in the lectures. Assessment will be via three exams (two during the course and one final), a paper presentation (journal club style), and a term paper.
BIOLOGY 351: CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY (Taught On Occasion) -- Staff
Prerequisites: Biology 266; Chemistry 221 and 222.
This course is designed to explore the cellular and molecular biology of excitable cells and tissues including nerve, skeletal muscle, and heart. The hallmark of nerve and muscle cells is their ability to transform a chemical signal into an electrical signal. We discuss how these cells are designed to perform this task in such an elegant manner. In addition to cellular architecture, the molecular basis of signal transduction is explored. The contributions of diverse fields such as molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, histology, biophysics, embryology, and physiology are presented in order to better understand the structure/function relationship of excitable cells and proteins expressed within those cells. In addition to textbook readings, there are frequent additional readings from scientific literature. These papers are selected to emphasize the scientific approaches and methods used by neurobiologists to gain insight into the cell biology of the nervous system.
The laboratory section of this course introduces students to three types of excitable cells--neuronal, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle. Emphasis is placed on experimental approaches to answering questions in molecular neurobiology. Techniques learned include cell culture, isolation of DNA and RNA, Northern blot analysis, immunofluorescence, and neuropharmacology.
Please note that this course or another neurobiology course is offered most years although sometimes it is listed as a "problems in biology" course.
Biology 392: IMMUNOLOGY (Spring) Professor Sheehy
Prerequisites: Biology 261 or 262 or 266.
The focus of this course is to provide you with an introduction to the immune system with the primary focus on the molecular aspects of the system. The immune system is our defense against a vast array of pathogenic invaders and foreign insults. The molecules, organs and networks of the immune system are engaged in a constant battle to eliminate viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. An understanding of the immune system is critical to a range of scientific fields from issues of donor-matching for transplantation to questions of vaccine design. Unfortunately, the immune system can and does fail us- leading to both diseases of immunodeficiency and immunosuppression; both of these will be discussed.
This course is taught as a lecture-based course with a lab component. Students will also read and present primary literature (journal articles) to explore the most recent advances in the field. Course grading is based on three exams (two during the semester plus a final), an in-class presentation and two lab reports.
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