Course List with Links to Descriptions
-
-
Genetics -- either Biology 261 or 262 -
BIOLOGY 131: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY I (Fall) Profs. Prestwich and Madhavan
The first Biology course taken by majors it is required except in cases of advanced placement)
Biology is a fragmented discipline subdivided into a myriad of specializations. Biology 131 attempts to provide a coherent, unified picture of biology by ordering principles around structural levels of organization from macromolecules to ecosystems. Emphasis is placed upon interrelationships among the structural levels, and topics discussed are chosen to illustrate the correlation of structural and functional properties at each level. In addition, the basic principles of genetics, development, behavior, and evolution are discussed.
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY I--LABORATORY (Fall -- required as part of Biology 131) Staff.
The primary goal of the laboratory is to begin to introduce students to the practical application of scientific thinking to biology. Exercises are designed to provide the student not only with some of the factual basis of modern biology, but more importantly, they center on an introduction to the rigorous application of scientific methodology including statistics and modeling. During the early part of the semester, data gathering is dependent on direct observation and is relatively straightforward, while later exercises emphasize experimental testing of hypotheses. Topics covered using this approach include histology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, biochemistry, and ecology. Writen and oral formal lab reports are required. Quizzes, other assignments, and practical exams are also given.
BIOLOGY 132: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY II (Spring)
General Information about Bio 132 : Biology 132 covers plant and animal diversity and is required of all biology majors. A half semester of the course is devoted to botany and the other half to invertebrate zoology.
Botany -- Professor Hoffmann
The botanical portion of the course includes a phylogenetic survey and selected topics in plant physiology. The emphasis in the survey is on comparative morphology, life cycles, systematics, and evolution. The organisms studied include plants in the common sense of the word; green, red, and brown algae; other algal groups that are sometimes considered as protozoans or protists (e.g., euglenoids, diatoms, and dinoflagellates); myxomycetes; and fungi. Physiological topics include water relations, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, carbohydrate translocation and storage, nitrogen metabolism, plant hormones, and development. Laboratory sessions involve the study of algae, fungi, bryophytes, ferns, conifers, and flowering plants and experiments in plant physiology. Evaluations in the botanical part of the course include laboratory assignments, a laboratory notebook, and two examinations based on the lectures, the laboratory, and reading assignments.
Zoology -- Professor Bertin
The half semester devoted to zoology surveys selected groups of animal-like protists and invertebrate animals. The emphasis of the subject matter varies from group to group and may involve comparative morphology and physiology, life history, ecology or behavior. A few special topics are included. Labs emphasize taxonomy and morphology of major groups.
BIOLOGY 261: GENETICS (Fall) -- Prof. Hoffmann
Prerequisites: Biology 131, 132 and Chemistry 221
This course is required of all biology majors. Other genetics courses, with or without laboratory, may be substituted to fulfill the requirement if the prerequisites and content are equivalent.
The genetics course provides an understanding of mechanisms of heredity and genetic analysis. It covers the transmission of genetic characteristics between generations, the cellular basis of heredity, the molecular basis of heredity, and the behavior of genes in populations. Interrelationships among these broad areas are emphasized in the treatment of such topics as genetic mapping, mutation, applied molecular genetics, physiological genetics, quantitative inheritance, immunogenetics, and genetic regulation. Examples that illustrate genetic principles are selected from organisms that range from bacteria and viruses to humans. The relationship of genetic principles to human heredity, agriculture, medicine, and evolution is explored.
The laboratory component of the course involves experimental work with a variety of organisms (bacteria, fungi, plants, and fruit flies) and with isolated DNA. It includes interpretive studies in human genetics and cytogenetics. The central theme of the laboratory is genetic analysis, but it also provides experience in basic laboratory techniques and illustrates genetic principles discussed in the lectures. In addition to attending scheduled laboratory sessions, students must come to the laboratory at other times in order to maintain experiments in progress or record results.
Evaluations are based on laboratory assignments, a laboratory notebook, two major examinations during the semester, and a comprehensive final examination. The examinations draw on the lectures, laboratory, and readings. Besides reading text assignments, students are required to read primary scientific literature; citations to journal articles that relate to the lectures are distributed in class.
BIOLOGY 262: GENETICS (Every second or third year in Spring) -- Prof. Hoffmann
Prerequisites: Biology 131, 132 and Chemistry 221.
This course covers mechanisms of heredity and genetic analysis. Topics include Mendelian inheritance, chromosome structure and function, genetic mapping, molecular genetics, mutation, physiological genetics, genetic regulation, quantitative inheritance, interactions between heredity and environment, and population genetics. This course is a nonlaboratory equivalent to Biology 261 (please see the course description immediately above).
