Introduces students to experimental approaches, including mammalian cell culture, gel electrophoresis, western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy, that are used to study both normal and pathological processes at the level of individual cells. The biological theme of the course will be Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders. One laboratory lecture and one afternoon laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000

This course for advanced undergrads will focus mainly on research about Alzheimer's disease, and will meet once/week for 3 hours. The first 3 weeks will be primarily didactic, and the remainder of the course will be a "journal club" in which primary research paper discussions will be led by teams of students. Assessments will be based on how well students lead and participate in discussions, and on exams.

The goal of this course is to provide an original, unknown outcome research experience in developmental biology. After training in basic methods and descriptions of selected research problems, students form teams and investigate a problem of their choosing. Team members work together in the lab, but each writes an independent research proposal, a notebook, and a final project report on which they are graded. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000 or 3010.

From plants to humans, hormones shape various aspects of organismal form and behavior over contemporary and evolutionary time. Delve into endocrine pathways, hormones' influence on development, and their role in coordinating responses to environmental and physiological stimuli. Gain a deep understanding endocrinology theories, concepts, and methods, and the ability to critically evaluate hormonal impacts on ecosystem and human health.

The mathematical foundations of population dynamics and species interactions as applied to population and community ecology and problems in conservation biology. One semester of calculus is recommended. Prerequisite: BIOL 3020 or EVSC 3200

Despite the many benefits of asexual reproduction, the vast majority of eukaryotic organisms reproduce sexually. How sex evolved, and how it persists despite its many associated costs, are major unanswered questions in biology. We will explore the diversity of sexual reproduction and associated evolutionary phenomena with a focus on critically evaluating current research and theory in this field.Prerequisite: BIOL 3020 or permission from Instructor

Introduces biological timekeeping as used by organisms for controlling diverse processes, including sleep-wakefulness cycles, photoperiodic induction and regression, locomotor rhythmicity, eclosion rhythmicity, and the use of the biological clock in orientation and navigation. Prerequisite: BIOL 3000 or 3010 or 3020

Focuses on the fundamental knowledge about organization, expression, and inheritance of the human genome. Reviews classical Mendelian genetics and human genetic (pedigree) analysis. Emphasizes understanding human genetics in molecular terms. Includes gene mapping procedures, methodologies for identifying genes responsible for inherited diseases, the molecular basis of several mutant (diseased) states, the human genome project, and discussions about genetic screening and gene therapy. Prerequisite: BIOL 3010.

This course uses a case study approach to examine cellular processes that underlie diverse diseases and to identify the relevant molecular components that have been validated or that may serve as new therapeutic targets. We will discuss both established, transformative drugs as well as novel, emerging therapies under development. We will consider socio-economic and demographic issues that impact the accessibility and affordability of new drugs.

This laboratory course provides hands-on experiences with experimental approaches used to study animal behavior. The laboratory exercises explore visual and auditory sensory perception, biological clock, reproductive and aggressive behaviors using actively behaving animals such as hamsters, cichlid fish, crickets and electric fish. Students are given opportunities to design hypothesis-testing experiments in some laboratories.