Biological Sciences

Advanced treatment of the structure, growth, and activities of microorganisms including medical microbiology, microbial pathogenesis and environmental microbiology. Three hour lecture; three-hour lab. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 303.

Introduces the relations of plants and animals to their organic and inorganic environments emphasizing phenomena and causes of distribution and abundance at the population and community levels. Includes a field-oriented laboratory. Three-hour lecture; three-hour lab; field trips. Requires lab fees. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 305.

Regulation of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and the control of the synthesis of other macromolecules. Three-hour lecture/discussion. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 309.

Examines fundamental concepts in freshwater ecology, including the physical and chemical aspects of water and the significance of these properties for plants and animals at the individual, population and community levels. Includes experimental research and field surveys. Three-hour lecture; three-hour lab. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 310.

Introduces basic mechanisms of evolutionary change including population genetics and speciation. Considers evolutionary history including phylogenetic estimation, the fossil record, and biogeography. Three-hour lecture. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 314.

Examines the fundamental ecological and cultural drivers of the biodiversity crisis emphasizing proven strategies for maintaining and improving ecological diversity in our local and regional ecosystems. Three-hour lecture. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 336.

Explores diverse molecular mechanisms of microbial physiology. Topics include microbial regulation of gene expression, metabolism, behavior, symbiosis, and applications to biotechnology. Three-hour lecture/discussion. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 411.

Covers statistical methods for ecological and evolutionary studies. Three-hour lecture; three-hour lab.

Examines the evolution of nucleic acids and proteins. Five major topics: genetic variability; the causes of molecular evolution and the neutral theory; methods of detecting genetic variability; the use of molecular markers for estimating phylogeny; and the evolution of genome structure. Three-hour lecture/discussion. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 414.

Familiarizes students with the use of scientific instruments and techniques, and developing proficiency in the process of scientific investigation. Includes methods for analysis of biological macromolecules. Four-hour lab. Requires Fees. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 435, CHEM 308.

Provides practical experience applying the theories from general ecology and conservation ecology toward developing strategies for protecting and enhancing ecological diversity. Emphasizes mastering the multi-dimensional methods, tools and skills needed by modern conservation professionals. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 436.

Provides a capstone experience in applied field and laboratory research. Includes sampling natural and experimental populations and ecological communities coupled with multivariate statistical and analytical methods commonly used in ecology and evolutionary biology. One-hour lecture; three-hour lab. Requires lab fees. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 445.

In-depth coverage of selected research topics in molecular biology, including DNA replication, transcription, translation, and other current topics. Three-hour lecture.

Provides practical experience in use of computer programming for development of relevant bioinformatics applications. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 480.

Covers advanced molecular biology methods for the extraction/isolation and analysis of protein and nucleic acids. One-hour lecture; four-hours lab. Requires fees. Multi-career cross-listing: BIOS 485.

Selected advanced topics in the molecular biology.

Advanced study performed under the supervision of a regular faculty member. Suitability as an elective for the masters of applied molecular biology is determined on a case-by-case basis by the MAMB program committee.