Courses

Biol380 Population Genetics (Fall Term)

Population genetics is a branch of evolutionary biology concerned with the genetic structure of populations and how it changes through time in response to evolutionary forces (e.g., selection, mutation, migration, and drift). Population genetics is an abstraction of the evolutionary process and involves a fair amount of mathematics – primarily algebra, probability theory, and calculus. This course will focus on the theoretical basis of population genetics combined with empirical case studies representing applications of evolutionary genetics. A mathematical background including Calculus is recommended though not required. Prerequisites: Biol271 and Biol271L.

BIOL380 Genomics (Spring Term).

4 Credits. This course will survey the recent advances in genomics including: transmission of genetic information, the structure of the genome and its components (genes, regulatory elements, microRNAs, etc), the evolution of genomes, the relationship between genomes and phenotypes including molecular  population genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. The laboratory will consist of problem sets and independent projects where students would learn basic-to-advanced computational skills and bioinformatic techniques while working with real genomic and genetic data. The lab will focus on the use of next-generation sequencing data to understand genomes and their architecture. The course will be laboratory-intensive with many lecture periods being used as laboratory periods.

BIOL380 Practical Computing for Biologists (Fall Term).

4 Credits. Biological data is getting more expansive with every passing year, making it necessary to develop new computational approaches to gather, sort, analyze, and visualize data.  This course, will survey a variety of computational approaches used in the analysis of biological data.  This course is specifically designed for students with little-to-no experience writing computer code.  Students will experience working in a UNIX-like environment, be introduced to a variety of scripting languages (Python, Perl, Ruby, R, bash), and be introduced to the creation and use of databases.  The course will be laboratory-intensive with many lecture periods being used as laboratory periods. PREREQUISITE: Biol270 or permission of instructor.

BIOL380.03. Seminar in Mathematical Biology.

2 Credits. In today’s world, a cross-disciplinary approach to biology and mathematics is becoming increasingly important. This seminar will survey topics at the intersection of these two fields. This course is for upper-division Biology majors or upper-division Mathematics majors, and it is cross-listed as MATH380. Students may receive credit for either course but not both. Permission of instructor is required.

BIOL 106L. Principles of Biol II Lab (Spring Term).

1 Cedit. A laboratory course to accompany Principles of Biology II. Topics include plant and animal diversity as they relate to structure, function, adaptation and fundamental principles of evolution. Students will design and execute a series of their own experiments, then present their results orally and in writing. Prerequisite: BIOL 105, BIOL 105L. Corequisite: BIOL 106.

BIOL 270. Genetics (Fall Term).

4 Credits. An examination of the fundamental principles underlying heredity and variation. This course will trace the origins of contemporary genetic thought from the discovery of Mendel’s Laws through the development of the chromosome theory of inheritance, followed by a consideration of the recent advances in molecular genetics. Prerequisites: BIOL 106, BIOL 106L. Co-requisite: BIOL 270L, CHEM 103.

BIOL 270 L.Genetics Lab (Fall Term).

1 Credit. A laboratory course to accompany Genetics. Methodologies pertinent to classical Mendelian and modern molecular genetics will be included. Students will undertake an investigative experience to learn the elements of experimental design and interpretation of results. Prerequisite: BIOL 106, BIOL 106L. Co-requisite: BIOL 270L, CHEM 103.