An introduction to molecular and cellular biology primarily for those who intend to continue in biology, but open to interested non-science majors as well. Topics covered include biochemistry, microbiology, cytology, genetics, and immunology. Those students majoring in biology are strongly encouraged to enroll in Chemistry 101 concurrently.

A consideration of biological inheritance in eukaryotes (cells with membrane-bound nuclei). Topics include chromosome structure and abnormalities, mitosis, Mendelian genetics, genetic recombination and mapping, extranuclear genetic systems, control of gene expression, human genetics, and population genetics. Laboratory work will deal with the above topics as they pertain to plant, animal, and fungal material.

Prerequisites: High School Biology and Chemistry

An introduction to the biology of microorganisms, with emphasis on bacteria and viruses. Topics include classification, physiology, reproduction, and ecological interrelationships. Prerequisites: Biology 201, Chemistry 201-202.

This course is an introduction to the principles that govern the interactions of plants and animals with their physical and biotic environment. The course will stress modern concepts of community structure and development as well as the evolution and adaptation of individuals to their environment. We will have lectures, labs, and field trips. Prerequisites: Biology 101-102, Chemistry 101-102, and permission of the instructor.

In this course, we will consider aspects of global change (such as global warming, habitat fragmentation, loss of biological diversity, and increased human population densities) that may influence the prevalence of infectious diseases worldwide. For example, people have hypothesized that global warming will increase the prevalence of a number of diseases by allowing vectors of those diseases to expand their ranges. Our focus will be on understanding and interpreting what scientific evidence, if any, exists for these types of relationships. We will consider both diseases of local concern, such as Lyme disease and West Nile Encephalitis, and diseases of worldwide significance, such as cholera and malaria. This course is appropriate for upper-level biology students with an interest in disease biology, medicine, global change, and/or ecology.

This course will examine the different computational methods used to search for, analyze, classify, and model DNA and RNA sequences. This includes sequence comparison methods such as BlastX, alignment methods such as ClustalX, neural net solutions, and the use of hidden-markov models (HMMs). The emphasis of this course will be on both the use of and familiarization with tools to find and predict genetic information.

Prerequisite: Biology 101 and Introduction to Computer Science, or permission of the instructor.

An examination of our principal defense against infection: the immune response. The body's ability to distinguish between self and non-self will be considered on the cellular and molecular levels. Topics for discussion include the development of immunity, allergic reactions, transplant rejection, immune diseases, the relationship between cancer and the immune system, and the genetics of immunoglobulin production.

Prerequisites: Biology 201 and Chemistry 201-202. Biology 301-302 recommended.