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Course Criteria
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 113, 220 or permission of the instructor. This course examines how the architecture of specific types of neurons affect the neuron’s ability to receive, process, and transmit synaptic information. Topics may also include neurogenesis, axonal growth and regeneration, axonal pathfinding, and synaptogenesis. Students conduct original research in the laboratory and acquire skills with various imaging techniques and analytical tools. Laboratory course. Watson.
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1.00 Credits
Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 113, junior standing or departmental permission. Seminar topics vary with instructor and term. Sample topics include: genetics, molecular genetics, virology, evolutionary biology, history of medicine, biology of aging, ecology, cancer, reproductive strategies, neuroendocrinology, microbiology and immunology. These are in-depth studies of restricted topics within the broad areas indicated by the titles, involving critical review of literature, discussion and oral and/or written presentation. One such seminar is required of each major pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, and no more than two may be counted toward the 30 credits in biology required for the major. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.
Topics for Winter 2011:
BIOL 295A: Topics in Biology: Yellowstone Ecology (1). Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 113, and at least junior standing or departmental permission. This course examines the interactions of microbes, plants and animals in the world’s oldest national park. Through weekly readings, discussions, presentations and written works, we cover topics including soil microbes, grazing, fire, predators, and ecosystem function. Hamilton
BIOL 295B: Topics in Biology: The Power of Plagues (1). Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 113, and at least junior standing or departmental permission This seminar concerns the biology of the various plagues affecting human society throughout history. Simurda.
BIOL 295C: Topics in Biology: The Cancer Problem (1). Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 113, and at least junior standing or departmental permission. An exploration of the nature of neoplastic disease from the perspectives of epidemiology, genetics, cell biology and public policy. Included are: student presentations of selected cancer topics, group discussions and a term paper on a topic chosen by the student. Wielgus.
Topics for Fall 2010:
BIOL 295A: Silk Diversity and Evolution (1). Silk synthesis is a striking adaptation that has evolved numerous times in the history of life. In addition to spiders and silk moth caterpillars, at least five other arthropod orders have independently evolved silk production. Silk fibers spun by these different orders display striking divergence and convergence in ecological functions, material properties, and molecular architecture. This course reviews the diversity of arthropod silks from an applied and biological perspective. Ayoub
BIOL 295B: Mammalian Reproductive Strategies (1). This seminar focuses on the diversity of mating strategies exhibited by members of the mammalian class. Through critical review of the literature, individual student presentations, and group discussions, students explore the complex nature of mammals and examine how natural selection and environmental pressures have helped shape reproductive strategies.Wallis
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 111 or PHYS 112 or permission of the instructor. Topic for Spring, 2010:
BIOL 296: Excitable Cells and Drug Discovery: Prerequisite: BIOL 111 or PHYS 112 or permission of the instructor. This course integrates biology, physics and math concepts as it examines the structure and function of ion channels in excitable nerve and muscle cells, their role in the pathogenesis of ion-channel diseases (disease caused by ion-channel dysfunction), and the use of ion channels as drug targets. In particular, we examine the kinetics of sodium, potassium, and calcium channels, patch-clamp recording technique and analysis, mathematical modeling of neuronal and cardiac action potentials, ion-channel diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, and drug treatments for ion-channel diseases. Students learn quantitative aspects of biology through mathematical analysis of ion-channel kinetics and action-potential modeling. Laboratory course. Blandino
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisites vary with topic. Topics in Spring 2011:
BIOL 297-01: Field Botany (4). An entirely outdoor course in which students learn to identify vascular plants using professional “floras” of the upper Shenandoah Valley watershed The conservation biology of many of these plants is discussed focusing upon alien invasive and rare plants of the upper Chesapeake Bay watershed. With no formal lectures in the course, students work with the group to identify plants as each student accumulates an annotated reference collection (a herbarium) of plants. The class reads and discusses several professional papers dealing with conservation problems caused by alien plants and the conservation ecology of rare plants. (SL) Knox. Spring 2011 only
BIOL 297-02: Conservation Biology (4). No prerequisite. Not open to students with credit for BIOL 398: Biodiversity and Conservation. An interdisciplinary approach to the study, management, and protection of the Earth’s biological diversity (biodiversity). This course helps explain why the protection of biodiversity is important and how conservation biologists work to accomplish their goals. Throughout the course, students explore the complex relationships that exist between our own species and wildlife throughout the world. The required and optional reading material help students better understand the range of threats to wildlife today. Problem-solving in group activities and detailed assessment of case studies introduce students to the difficult task of finding solutions to these threats that can provide wildlife conservation in a way that is also beneficial (or at least not harmful) to humans. (SC) Wallis. Spring 2011 only
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3.00 Credits
Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 113. This course examines the principles of statistics and experimental design for biological and medical research. The focus is on the practical and conceptual aspects of statistics, rather than mathematical derivations. Students completing this class will be able to read and understand research papers, to design realistic experiments, and to carry out their own statistical analyses using computer packages. Marsh.
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 215 or 220 or CHEM 341. A broadly based course in the study of microorganisms, specifically: prokaryotic cells, microbial diversity, and the effects of microbes in the world, in society and in the bodies of animals and plants. It concerns the central role of microbiology as a basic biological science that enhances our understanding of the biology of higher organisms. Laboratory course. Simurda.
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3.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 220. An examination of DNA sequence-based information and its uses in molecular biology, medicine, and evolutionary studies. Includes technologies and approaches of sequencing, genome sequencing projects, analysis of sequence data, location of and identification of genes linked to disease, and using data to establish evolutionary histories of genes and species. Cabe.
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisites: BIOL 221 and permission of the instructor. A research-based practicum on the acquisition and analysis of DNA sequence data. Students pursue lab-based independent projects to gain proficiency in DNA sequencing, and practice analyzing and comparing the DNA sequence data obtained. Laboratory course. Cabe.
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3.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 220 or permission of the instructor. A study of the central issues of population genetics and their application to species preservation and conservation. Topics include genetic surveys of rare or threatened species; population structure and dispersal; inferring population histories from genetic data; phylogenetics of threatened species’ groups; hybridization between species; the use of genetic data in captive breeding programs and the prosecution of endangered species legislation; and the use of biotechnologies, such as cloning. Cabe.
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4.00 Credits
Prerequisite: BIOL 220 or permission of instructor. Genomics is a rapidly growing field that integrates and expands on diverse subjects such as evolution, molecular biology, and computer science. Genomics has increased our understanding of human health and evolution and had a direct impact on the advancement of medicine. This course provides students the opportunity to actively engage in genomics research projects, thus increasing their understanding of the research process and the significance of genomics tools. Students generate original sequence data and annotate genes and other features, leading to an independent analysis of a comparative genomics question, and contributing to research publications. Laboratory course. Ayoub.
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