Graduate Courses for Biological Sciences Program (BSCI)

Schedule of Classes: Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer
(Only current and next semester available)

BSCI 410 Molecular Genetics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI222 ( or equivalent ) and CHEM233 or (CHEM231 and CHEM232). Formerly ZOOL446.
An advanced genetics course emphasizing the molecular basis of gene structure and function in the context of modern approaches to the genetics of humans and model organisms.

BSCI 411 Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI222. Junior standing. Formerly PBIO405.
The basic principles of genetic analysis and molecular biology of gene structure, expression, and manipulation.

BSCI 412 Microbial Genetics (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI223 and BSCI222. Formerly MICB485.
A laboratory/lecture based course that covers the fundamentals of mutation, mobile genetic elements and transmission genetics of microbial organisms using both classical and molecular approaches.

BSCI 413 Recombinant DNA (3 credits)
Prerequisites: (BSCI230 or BSCI223) and BSCI222. Formerly ZOOL452.
An advanced course presenting the tools and procedures of genetic engineering. Theory and practical applications of recombinant DNA techniques to understanding eukaryotic gene structure and expression.

BSCI 414 Recombinant DNA Laboratory (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI222. Formerly MICB453.
An advanced course offering hands-on experience in performing recombinant DNA experiments. All current molecular biology techniques used for cloning prokaryotic genes, analyzing the gene products, and modifying the genes will be performed. Techniques include isolation of DNA, use of restriction enzymes; cloning procedures, PCR analysis, and Southern hybridizations. Lecture material focuses on interpretation of results generated in the laboratory.

BSCI 415 Molecular Genetics Laboratory (3 credits)
Six hours of laboratory per week. Pre- or corequisite: BSCI410. Junior standing. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI348G or BSCI415. Formerly BSCI348G.
Problem solving laboratory organized around extended projects that employ different approaches toward linking gene and function.

BSCI 416 Biology of the Human Genome (3 credits)
Prerequisite: A grade of C (2.0) or better in BSCI222. Recommended: BSCI330 or BSCI230. Formerly ZOOL417.
Approaches to human genetics and applications to biology and medicine: genetic basis of human disease, the human genome project, human genetic diversity and evolutionary genetics.

BSCI 417 Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI222 and BSCI223. Junior standing. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI348M or BSCI417. Formerly BSCI348M.
Current research in microbial pathogenesis and the molecular and cellular basis of bacterial disease. Comprehensive overview of the molecular basis of pathogenesis with a focus on model microbial systems to illustrate mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Topics covered: how microorganisms attach to and enter cells; how host cells are damaged by microbial products; how the host responds to invasion; and host-pathogen evolution.

BSCI 420 Cell Biology Lectures (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI230/BSCI330 and BSCI222 and CHEM233. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI420 or BSCI421. Formerly ZOOL410.
Molecular and biochemical bases of cellular organization and function in eukaryotes.

BSCI 421 Cell Biology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI230/BSCI330 and BSCI222 and CHEM233. Formerly: PBIO400 and ZOOL411. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI420 or BSCI421.
Molecular and biochemical basis of cellular organization and function in eukaryotes.

BSCI 422 Principles of Immunology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI222 and BSCI223. Recommended: BSCI230. Junior or Senior standing. Formerly MICB454.
The immune system in health and disease. Presentation and analysis of the cellular and molecular processes that comprise the immune system.

BSCI 423 Immunology Laboratory (2 credits)
Six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI222 and BSCI223. Corequisite: BSCI422. Junior or senior standing. Formerly MICB455.
Current techniques for assessment of immune status and evaluation of the immune response, including monoclonal antibody production, Western blotting, cytokine assays, ELISA and flow cytometry.

BSCI 424 Pathogenic Microbiology (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI223. Formerly MICB440.
The role of bacteria and fungi in the diseases of humans with emphasis upon the differentiation and culture of microorganisms, types of disease, modes of disease transmission, prophylactic, therapeutic, and epidemiological aspects.

BSCI 425 Epidemiology and Public Health (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion/recitation per week. Prerequisite: BSCI223. Formerly MICB420.
History, characteristic features of epidemiology; the important responsibilities of public health; vital statistics.

BSCI 426 Membrane Biophysics (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI230; and (PHYS122 or PHYS142) and (MATH140 or MATH220). Formerly ZOOL413.
Quantitative aspects of biology and the use of mathematical descriptions of biological phenomena. The focus will be on membrane structure, transport, and bioenergetics.

BSCI 427 Principles of Microscopy (2 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI421. Formerly PBIO430.
An introduction to optical principles that underlie light and electron microscopic image formation. Brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, differential interference contrast, fluorescence and polarized light microscopy. Comparison of light and electron microscopy. The application of these techniques to problems in biological research.

BSCI 430 Developmental Biology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI230/BSCI330 and BSCI222. Formerly ZOOL430.
Structural, functional and regulatory events and mechanisms that operate during development to produce an integrated, multicellular organism composed of a multitude of differentiated cell types.

BSCI 433 Biology of Cancer (3 credits)
Prerequisites: (BSCI230/BSCI330 and BSCI222) or permission of department. Formerly ZOOL416.
Causes and consequences of neoplastic transformations at the biochemical and cellular levels.

BSCI 434 Mammalian Histology (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI230/BSCI330 and BSCI440; or permission of department. Formerly ZOOL495.
A study of the microscopic anatomy, ultrastructure and histophysiology of tissues and organs of mammals.

BSCI 436 Drug Action and Design (3 credits)
Prerequisite: CHEM243 or permission of department. Junior standing. Formerly MICB443.
Introductory pharmacology with an emphasis on "magic bullets", novel therapies, and drug design.

BSCI 437 General Virology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI222 or permission of department. Junior standing. Formerly MICB460.
Discussion of the physical and chemical nature of viruses, virus cultivation and assay methods, virus replication, viral diseases with emphasis on the oncogenic viruses, viral genetics, and characteristics of the major virus groups.

BSCI 440 Mammalian Physiology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and two hours of discussion/recitation per week. Prerequisites: BSCI230 and CHEM233 or permission of department. Formerly ZOOL422.
A study of the cardiovascular, hemopoietic, gastrointestinal, renal and respiratory systems. Chemical and endocrine regulation of physiological functions in mammals. Course does not count as an upper level lab for BIOL majors (see BSCI441).

BSCI 441 Mammalian Physiology Laboratory (2 credits)
Four hours of laboratory per week. Corequisite: BSCI440. Formerly ZOOL423.
Laboratory exercises in experimental mammalian physiology.

BSCI 442 Plant Physiology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI105 and CHEM233 or (CHEM231 and CHEM232). Formerly PBIO420.
A survey of the general physiological activities of plants.

BSCI 443 Microbial Physiology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: A grade of C (2.0) or better is required in BSCI223 and {BCHM461 or BCHM463}. Formerly MICB470.
Microbial cellular and population growth. Fermentation metabolism, physiology of anaerobiosis, and energy conservation and transformation in bacterial membranes. Efficiency of energy utilization for growth. Membrane structure and transport. Bacterial chemotaxis. Regulation of bacterial chromosome replication, RNA and protein synthesis. Control of metabolic pathways.

BSCI 444 Neurophysiology Lectures (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI230 and CHEM233 and PHYS122. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI444 or BSCI445. Formerly ZOOL420.
The physiology of nerves, muscles, and sensory receptors and aspects of central nervous system physiology.

BSCI 445 Neurophysiology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BSCI230 and CHEM233 and PHYS122. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI444 or BSCI445. Formerly ZOOL421.
The physiology of nerves, muscles and sensory receptors and aspects of central nervous system physiology.

BSCI 446 Neural Systems (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI230. Formerly ZOOL402.
Neural development, followed by sensory, motor and integrative system organization in the central nervous system.

BSCI 447 General Endocrinology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI230 and CHEM233 and CHEM243. Formerly ZOOL426.
Functions and the functioning of the endocrine glands of animals with special reference to the vertebrates.

BSCI 451 Physical Chemistry for Biologists (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI230 or equivalent. Formerly ZOOL328S.
Mechanistic and quantitative aspects of chemical and physical processes, including diffusion, ligand-receptor binding, DNA melting, sedimentation, redox reactions, kinetics, fluorescence, osmosis, and electrophoresis.

BSCI 453 Cellular Neurophysiology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: A grade of C (2.0) or better in ({BSCI230 or BSCI330} and {CHEM231 andCHEM232} and PHYS122). Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI444 or BSCI445 or BSCI453. Formerly BSCI444.
The cellular and molecular basis of nervous system function.

BSCI 454 Neurobiology Laboratory (1 credits)
Prerequisite: {BSCI230 or BSCI330} and {CHEM231 and CHEM232} and PHYS122; and pre- or corequisite: {BSCI453 or BSCI446}. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI445 or BSCI454. Formerly BSCI445.
Grade of C (2.0) required in all course pre-requisites. Basic neuroanatomical techniques, intracellular and extracellular recordings of electrical potentials from nerve and muscle.

BSCI 460 Plant Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI106. Formerly PBIO440.
The dynamics of populations as affected by environmental factors with special emphasis on the structure and composition of natural plant communities, both terrestrial and aquatic.

BSCI 461 Plant Ecology Laboratory (2 credits)
Three hours of laboratory per week. Pre- or corequisite: BSCI460. Formerly PBIO441.
Two or three field trips per semester. The application of field and experimental methods to the qualitative and quantitative study of vegetation and ecosystems.

BSCI 462 Population Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI106 and MATH220. Formerly ZOOL470.
Theory of population growth and regulation, life tables, and theory of competition and predation, evolution in ecological settings, community structure and dynamics.

BSCI 463 Laboratory and Field Ecology (2 credits)
Pre- or corequisites: BSCI462 and a course in statistics. Formerly ZOOL471.
Laboratory and field exercises involving problems of contemporary ecological interest; population density regulation, community structure, and spatial pattern diversity in both terrestrial and aquatic systems.

BSCI 464 Microbial Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI223; and {CHEM241 and CHEM242 or CHEM243}. Formerly MICB480.
Interaction of microorganisms with the environment, other microorganisms and with higher organisms. Roles of microorganisms in the biosphere. Microorganisms and current environmental problems.

BSCI 465 Behavioral Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI106 and (BSCI222 or BSCI224). Formerly ZOOL465.
How natural and social environments shape individual behavior. The influence of evolution on patterns of individual adaptation. Use of the evolutionary paradigm to investigate specific problems in animal and human behavior.

BSCI 467 Freshwater Biology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI227 or permission of department. Formerly ENTM482.
Biology and ecology of freshwater invertebrates in lotic and lentic habitats, their adaptation to aquatic life, their function in aquatic ecosystems, and their relationship to environmental deterioration. Laboratory will include field trips, demonstrations, and identifications.

BSCI 471 Molecular Evolution (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI222 or permission of department. Formerly ZOOL441.
Patterns of DNA sequence variation within and between species, caused by nucleotide changes and the movement of transposable elements. Theories of molecular evolution, such as the neutral theory. Molecular clock' hypothesis: its importance as a practical empirical tool in molecular genetics and systematics and its theoretical foundation.

BSCI 472 Evolutionary Biology of Plants (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI106 and BSCI222. Formerly PBIO445.
Evolution in plant populations. The pace, pattern, and mechanisms of evolution will be discussed within a genetic and ecological framework. Some emphasis will be placed on processes that are unique to the evolution of plants.

BSCI 473 Marine Ecology (3 credits)
Prerequisite: BSCI224. Formerly ZOOL473.
Courses in evolution and animal behavior are strongly recommended. A detailed analysis of the evolutionary ecology of marine invertebrates; emphasis on testing of theories and on current literature.

BSCI 474 Mathematical Biology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: MATH220 and MATH221. Formerly ZOOL425.
Mathematical methods for analyzing deterministic and stochastic biological processes from a variety of areas (including population and evolutionary biology, neurobiology, physiology and morphogenesis). Qualitative aspects of dynamical systems which are usually given as difference or differential equations. The computer program Mathematica will be used to obtain the numerical solutions of these equations.

BSCI 480 Arthropod Form and Function (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI227 or permission of department. Formerly ENTM423.
Survey of the morphological, systematic and physiological diversity of the phylum Arthropoda.

BSCI 481 Insect Diversity and Classification (4 credits)
One hour of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI227 or permission of department. Formerly ENTM424.
The techniques of collecting insects in the field and their classification into the latest hierarchical scheme. Field trips will visit habitats throughout the state. An insect collection is required.

BSCI 483 Medical and Veterinary Entomology (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI227 or permission of department. Formerly ENTM472.
A study of the morphology, taxonomy, biology and control of the arthropod parasites and disease vectors of man and animals. The ecology and behavior of vectors in relation to disease transmission will be emphasized.

BSCI 485 Protozoology (4 credits)
Two hours of lecture and six hours of laboratory. Prerequisite: one year of biology. Formerly ZOOL472.
Basic conceptual treatment of free-living and parasitic protozoan functional morphology, life history, and systematics. The laboratory will stress observations of protozoa, living and stained, collected from diverse habits.

BSCI 488 Summer Biology Institutes (1-8 credits)
Prerequisite: permission of department. Formerly: BIOL488, BIOL489, and BIOL490. Repeatable to 12 credits if content differs.

BSCI 493 Medicinal and Poisonous Plants (3 credits)
Two hours of lecture and two hours of discussion/recitation per week. Prerequisites: BSCI105 and CHEM233 or 4 credit hours of biological sciences. Formerly PBIO485.
A study of plants important to humans that have medicinal or poisonous properties. Emphasis on plant source, plant description, the active agent and its beneficial or detrimental physiological action and effects.

BSCI 494 Animal-Plant Interactions (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BSCI106 and (BSCI227, or BSCI224, or permission of department). Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI494 or ENTM400. Formerly ENTM400.
Theoretical, conceptual and applied aspects of the ecological interactions between plants and animals.

BSCI 497 Insect Pests of Ornamentals and Turf (4 credits)
Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BSCI227 or permission of instructor. Also offered as ENTM497. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: BSCI497, ENTM453, or ENTM497. Formerly ENTM453.
The recognition, biology and management of insects and mites injurious to ornamental shrubs, trees, greenhouse crops, and turf. Emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).