100-Level Biology Courses
*†CAS BI 105 Introductory Biology for the Allied Health Sciences Prereq: High school biology and chemistry. Students may not receive credit for BI 105 if BI 108 has already been taken. Provides the basic background for subsequent required allied health sciences. Topics include biochemistry, cell biology, molecular genetics, cell division, metabolism, immunology and development. Three hours lecture, two hours lab. Godrick. 4 cr. 1st sem.
*†CAS BI 106 Human Anatomy Prereq: CAS BI 105 or equivalent. Intensive preprofessional course for students whose programs require anatomy. Not for biology concentration credit. Gross structure of the human body; skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. Three hours lecture, two hours lab (lab requires dissection). Patt. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
†CAS BI 107 Biology I Evolution, Ecology and Behavior. For students who plan to concentrate in the natural sciences or environmental science, and for premedical students. Required for biology concentrators. No prerequisite. High school biology is assumed. An introduction to ecology, behavior, and evolution. Fulfills biology concentration, premedical student requirements, and natural science distribution requirements. Three hours lecture, three hours lab including several weekend field studies. Schneider, Spilios, Traniello, Wasserman. 4 cr. 1st sem.
†CAS BI 108 Biology II For students who plan to concentrate in the natural sciences (including BMB) and for premedical students. Required for biology concentrators. It is highly recommended that students take CAS CH 101 before this course. High school biology is assumed. Cell and molecular biology, molecular genetics, physiology, and neurobiology. The molecular, biochemical, and cellular basis of life. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. 4 cr. either sem.
*†CAS BI 111 Brain, Hormones, and Behavior Not for concentration credit. Brain-hormone interactions in the expression of behavior and control of the endocrine system, including sex hormones and reproduction; brain sex; stress and aging; growth and development; nutrition and metabolism; biorhythms, differentiation, and immunity and disease resistance. Relevance to the human condition through observations and experiments in animals; scientific methods of study. G. Callard. 4 cr. 1st sem.
*†CAS BI 114 Human Infectious Diseases: AIDS to Tuberculosis A study of the world’s major human diseases, their causes, effects on history, pathology, and cures. Not for biology concentration credit. Emphasis on the principles of immunology and maladies such as AIDS, hepatitis, herpes, influenza, malaria, mononucleosis, small pox, tuberculosis, etc. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Godrick. 4 cr. 1st sem..
*†CAS BI 117 Introduction to Global Ecology Not intended for biology concentration credit. Principles of ecology and natural resource conservation as related to modern environmental problems and global environmental change. Topics include conservation biology and the maintenance of diversity; the structure of biotic communities; nutrient cycling; global warming; and eutrophication. Zook. 4 cr., not offered spring 2012.
†CAS BI 118 Biology II (Honors) Prereq: CAS CH 101 (or equivalent), AP Biology score of 4 or 5 (or equivalent), and consent of instructor. Alternative to BI 108 for well-prepared students. Selected topics in introductory molecular and cell biology, physiology, and neurobiology are covered in greater depth, with emphasis on experimental strategies and critical evaluation. Early laboratory sessions focus on methods; later project laboratory emphasizes inquiry-based learning. Dionne, Loechler. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
*†CAS BI 119 Sociobiology Designed for non-science concentrators to fulfill natural science divisional requirements. The evolution of animal societies; the development of social behavior; the adaptive significance of social organization; altruism; cooperation; courtship and reproductive behavior; human sociobiology; evolutionary psychology; religion and the impact of evolutionary theory on social thought and philosophy. Three hours lecture plus discussion. Traniello. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 171 Reading in Biology I Prereq: freshman standing, consent of instructor, and completed application. Library research on a well-defined topic in biological sciences, chosen in conjunction with a faculty member. Individual conferences and discussion with the faculty member are required as well as a paper presentation. Does not carry concentration credit in biology. Staff. 2 cr. 1st sem.
CAS BI 172 Reading in Biology I Prereq: freshman standing, consent of instructor, and completed application. Library research on a well-defined topic in biological sciences, chosen in conjunction with a faculty member. Individual conferences and discussion with the faculty member are required as well as a paper presentation. Does not carry concentration credit in biology. Staff. 2 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 191 Undergraduate Research in Biology I Prereq: consent of instructor. Research in biological science for students at the freshman level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Staff. 2 cr. 1st sem.
CAS BI 192 Undergraduate Research in Biology I Prereq: consent of instructor. Research in biological science for students at the freshman level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Staff. 2 cr. 2nd sem.
Courses marked with a cross (†) satisfy natural sciences divisional studies requirements. An asterisk (*) indicates that the course does not count toward concentration credit in biology.
Our Undergrads
Clarie Schenkel works in Dr. Kim McCall's laboratory studying programmed cell death in the ovaries of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Colin Averill recenlty published a paper in the prestigious journal, Ecology, along with his advisor, Dr. Adrien Finzi. His research work focuses on the forms of nitrogen that control the productivity of hardwood and boreal forests.
Curran Uppaluri is pursuing a dual major in both Biology and Economics and works with Dr. Peter Buston investigating whether Amphiprion percula, a type of anemonefish, exhibit definite personality traits.
Michelle McInnis, a senior Biology major working with Prof. Richard Primack, is investigating the effects of a warming climate on the flowering and leafing out times of plants.
Spencer Goodman is a senior working in Dr. John Finnerty's lab investigating gene expression in the parasitic lined sea anemone, Edwardsiella lineata.