300-Level Biology Courses
CAS BI 302 Vertebrate Zoology (EBE) Prereq: CAS BI 107. Methods and principles of comparative vertebrate zoology. Phylogeny, natural history, adaptation, and taxonomy. Laboratory emphasis on correlation among structural, physiological, and evolutionary features of selected vertebrates by both dissection and experimentation. Field trips. Two hours lecture, six hours lab. Wasserman. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 303 Evolutionary Ecology (EBE) Prereq: CAS BI 107 and BI 108. CAS BI 206 recommended. Evaluation of patterns and processes in nature, and an in-depth analysis of ecological relationships at the individual, population, and community levels. Emphasis on natural selection and evolutionary adaptations. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. One research paper and one daylong field trip required. Kunz, Finzi. 4 cr. either sem.
CAS BI 306 Biology of Global Change (EBE) Prereq: CAS BI 107 and CAS CH 101 or CH 171. Coreq: CAS CH 101. The ecological impacts of human activity on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Climate change, forest decline, eutrophication, acidification, loss of species diversity, and restoration of ecosystems. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Templer. 4 cr. 1st sem.
CAS BI 307 Biogeography Prereq: CAS BI 107 & CAS GE 101. Examines the spatial distribution of plants and animals from historical, ecological, and analytical perspectives. Environmental and human influences on species distribution, abundance, and diversity are considered, as are changes resulting from past and projected climate change. Also offered as CAS GE 307. Phillips. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 309 Evolution (EBE) Prereq: CASBI107, junior or senior stading, biology concentration. Introduction to modern concepts, controversies, and analytical approaches in evolutionary biology. Topics include adaptation, natural and sexual selection, species and speciation, phylogenetics, comparative analysis, basic population and quantitative genetics, origin of novelty, adaptive radiation, development and evolution. Mullen 4 cr. either sem.
CAS BI 311 General Microbiology (CM) Prereq: CAS BI 203 & CAS BI 206, or consent of instructor. Biology of bacteria and related microorganisms; morphology, physiology, genetics, ecology, and control. Brief introduction to pathogenicity and host reactions. Three hours lecture, four hours lab. Golubic. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 315 Systems Physiology (PER/Neuro) Prereq: CAS BI 108 or ENG BE 209 or NE 102, CH 101 & CH 102 or equivalent. Examines the structure and function of the body’s major organ systems in health and disease. Special emphasis on regulatory and integrative aspects of feedback systems underlying the maintenance of optimal internal state required for survival in a dynamic environment. Three hours lecture, three hours lab. Widmaier. 4 cr. either sem.
CAS BI 325 Principles of Neuroscience (PER/Neuro) Prereq: CAS BI 203, or consent of instructor. Fundamentals of structure and function of the nervous system. Topics include cell signaling and communication, sensory and motor systems, neural basis of learning and memory, and brain control of sleep states. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Dionne, Ho, Lin. 4 cr. either sem.
CAS BI 371 Reading in Biology III Prereq: junior 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 paper presentation. Does not carry concentration credit in biology. Staff. 2 cr. 1st sem.
CAS BI 372 Reading in Biology III Prereq: junior 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 paper presentation. Does not carry concentration credit in biology. Staff. 2 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 385 Immunology Prereq: CAS BI 203 and BI 206 and junior standing. The constituents and regulation of mammalian immune systems are described at the levels of the gene, protein, and cell. Topics include nonspecific, T cell and B cell recognition and responses, genetics of immune receptors, inflammation, tolerance, memory, and evolution and manipulation of defense systems. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Godrick. 4 cr. 2nd sem.
CAS BI 391 Undergraduate Research in Biology III Prereq: consent of instructor. Research in biological science for students at the junior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Staff. Var cr. 1st sem.
CAS BI 392 Undergraduate Research in Biology III Prereq: consent of instructor. Research in biological science for students at the junior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. Staff. Var 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.