Courses

• CAS BI 492: Undergraduate Research in Biology IV
  Research in biological science for students at the senior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member. A minimum of 12 hours per week in lab or field work, not including preparation or evaluation time. Research topic must be defined at the time of registration. Course grade is to be determined by laboratory performance and written report.
• CAS BI 495: Seminar in Research
  For research students to consider issues of ethics in science and help develop methods in data gathering, analysis, and presentation of their own research activities. Students analyze research papers, grant proposals, and their own work; a written paper and oral presentation are required.
• CAS BI 502: Topics in the Mathematical Structure of Biological Systems
  Examines mathematical principles for the control of biological systems, including themes of behavioral switching, adaptation, noise, and memory. Subjects range from bacteria to vertebrates. Assignments include student presentations on primary literature, and the option of computational modeling.
• CAS BI 503: Symbiosis (EBE)
  Explores a dominant survival mechanism in the Earth's history. Emphasizes partner integration in cell evolution, metabolic basis of the associations, the ubiquity of such association in all ecosystems, and the study of key symbolic systems on Earth today, including coral reefs, mycorrhizae/plants, and lichens. Three hours lecture.
• CAS BI 504: Evolution (EBE)
  Modern concepts, controversies, and analytical approaches in evolutionary biology. Topics include adaptation, natural and sexual selection, species and species formation, phylogenetics, origin of evolutionary novelty, adaptive radiation, basic population and quantitative genetics, development and evolution. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 505: Evolution and Development
  Explores the relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny, including concepts such as complexity, modularity, evolvability, recapitulation, canalization, heterochrony, and homeosis. Examines empirical studies from comparative developmental genetics on the evolution of body axes, eyes, appendages, heads, and nervous systems. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 506: Phenotypic Plasticity
  Explores the flexible phenotype as a product of development and target of natural selection, and addresses the role of plasticity in ecological interactions and evolutionary diversity. Topics: plasticity genetics, evolution, developmental mechanisms, functional ecology, learning, and diversification of life. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 508: Behavioral Ecology (EBE)
  Examines the adaptive significance of behavior in an ecological context. Topics include the evolution of social behavior, mating systems, sexual selection, alternative reproductive behaviors, life history strategies, optimal foraging, territoriality, cooperation and conflict, host-parasite co-evolution, the ecology of communication, and comparative analyses.
• CAS BI 512: Mammalian Ecology (EBE)
  Evaluation of ecological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations of mammals, with emphasis on social behavior, reproductive ecology, feeding ecology, energetics, evolution, and conservation biology. Research papers. Oral presentations. Weekend field trip required September 21–23, 2007. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
• CAS BI 513: Genetics Laboratory
  Genetic techniques such as mutant selection and screening, complementation, mapping, recombinant DNA, and chemical genetic screening are taught using the genetic model systems Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Short-term and long-term projects in which students formulate and test hypotheses.
• CAS BI 515: Population Genetics (EBE)
  Examines the interaction of basic evolutionary processes, including mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, inbreeding, and recombination, in determining the genetic composition of populations. Covers both classic models of the modern evolutionary synthesis and newer approaches based on coalescent theory.
• CAS BI 519: Theoretical Evolutionary Ecology
  Familiarizes students with the theory of evolutionary ecology. Students gain enough background to read theoretical evolutionary ecology literature, do simple modeling, and move on to more complex theory. Students gain experience through homework assignments and computer labs.
• CAS BI 520: Sensory Neurobiology (PER/Neuro)
  Fundamental properties of sensory system function including the cellular mechanisms of transduction, neural coding of sensory information, and relationship between neural activity and sensory perception. Lab component focuses on the neurophysiology of sensory systems in model organisms.
• CAS BI 527: Biochemistry Laboratory I, II
  Emphasizes the purification and characterization of proteins and DNA. Development and use of modern instrumentation and techniques. Same as CH527 and laboratory portion of CAS BI/CH421. Required for BMB students enrolled concurrently in GMS BI 555. Four hours lab, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 528: Biochemistry Laboratory I, II
  Emphasizes protein, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, and lipid chemistry. Development and use of modern instrumentation and techniques. Four hours lab, one hour discussion. Same as CAS CH528 and laboratory portion of CAS BI/CH422. Required for BMB students enrolled concurrently in GMS BI 556. Four hours lab, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 530: Forest Ecology
  The major biotic and abiotic factors influencing forest ecosystem composition, structure, and function. Role of solar radiation, hydrology, soils, succession, and management of forest ecosystems. Includes New England case study. Three hours lecture plus discussion. Meets with CAS GE 530.
• CAS BI 531: Ichthyology: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of Fish (EBE)
  A comprehensive introduction to fish biology and systematics. Emphasis on phylogenetic relationships, ecology, and behavior. Labs include morphological studies of specimens and behavioral studies of live fishes. This course is a prerequisite for the field course.
• CAS BI 532: Field Biology of Belize Coral Reefs: Expeditionary Ichthyology (EBE)
  Builds on the basic ichthyology course, from which students apply their knowledge to the in-depth study of fishes in the wild. Focus on students' independent research projects. Primarily snorkeling, scuba optional. Taught in Belize, Central America.
• CAS BI 536: Molecular Ecology and Evolution
  An exploration of the application of modern molecular genetic techniques in the study of ecology. Topics include molecular markers, biogeography, dispersal, mating systems, genetic diversity, biological diversity, speciation genetics, and conservation genetics.
• CAS BI 545: Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior (PER/Neuro)
  Molecular and neuroendocrine mechanisms controlling reproductive and parental behaviors, ingestive behaviors and metabolism, and circadian rhythms, pain perception and reward in vertebrates. Three hours lecture plus student-led discussions of relevant research papers.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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