Biology

• CAS BI 317: Limnology: The Ecology of Lakes and Rivers
  Examines the interrelational and biological parameters that determine the function of lakes and rivers as ecosystems from an interdisciplinary perspective combining elements of geography, geology, hydrology, physics, chemistry, and biology. Theoretical and practical aspects are considered. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
• CAS BI 325: Principles of Neuroscience (PER/Neuro)
  Fundamentals of the nervous system, emphasizing synaptic transmission; hierarchical organization; autonomic nervous system; mechanisms of sensory perception; reflexes and motor function; biorhythms; and neural mechanisms of feeding, mating, learning, and memory. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 371: Reading in Biology III
  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 major or minor credit in biology.
• CAS BI 372: Reading in Biology III
  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 major or minor credit in biology.
• CAS BI 383: Fundamentals of Biology III
  An introduction to physiological principles applied across the levels of organization (cell, tissue, organ systems). Intended to prepare the student for more advanced courses in physiology. Topics include homeostasis and neural, muscle, cardiopulmonary, renal, endocrine, metabolic, and reproductive physiology. Students must register for two sections: lecture and laboratory.
• CAS BI 385: Immunology
  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.
• CAS BI 391: Undergraduate Research in Biology III
  Research in biological science for students at the junior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member.
• CAS BI 392: Undergraduate Research in Biology III
  Research in biological science for students at the junior level. Students design and implement a research project with a faculty member.
• CAS BI 401: Senior Independent Work in Biology
  Laboratory or field research projects chosen under supervision of regular member of Department of Biology. Minimum of 12 hours per week in lab or fieldwork, not including preparation or evaluation time. Research topic must be defined at time of registration. Course grade determined by laboratory performance, written report, and oral presentation to the faculty. Successful completion of the full 8-credit course (BI 401/402) may lead to a degree with distinction; all 8 credits count toward major or minor.
• CAS BI 402: Senior Independent Work in Biology
  Laboratory or field research projects chosen under supervision of regular member of Department of Biology. Minimum of 12 hours per week in lab or fieldwork, not including preparation or evaluation time. Research topic must be defined at time of registration. Course grade determined by laboratory performance, written report, and oral presentation to the faculty. Successful completion of the full 8-credit course (BI 401/402) may lead to a degree with distinction; all 8 credits count toward major or minor.
• CAS BI 407: Animal Behavior (EBE)
  Ethological approach to animal behavior; physiological, ontogenic, and phylogenic causes; and adaptive significance of behavior examined within an evolutionary framework, minimally including humans. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
• CAS BI 410: Cellular Aspects of Development and Differentiation (CM)
  Contemporary aspects of embryonic development, drawing from current literature. Emphasis on the use of experimental approaches to address topics such as polarity in the egg, body axis specification, embryonic patterning, and organogenesis. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 414: Ornithology (EBE)
  Examines the behavior, ecology and morphology, physiology, classification, and evolution of birds. Flight, navigation, migration, territorial courtship, nesting, and parental behavior. Field trips. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion and demonstrations. (Offered alternate years.)
• CAS BI 415: Biology of Mammals (EBE)
  Examines the behavior, ecology, morphology, distribution, physiology, systematics, conservation, and evolution of mammals. Research paper and one weekend field trip required. Three hours lecture, three hours lab.
• CAS BI 421: Biochemistry I
  Introductory biochemistry. Protein structure and folding enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and allostery; nucleic acid structure; lipids and membrane structure; bioenergetics; vitamins and coenzymes; introduction to intermediary metabolism. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion, four hours lab.
• CAS BI 422: Biochemistry II
  Cell metabolism, with special emphasis on the uptake of food materials, the integration and regulation of catabolic, anabolic, and anaplerotic routes, and the generation and utilization of energy. Lectures include consideration of events in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Three hours lecture, four hours lab, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 423: Marine Biogeochemistry (EBE)
  Oceanic nutrient and biogeochemical cycling in the context of the marine response to global change. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Topics include oceanic productivity, iron limitation, oceanic glacial carbon dioxide budget, biogenic particle fluxes, oceanic glacial-interglacial biogeochemistry.
• CAS BI 425: General Endocrinology (PER/Neuro)
  Chemical and physiological principles of hormonal integration in animals, emphasizing chemistry, biosynthesis, mechanisms of action, and homeostatic function of vertebrate hormones. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion.
• CAS BI 438: Tropical Montane Ecology
  Ecology of the montane zone of Ecuador including grassland, subalpine, and alpine scrub ecosystems. Examines the interrelationship of the flora and fauna of montane ecosystems, the exploitation of these environments for natural resources and agriculture, and the impending ecological consequences of such exploitation. Includes 15 hours of lecture presented during a two-week period, interspersed with several one- and two-day field trips to surrounding mountains. A total of two weeks is spent in the field. The field trips are dedicated to field activities and individual and group projects. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students for conducting additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.
• CAS BI 439: Tropical Rainforest Ecology
  Ecology of the Ecuadorian rainforest including principles applied to the function of the tropical rainforest, using the Amazon basin as an example. Examines the interrelationship of the flora and fauna of the rainforest ecosystems, the exploitation of these environments for natural resources, and the impending ecological consequences of such exploitation. Includes 35 hours of lecture presented during a two-week period in Quito, followed by three weeks of intensive study in the Ecuadorian rainforest. Time in the field is dedicated to field activities, with exposure to different habitats and their respective flora and fauna. A series of directed individual research projects is completed in the field. Graduate credit may be awarded to full-time graduate students for conducting additional research projects to be assigned by the instructor.

Note that this information may change at any time.

Back to full list of Courses