Courses

• CAS BI 472: Readings in Biology
  Intensive library research on a well-defined subject, followed by individual conferences and discussion with a faculty member. May be taken as preparation for CAS BI 401, 402, 491, and 492. Does not carry major or minor credit in biology.
• CAS BI 475: Urban Ecology
  The biophysical environments and ecology of urban settlements. Key topics include the physical environment, patterns in human population growth and development, ecosystem structure and function, global change, urban environment pollution and management, and sustainable urban development. Also offered as CAS GE 475.
• CAS BI 481: Molecular Biology of the Neuron
  Topics include electrical properties of neurons, a survey of neurotransmitters, molecular structure and function of receptors, synaptic transmission, intracellular signaling, and the molecular biology of sensory transduction. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Also offered as CAS NE 481.
• CAS BI 491: 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 determined by laboratory performance and written report.
• 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 497: Honors in Biology Seminar
  A 2-credit weekly research seminar for students in the Honors in Biology Program. A minimum grade of B+ and a written assignment based on a research topic in one of the seminars is required to graduate with honors. Juniors enrolled in BI 497 or 498 must have a currents faculty research mentor (See the Biology website or contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Biology).
• CAS BI 498: Honors in Biology Seminar
  A 2-credit weekly research seminar for students in the Honors in Biology Program. A minimum grade of B+ and a written assignment based on a research topic in one of the seminars is required to graduate with honors. Juniors enrolled in BI 497 or 498 must have a currents faculty research mentor (See the Biology website or contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Department of Biology).
• 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: Advanced Evolutionary Analysis (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 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 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
  A broad survey of sensory system function in model organisms and humans, focusing on fundamental principles of neural processing. Topics include basic cellular transduction, neural coding, and links between neural activity and sensory perception. Also offered as CAS NE 520.
• CAS BI 523: Marine Urban Ecology
  Marine Urban Ecology is an emerging, interdisciplinary field that aims to understand how human and ecological processes can coexist in human-dominated systems. Topics, ecosystems, and organisms associated with urbanization in the Greater Boston area. Part of the Marine Semester. Also offered as CAS GE 523.
• CAS BI 525: Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
  An in-depth look at molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and their impact and relevance in clinical diagnosis and treatment. Topics include the molecular pathways of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Creuztfeldt-Jacob Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Also offered as CAS NE 525.
• 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.

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