This course covers the basic concepts of the life science, with emphasis on the diversity of life, the physical and chemical nature of living matter, the form and function of the cell and organism, and the ecological relationships among living organisms. Selected topics in structural, functional, developmental, environmental and systematic biology are included.
This course involves a detailed study of the major body systems utilizing anatomical models, cadavers, animal specimens, histological slides, physiological experiments, and simulations.
This course considers the basic principles of inheritance, including data analysis and problem-solving skills. Students gain laboratory experience with modern techniques and with a model organism of current research importance. Students also gain experience with solving problem and analyzing data. Emphasis is on sound logic, creativity, and the experimental process.
This introduction to biological research includes discussion and demonstrated skills in library use, literature citation, academic integrity, experimental design and statistical and graphical treatment of data. It culminates in the collaborative design, preparation and presentation of a scientific research project. This course also includes exploration of the skills and values important to careers in science. Primary emphasis is given to the development of scientific literacy, critical thinking and reasoning, and written and oral communication.
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of DNA manipulation that is involved in modern molecular biology, including cancer research, cellular development, regulation of differentiation and construction of designer genes in plants, animals, humans, microorganisms and virus. These methods are common in health research, industrial discovery and environmental remediation.
This hands-on course is for students seeking to understand methods of sequence and structural analysis using nucleic acid and protein databases. An understanding of the database format provides the basis for sequence analysis and alignment to determine common evolutionary origins, RNA secondary structure, gene prediction and regulation, protein structure prediction and classification, genome analysis, and analysis of microarrays.