52. Introduction to Biology. Asai, Orwin, and staff. Topics in cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Prerequisites: one semester of general chemistry and one semester of calculus. 3 credit hours. (Fall and Spring.)
54. Biology Laboratory. Adolph, Ahn, McFadden, Williams, and staff. Investigations in physiology, biochemistry, ecology, molecular biology, and other areas of experimental biology. Prerequisite: Biology 52 (may be taken concurrently). 1 credit hour. (Spring.)
81-82. Current Issues in Biology. Staff. Study of a biological topic of current importance to society. Active participation and discussion are stressed. It is expected that this course will usually count for Integrative Experience credit. (May not be counted for credit toward the biology major.) (May not be counted for credit toward the Biology major.) Prerequisite: Biology 52. 3 credit hours. (Fall or Spring.)
101. Structure and Function. Ahn and Williams. Topics in the structural basis underlying general physiological mechanisms of plants and animals. Prerequisite: Biology 52. 3 credit hours. (Spring.)
103. Comparative Physiology Laboratory. Ahn. Experimental techniques and concepts in plant and animal physiology, including the general areas of cellular biology, energetics, ionic regulation and signaling. The final third of the course will involve independent student research projects culminating with oral and written presentations of experimental investigations. Prerequisites: Biology 52, Biology 54, and Biology 101. 2 credit hours. (Fall.)
108. Ecology and Environmental Biology. Adolph, McFadden Principles of organization in natural communities and ecosystems, including population dynamics, species interactions and nutrient cycles. Modern experimental and quantitative approaches to ecological problems. Application of ecological principles to conservation biology, human demography, food production and harvesting of natural resources. Prerequisites: Biology 52 and Mathematics 11. 3 credit hours. (Spring.)
109. Evolutionary Biology. McFadden. Evolutionary mechanisms, including natural selection, population genetics, speciation, and macroevolutionary processes. Modern methods of phylogenetic reconstruction. History of biological diversity and the fossil record. Prerequisite: Biology 52. 3 credit hours. (Fall.)
110. Experimental Ecology Laboratory. McFadden. Design and analysis of ecological experiments with an emphasis on hypothesis testing, sampling techniques, and computer-based statistical analysis of data. Most projects are field-based, designed to address aspects of population, community, physiological and behavioral ecology in animals and plants; work in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Includes several all-day field trips to local coastal, desert, and mountain sites. Prerequisites: Biology 54 and 108 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Spring.)
111. Molecular Biology Laboratory. Williams, staff. Basic techniques of molecular biology, including restriction mapping, DNA cloning, and protein expression. Prerequisite: Biology 54 and 113 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. 2 credit hours. (Fall.)
113. Molecular Biology. Bechtel Molecular description of gene function in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, including DNA, RNA, and protein structure; DNA replication; transcription and translation; and gene regulation. Prerequisites: Biology 52 and Chemistry 56. 3 credit hours. (Fall.)
121. Marine Ecology. McFadden. Advanced ecology focusing on marine communities. Dispersal, recruitment, competition, disturbance, plant/animal interactions, and other topics. Readings in the primary literature. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors. Prerequisite: Biology 108 or permission of instructor. Prerequisite: Biology 108 or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Fall and Spring, alternate years -- not offered in 2005-06.)
122. Cell and Developmental Biology. Staff. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of animal development, including cell fate determination, morphogenesis and pattern formation. Emphasis on modern experimental organisms and approaches. Readings in the primary literature. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors. Prerequisite: Biology 113 or equivalent or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Spring, alternate years -- not offered in 2005-06.)
153. Biostatistics Adolph. Statistical techniques for analyzing biological data, including both parametric and non-parametric methods. Statistical aspects of experimental design. Additional topics may include spatial statistics, circular statistics, multivariate methods, randomization tests and bootstrapping. Prerequisites: Biology 52 and Math 62 or permission of the instructor. 3 credit hours. (Spring -- not offered in 2005-06.)
161-162. Research Problems. Staff. (Coordinator - McFadden) Original experimental investigations in biology undertaken in consultation with a faculty member. (May not be counted for credit toward the Biology major.) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 1-3 credit hours. 1 credit hour for each 3 hours of laboratory per week. (Fall and Spring.)
164. Genetics. Bechtel. Current topics in cell biology and genetics, including signal transduction, functional genomics, comparative genomics, and genomic regulation. Emphasis on experimental techniques and design. Readings from the primary literature. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors. Prerequisites: Biology 54 and 113. 3 credit hours. (Spring, alternate years.)
166. Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory Asai and Williams. Techniques for investigations of protein localization, organelle isolation, and genetic mapping. Laboratories consist of student projects. Prerequisites: Biology 54 and Biology 113, Corequisite: Biology 164 2 credit hours. (Spring, alternate years.) Prerequisite: Biology 113 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Spring, alternate years -- not offered in 2005-06)
167. Plant Development. Williams. Mechanisms of plant development including hormone action, gene regulation, embryogenesis, and cellular differentiation. Emphasis on molecular and genetic approaches. Prerequisite: Biology 113 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Not offered in 2005-06)
169. Plant Development Laboratory. Williams. Tissue culture and molecular approaches to research in plant development. Prerequisite: Biology 54 and 167 (may be taken concurrently) or permission of instructor. 2 credit hours. (Not offered in 2005-06)
171. Analysis of Aquatic Ecosystems. MBL Staff. The nature and controls of ecosystem processes (production, decomposition, element cycling and biogeochemistry) in freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems. Application of basic principles of ecosystems ecology to contemporary environmental problems such as coastal eutrophication, fisheries exploitation, effects of introduced species, acid deposition and global change. Includes lecture, discussion, laboratory, and field work. Prerequisite: Biology 52, 54, Chemistry 22,26, and Mathematics 4. (Fall.) Offered only through the Semester in Environmental Science program at the MBL Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA.
173. Analysis of Terrestrial Ecosystems. MBL Staff. Fundamental biogeochemical processes in fields, pastures, tundra and forested ecosystems. Physiological ecology of land-plants and soil organisms in an ecosystem context. Impacts of environmental change on the landscape at local, regional and global scales. Includes lecture, discussion, laboratory, and field work. Prerequisite: Biology 52, 54, Chemistry 22,26, and Mathematics 4. (Fall.) Offered only through the Semester in Environmental Science program at the MBL Ecosystems Center, Woods Hole, MA.
174. Biophysics. Haskell. This course focuses on imaging techniques for biological tissue, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), computer-aided tomography (CAT scans using x-rays), phase-contrast microscopy, confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, two-photon microscopy, photon diffusion of near-infrared light, and optical coherence microscopy. Seminar format. Prerequisite: Biology 52 and Physics 51. 2 credit hours. (First half of Spring.)
182. Chemistry in Living Systems. Haushalter. Relation of molecular structure and energy flow to reactions in living systems. Prerequisite: Chemistry 105. 3 credit hours. (Spring.)
184. Methods in Biochemistry. Haushalter. Experiments in biochemistry. Prerequisite: Biology 182/Chemistry 182 (may be taken concurrently). 1 credit hour. (Spring.)
185-186. Topics in Life Sciences. Staff. Selected topics in biology, biochemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, biomathematics, and the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 2 or 3 credit hours. (Fall or Spring.)
- In 2005-06: 185. Topics in Physiology. Ahn. Mechanisms of animal physiology. Readings from the primary literature. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors. Prerequisites: Biology 52 and Biology 101 or consent of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Fall.)
189. Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Haushalter and Asai. Advanced topics at the interface between chemistry and biology. Counts as a seminar course for Biology majors. Prerequisites: Biology/Chemistry 182 or permission of the instructor. 3 credit hours. (Fall.)
190B. Biomechanics. Orwin and Ahn. Mechanical properties of biological tissues, including bone, connective tissue and muscles. Static analysis of joints. Analysis of how muscle generates motion, leading to dynamics, including kinematics, kinetics, and locomotion, and how these principles scale for different sized animals. Focus on applications and primary literature. Prerequisites: Biology 52 and Engineering 83 or permission of instructor. 3 credit hours. (Fall, alternate years).
191-192. Colloquium. Staff. Oral presentations and discussion of selected topics, including recent developments. Participants include biology majors, faculty members, and visiting speakers. Required for junior and senior biology majors. No credit. (Fall and Spring.)
193-194. Senior Thesis Research. Staff (Coordinator - McFadden). A year-long experimental investigation in biology under the direction of a faculty advisor. Two oral presentations, a written proposal, and a thesis are required. Required of all senior biology majors. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 3 credit hours per semester. (Fall and Spring.)
195-196. Intensive Research. Staff (Coordinator - McFadden). Intensive experimental investigation in biology undertaken in consultation with a faculty member. Prerequisites: Biology 161, 162, or 193 and approval of formal application. Replaces 3 units of 193-194 and 3 units of advanced biology courses for credit toward biology major. 6 credit hours. (Fall and Spring.)
197-198. Directed Reading. Staff. Directed readings in selected topics in biology. With prior permission, up to 2 credits may count toward biology major. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. 1-3 credit hours. (Fall and Spring.)
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