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Professors: Allan Berlind, Spencer J. Berry, David Bodznick (Chair), J. James Donady, Laura B. Grabel, Jason S. Wolfe

Associate Professors: Frederick M. Cohan, Michael Weir

Assistant Professors: Stephen H. Devoto, John Kirn, Janice Naegele, Sonia Sultan

The Biology Department offers three programs: (1) for non-majors, (2) for majors, and (3) for graduate students. In addition, a seminar series open to all students is offered.

The non-majors program consists of a series of specially designated general education courses. No corequisites or prerequisites are needed to take the courses.

The biology majors program consists of a minimum of eight courses in the 200“500 series, of which at least seven must be taken in the Biology Department and the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Department (as specified below). In addition, one year of physics (111, 112 or 113, 116), one year of organic chemistry (251, 252), and one semester of math (any course numbered 113 or higher) are required. It should be noted that two years of college-level chemistry are required by most medical and other health-related graduate schools. A strong chemistry background is especially recommended for students planning to enter graduate or medical school.

It is advisable to begin the major in the freshman year in order to take maximum advantage of the upper-level courses and research opportunities of the Biology Department in later years. A prospective biology major begins with a series of three core introductory courses. Biology 205 and its associated laboratory course (Biology 215) is offered in the fall semester. Students should begin the core series with Biology 205. This course does not have prerequisites or co-requisites, but it is useful to have had some chemistry background or to take chemistry concurrently. In the second semester, the prospective major should take Biology 206 and its laboratory course, Biology 216. Biology 207 and its lab (Biology 217) should usually be taken first semester sophomore year. To complete a biology major a minimum of five additional courses in the 200, 300, and 500 series is required. Courses in the 400-series contribute toward graduation but do not count toward the major. The upper-level courses have been divided into four groups: A) genetics, B) cell and developmental biology, C) physiology and behavior, D) ecology and evolution. Students must take at least one upper-level credit in each of three of the groups in order to complete the major. Please note that some courses fall into more than one category but may be used to fill only one category.

A. GENETICS

BIOL 221 Human Genetics

BIOL 231 Eucaryotic Genetics

BIOL 294 Lab in Developmental Genetics

BIOL 315 Developmental Genetics

BIOL 515 Genes in Development

MB&B 244 Gene Expression

MB&B 511 Genome Organization

B. CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

BIOL 209 Multicellularity

BIOL 238 Reproductive Biology

BIOL 241 Developmental Biology

BIOL 245 Cellular Neurophysiology

BIOL 250 Cellular and Molecular
Neurobiology

BIOL 315 Developmental Genetics

BIOL 321 Cells in Development

BIOL 326 Cell Biology

BIOL 341 Signaling, Membrane to Nucleus

BIOL 345 Developmental Neurobiology

BIOL 352 Cell Behavior

BIOL 513 Topics in Development

BIOL 514 Topics in Cell Biology

BIOL 515 Genes in Development

BIOL 520 Mammalian Development

BIOL 522 Cell Fate

BIOL 575 Visual System Development

MB&B 232 Immunology

MB&B 337 Cell Nucleus

C. PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

BIOL 224 Hormones, Brain, and Behavior

BIOL 238 Reproductive Biology

BIOL 245 Cellular Neurophysiology

BIOL 247 Lab in Neurophysiology

BIOL 249 Neural Systems and Behavior

BIOL 254 Compararive Animal Behavior

BIOL 348 Animal Orientation and Migration

BIOL 351 Neurobiology of Learning and
Memory

BIOL 517 Topics in Neuroethology

NS&B 213 Behavioral Neurobiology

D. ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

BIOL 261 Ecology

BIOL 262 Experimental Ecology

BIOL 300 Plant Form and Diversity

BIOL 348 Animal Orientation and Migration

BIOL 349 Evolution

BIOL 350 Microbial Population Biology

BIOL 370 Ethnobotany

BIOL 375 Ecology and Evolution of HIV

BIOL 518 Topics in Evolutionary Biology

BIOL 525 Evolution of Infectious Diseases

Several other courses offered by the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry may be directly credited to the biology major (i.e., without counting toward the one-course limit for courses taken outside the department) but do not fall into any of our departmental categories. Examples of these are Biochemistry (MB&B 383), Viruses and Plasmids (MB&B 509), and Macromolecules (MB&B 514).

Depending on the studentÃs specific program, and with permission of the chairman, one course outside the department may be counted toward the major (e.g., Psychology 275; Chemistry 337 or 338).

All biology majors are required to participate at least once before graduation in the Ross Gortner Lecture Series minicourse. Named after a long-time member of the Biology Department, now deceased, the course provides opportunities for direct communication with scientists who represent differing views on a subject of current research interest. More an experience than a course, participants will receive .25 credit toward graduation.

Several faculty members in the biology and psychology departments also participate in a Neuroscience and Behavior Program, which at the undergraduate level constitutes a separate major. Information about that program can be found under the heading oeNeuroscience and Behavior.”

The graduate program is an integral part of the Biology DepartmentÃs offerings. Not only are graduate students active participants in the undergraduate courses, but upper-level undergraduates are encouraged to take graduate-level courses and seminars. Research opportunities are also available for undergraduates and frequently these involve close interaction with graduate students.

The seminar series introduces distinguished scientists from other institutions who present lectures on their current research work. These seminars are usually held on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. and are open to all members of the University community. One objective of these seminars is to relate material studied in courses, tutorials, and research to current scientific concerns. Coffee, tea, and refreshments are available just prior to the seminars.

Honors in biology. In order to be considered for departmental honors, a student must:

1. Be a biology major and be recommended to the department by a faculty member. It is expected that the student will have a B average (grade-point average 85) in courses credited to the major.

2. Submit either a research thesis, based upon laboratory research, or a library thesis, based upon library research, carried out under the supervision of a member of the department