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2010-2012 CATALOGUE

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2010-2012 COURSE CATALOGUE : BIOLOGY

The Biology department offers majors a solid foundation in modern biology and the opportunity for advanced and independent investigation within the framework of a liberal arts curriculum. Because biology is a diverse discipline united by common principles, completion of certain core courses is required for all majors (see course lists below). The required core courses include BIOL 167 (Introductory Topics), BIOL 212 Biostatistics, BIOL 220 Genetics, BIOL 236 Evolution, and BIOL 460 Senior Seminar.

During their first year at HWS, students are advised to complete BIOL 167 and either one more course in Biology or at least one of the cognate courses of the major (CHEM 110, 240, or MATH 130).

BIOL 212 must be completed by the end of the sophomore year and is required for entry into all 300-level biology courses. [Note that some 200-level biology courses also require a BIOL 212 prerequisite, but several 200-level courses are open to anyone who has successfully completed BIOL 167].

BIOL 220 Genetics must be completed by the end of the sophomore year and taken before, or concurrently with, BIOL 236 Evolution, which we recommend be taken by the end of the junior year.

BIOL 460 Senior Seminar is intended as a capstone course, integrating information presented in the first three years, and is normally completed during the senior year.

Biology offers two disciplinary majors, a B.A. and a B.S., and a disciplinary minor. Only courses completed with a grade of C- or better, both departmental and cognate, may count toward the major or minor. Bidisciplinary courses do not typically count toward a biology major.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (B.A.)
disciplinary, 12 courses
Nine biology courses, seven of which must be taken at HWS. Biology courses must include BIOL 167, BIOL 212, BIOL 220, BIOL 236, BIOL 460, and at least two 300-level biology courses. BIOL 450 (independent study) may substitute for one 300-level biology course. Completion of BIOL 495 Honors may substitute for BIOL 460. Other required courses are MATH 130, CHEM 240 plus one other chemistry course.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR (B.S.)
disciplinary, 16 courses
All of the requirements for the B.A. major, plus one additional course from biology, and three more courses from chemistry, computer science, geoscience, mathematics, physics or psychology.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
disciplinary, 6 courses
BIOL 167, BIOL 212, BIOL 220, BIOL 236 and two additional biology courses.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

167 Topics in Introductory Biology: These courses, while focused on a range of topics, are designed to help you (1) distinguish between scientific inquiry and other modes of inquiry; (2) articulate in general terms the central concepts of biology, including the process of evolution through natural selection, the central role of DNA, RNA, and proteins in living organisms, and the inheritance of genetic information; (3) ask relevant biological questions, develop scientific hypotheses, and design experiments to test hypotheses; and (4) explain the relevance of biological knowledge to society. Each course includes laboratory sessions. Prerequisites: none. (offered every semester)
Sample topic introductory courses:

• Alien Invaders - Biology of Exotic Species: The introduction of exotic or non-native species into environments poses a major risk to native species, especially in the United States. For example, Wilcove et al. (1998) report that of the almost 2,000 species threatened with extinction in the U.S., 49 percent are in this predicament as a result of the introduction of exotic species. This course explores the biology and ecology of invasive, exotic species in order to better understand how they are able to successfully invade, what affects they have on native species, and what might be done to control these species which pose such a significant threat to other species around the globe. As these are complex questions, students touch on a range of major concepts important in the study of biology and biological systems, including evolution, taxonomy, physiology, structural-functional relationships, and ecology. Prerequisites: none. (Brown)
• Animal Minds: The nature and nurture of animal behavior The “mind” of an animal is known to humans only by the behaviors we are able observe, and questions about animal behavior can be asked only by methods of scientific inquiry. Behavior is not simply a matter of the “brain” that produces it, rather an animal’s behavior, and the brain itself, is the result of evolutionary forces and complex interactions among ecological, genetic, developmental, and physiological processes. This course explores various biological perspectives that attempt to understand the forces that shape individual and group behavior in animals. Topics may include communication, sexual behavior and mating, predator-prey interactions, migration and navigation, biological clocks, and animal intelligence. Prerequisites: none. (Deutschlander)
• The Biology of Sex: This course examines the important themes in biology through the lens of reproduction; a defining characteristic of all life. This course uses an evolutionary-based approach to understand the cost and benefits of asexual versus sexual reproduction. We will study why sex evolved, discover some of the fantastic strategies plants and animals use to mix their genes, explore the evolution of sex, learn how genetic information is passed from generation to generation, and visit such topics as mating strategies, sperm competition, female mate choice.
• A Biotech World - Origins and Implications of Recombinant DNA Technology: With increasing knowledge of DNA structure and function, scientists have acquired powerful tools for tinkering with the genetic makeup of living organisms. To date, our ability to manipulate DNA has had a significant impact in areas such as agriculture, human health and the environment. This course introduces the basic scientific principles behind recombinant DNA technology and its potential applications. Students also address the environmental, ethical, and social issues that surround the use of this technology in our changing world. Prerequisites: none. (Kenyon)
• Conservation Biology: We are living in a period of unprecedented loss of diversity due to habitat fragmentation and destruction, invasive species, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. It has taken millions of years for species around the world to evolve and yet millions of unique populations are predicted to go extinct in the next 20-30 years. Why are some species more susceptible to loss than others? How can we protect species from further decline? Conservation biology integrates both science and society to understand and slow this loss of biodiversity. Topics covered in this course include the ecology, genetics, evolution, biodiversity, management, and policy of small populations in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Prerequisites: none. (Cushman)
• Dangerous Diseases: Black death, the Spanish Flu, AIDS—Is the greatest threat to humanity likely to come from a new deadly disease that causes worldwide havoc? This course explores the cell biology, molecular biology and physiology behind some of humanities’ most tenacious infectious diseases such as SARS, Ebola, Hantaan virus, and HIV. Understanding the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases allows assessment of the possibility that a deadly infection could cause another deadly global outbreak. Finally, students explore how scientists combat infectious diseases and whether or not the human genome project and the ability to sequence the genomes of disease causing organisms offer a new mechanisms to fight deadly diseases. Prerequisites: none. (Carle)
• HIV and related topics: According to the World Health Organization, there are over 33 million people currently living with HIV. We will examine HIV form various angles including how it enters cells, how it integrates into the human genome, how it changes, and methods to detect it and prevent its infection. Through these topics we will explore concepts such as molecular and cellular components of cells, genetics and evolution, and immunology and viruses. Prerequisites: none. (Mowery)
• Populations and their Environment: The environment plays a large role in shaping population dynamics, community interactions, and the diversity of life. How does a natural, pristine environment differ from a disturbed environment? How have we as a species impacted the natural world and how has it responded? Whether abiotic or biotic, the environment impacts cellular properties, life history, symbiotic interactions, biogeography, and evolutionary processes in all living organisms. Students in this course will draw upon the core concepts of ecology, diversity, evolution, to understand the role of the environment in shaping terrestrial and aquatic life. Prerequisites: none. (Cushman)
• Tropical Biology: While tropical forests account for only 7 percent of earth’s land surface, they support at least half of all the world’s species. Why are the tropics so much more diverse than other regions of the world? How did this incredible diversity evolve? What led to the seemingly bizarre appearances and behaviors we observe in many tropical organisms? These are just some of the questions students explore in this course. Throughout the semester students draw upon many important concepts in the fields of ecology, evolution, genetics, botany, zoology, and physiology. Prerequisites: none. (Newell)

212 Biostatistics This course is required for the major. The treatments presented in this class are applied in nature and require, as background, only an elementary knowledge of algebra and the desire to learn. Subjects discussed include probability as a mathematical system, various probability distributions and their parameters, combinatorics, parameter estimation, confidence intervals, t-tests, various chi-square applications, one- and two-way analysis of variance, correlation, and simple linear regression. The laboratory component of the course includes an introduction to statistical computing on Macintosh computers utilizing statistical packages. Prerequisite: BIOL 167 or permission of instructor. (Glover, Droney, offered each semester)

220 General Genetics This course serves as an introduction to both traditional transmission genetics and modern molecular genetics. The major topics considered are the structure of genetic material, its replication, its transmission, and its expression. Special emphasis is placed on classical principles of transmission genetics, and on the central features of gene action, i.e., transcription and translation. The course, involving lectures and laboratory experience with both animal and plant systems, is required for all biology majors. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 212 or permission of instructor. (Glover, Kenyon, Carle, offered each semester)

222 Microbiology This course provides a broad introduction to microorganisms. Students are given an opportunity to both examine microbes from the traditional vantage of microscopes and colonies, and enter the current conversation on and techniques using microorganisms. Students will learn how scientists harvest the power of microbes from creating medicines to cleaning the environment. Microbiology is a multi-disciplinary field and this course will allow students to explore genetics, molecular biology, bioinformatics, evolution, environmental science, biochemistry, and immunology. With laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 167. (Mowery, offered annually)

224 Functional Vertebrate Anatomy This course introduces students to the vertebrate body plan and the comparative anatomy of the skeletal, muscular, circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems of various vertebrates. There is an enormous diversity in vertebrate structure, and the emphasis is toward understanding how anatomical structures function. Attention is also given to the evolution and development of these structures. With laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 167. (Ryan, offered annually)

225 Ecology This course is an introduction to ecological theories as they apply to individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics covered include physiological ecology, population dynamics, competition, predation, community structure, diversity, and the movement of materials and energy through ecosystems. The laboratory is designed to provide experience with sampling techniques and an introduction to the methods of experimental ecology. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 167. Corequisite: BIOL 212. (Newell, offered annually)

228 The Biology of Plants The diversity of plants is enormous, ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to trees more than 300 feet tall. Using an evolutionary approach, students study this great diversity and follow the development of plants from the earliest photosynthetic single-celled organisms to complex flowering plants. Plant structure and function are discussed in relation to the environment in which plants live. Studies of plant anatomy, physiology, and ecology focus on flowering plants. Throughout the course, human uses of plants and plant products are highlighted. The laboratory provides hands-on experience with the plant groups discussed in lecture and an opportunity to experimentally test many of the concepts presented. With laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 167. (Newell, offered annually)

232 Cell Biology An introduction to the fundamental principles that guide the functions of cells and organelles. The major topics covered are transcription and translation, cell communication and signal transduction, cellular metabolism (respiration and photosynthesis), and cell motility.  These topics are studied in the context of cancer and other human diseases. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 167. (Carle, offered annually)

233 General Physiology An introduction to the major physiological processes of animals, from the level of cells and tissues to the whole organism. A comparative examination of animals emphasizes basic physiological processes and demonstrate how animals with different selective pressures “solve problems” related to integrating the separate yet coordinate organ systems of their bodies. Students examine relationships between structure and function, mechanisms of regulation, control and integration, metabolism, and adaptation to the environment. Laboratory exercises reinforce lecture topics and emphasize an investigative approach to the measurement of physiological processes. With laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 167, BIOL 212. (Deutschlander, offered annually)

234 Vertebrate Biology Vertebrates are among the most abundant and conspicuous animals in the natural world. Topics covered include an exploration of the diversity of vertebrates, the characteristics that define each vertebrate group, and how those characteristics relate to each group’s evolution. In addition, the course covers principles of systematic biology, methods used by study vertebrates, behavior, reproduction, life history and physiology of vertebrates. The laboratory combines experiments with field trips. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 167 (Ryan, offered annually)

236 Evolution Evolution is often referred to as the great unifying principle of all the biological sciences. In this course, both micro-evolutionary process and macro-evolutionary patterns are discussed. Micro-evolution involves studying current evolutionary processes (such as natural selection, sexual selection, and genetic drift) using techniques from population, quantitative, and molecular genetics. Additional topics include levels of selection, adaptation, and ecological factors important for evolutionary change. Evolutionary processes also are central to the understanding of past events and, therefore, topics such as biological diversity, speciation, phylogeny, and extinction are also discussed. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 212; Corequisite: BIOL 220. (Droney, offered annually)

238 Aquatic Biology Aquatic Biology provides a working knowledge of the general biology and ecology of aquatic systems and of the organisms that make up aquatic communities. Study in the classroom and field focuses on lake systems, but also includes streams and rivers, wetlands, and ponds.  Students use field and laboratory techniques to study water quality issues, community composition, and ecological interactions among aquatic organisms. With laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 160-level course. (Brown, offered annually)

302 Immunology Immunology is a complex, multi-discipline and evolving field of study. We will explore cellular immunology, molecular immunology and the immune system in diseases. A wide range of topics will be covered including the cells and organs of the immune system, innate and acquired immunity, the structure and function of the major molecular players in the immune response, vaccines, immunity to microorganisms, immunodeficiency, transplantation and cancer. The laboratory portion will explore the molecular immunological techniques relevant to the medical and research fields. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Mowery, offered alternate years)

315 Advanced Topics in Biology An in-depth study of topics of current research interest. Examples of courses include:  Darwinian Medicine, Restoration Ecology, Field Biology, Behavioral Neurobiology. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Staff, offered offered alternate years)

316 Conservation Biology Conservation Biology is a relatively new discipline in biology which addresses the alarming loss of biological diversity around the globe. The basic goals of the discipline are to understand the causes and consequences of this loss while also developing practical approaches to prevent extinction and preserve biodiversity on a global basis. The discipline combines a variety of other disciplines including population ecology and genetics, community and ecosystem ecology, and other non-biological disciplines including economics, and resource and land management. The course combines lecture and laboratory and a considerable amount of class time is dedicated to the discussion of current literature in the field. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Brown, offered alternate years)

327 Behavioral Ecology The specific behaviors employed by organisms to solve the “problems” associated with survival and reproduction have been shaped through time by evolutionary forces. Thus, to understand why individuals behave as they do, we must understand the nature of the complex interactions between individual and the environment, including social interactions with other individuals of the same species, in the past and present. This evolutionary approach to understanding behavior is the focus of the discipline of behavioral ecology. Emphasis is placed on why organisms within populations of species vary in behavior, in addition to the more traditional approach of relating ecology and behavior across species. Topics may include social behavior and mate choice, animal and plant signaling, foraging tactics, and the genetics of behavior. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Droney, offered alternate years)

335 Molecular Biology This course is designed to provide a broad understanding of molecular biology while focusing on current research within the field. Topics covered include eukaryotic genome structure and organization, biotechnology, and control of gene expression using examples from both plant and animal systems. Laboratory exercises emphasize current molecular biology techniques focusing on one experimental system. With laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Carle, offered alternate years)

339 Physiological Ecology Physiological ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment, with an emphasis on the physiological attributes of organisms that influence their performance in a given environment. It is also concerned with the evolution of physiological, anatomical, and biochemical characteristics of organisms, and examines the relationship of these characteristics to fitness. This course focuses on the physiological ecology of plants and provides an introduction to current research questions and methods. Prerequisite: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Newell, offered alternate years)

340 Neurobiology In this course students examine concepts and experimental models in cellular and systems neurobiology in order to gain a better understanding of how the nervous system is integrated to produce simple and complex behaviors. After a consideration of how individual neurons function, students examine (1) how parts of the nervous system are specialized to sense and perceive the environment, (2) how commands are initiated and modified to produce smooth, well-controlled movements, (3) how more complex functions of the nervous system (such as emotions, language, etc.) are produced by neural networks, and (4) how neural plasticity and learning allow nervous systems to be modified by experience. Because neurobiology is an inherently comparative field, students examine neural processes that demonstrate basic concepts inherent to neurological systems both in invertebrates and vertebrates (including humans). Laboratories include some computer simulations of neuronal physiology and “wet lab” experiments designed to introduce students to techniques for investigation of the neural basis of behavior. Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Deutschlander, offered alternate years)

341 Developmental Biology This course presents a comprehensive view of the principles that govern how a single fertilized egg develops into a complex organism. Developmentalbiology is an integrative discipline that includes other fields of biology such as molecular and cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, evolution, neurobiology and physiology.  Through lectures and laboratory exercises, students learn the experimental approaches used by scientists to study developmental processes.Prerequisites: BIOL 212, BIOL 220. (Kenyon, offered alternate years)

450 Independent Study Attendance at all biology seminars, generally held on alternate Friday afternoons, is required of all students conducting independent study. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

460 Biology Seminar The biology seminar is intended as a capstone experience that integrates knowledge learned in previous biology courses. Seminar topics are selected by the faculty and announced in advance in the registration handbook. Past topics have included Sex, Evolution and Behavior; Genomics; Biology of Cancer. Seminars are a detailed exploration of a current topic in biology. Prerequisite: open only to senior biology majors, except with permission of the instructor. (Offered each semester)

495 Honors Attendance at all biology seminars held throughout the semester is required of all students doing Honors. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.