BIOL390
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Course Description
The descriptions and topics of this course change from semester-to-semester, as well as from instructor-to-instructor. Prerequisite: varies with the topic offered.
Fall 2024
BIOL 39001 CRN 41486 TOPICS BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
The field of Behavioral Ecology is dedicated to understanding animal behavior from an evolutionary perspective, studying how animals behave in their natural environments and how these behaviors affect their evolutionary fitness. This course will meet once a week, with a combination of lecture and hands-on field activities outside the classroom, culminating in a final project in which students will work in groups to collect original data and test their own hypotheses about animal behavior.
Fall 2024
BIOL 39002 CRN 41511 TOPICS BREWING SCIENCE LECTURE
This course will explore principles of brewing science with a strong emphasis on the microorganism that makes it all happen – yeast! Starting from the four basic ingredients, we will examine the key processes, along with the biochemical reactions and microbial activity that convert raw material into beer and contribute to the overall flavor and aroma. Students will gain hands on experience while gleaning insight into the chemical interactions and biochemical reactions that take place during the malting, brewing, fermentation, and clarification processes. In the lab, students will learn the fundamentals of using sterile technique to grow and culture yeast, carry out fermentation experiments, quantify and qualify beer characteristics, and investigate the role that yeast genetics plays in the fermentation process. The course will be complemented by a tour of a local brewery in addition to expert guest lectures in malting and clarification.
Fall 2025
BIOL 39002 CRN 41720 TOPICS GENETICS OF HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Genetics of Human Health and Disease will explore the genetic basis of disease, focusing on the genes and molecular underpinnings that influence health and disease. Investigating primary and secondary sources, this course will examine a variety of hereditary disorders ranging from single gene to multifactorial gene disorders, current treatments, diagnostic testing, emerging technologies, and the ethical implications associated therein. As a culminating semester-long project, students will take part in an in-depth investigation into a selected genetic disorder, conducting a thorough review of the primary scientific literature and identifying the genetic, molecular, and physiological mechanisms underlying the condition. Using genomic databases and bioinformatics tools, students will further develop a diagnostic test for an implicated gene based on their findings using a PCR and sequencing-based assay.
Fall 2024
BIOL 39001 CRN 41486 TOPICS BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
The field of Behavioral Ecology is dedicated to understanding animal behavior from an evolutionary perspective, studying how animals behave in their natural environments and how these behaviors affect their evolutionary fitness. This course will meet once a week, with a combination of lecture and hands-on field activities outside the classroom, culminating in a final project in which students will work in groups to collect original data and test their own hypotheses about animal behavior.
Fall 2024
BIOL 39002 CRN 41511 TOPICS BREWING SCIENCE LECTURE
This course will explore principles of brewing science with a strong emphasis on the microorganism that makes it all happen – yeast! Starting from the four basic ingredients, we will examine the key processes, along with the biochemical reactions and microbial activity that convert raw material into beer and contribute to the overall flavor and aroma. Students will gain hands on experience while gleaning insight into the chemical interactions and biochemical reactions that take place during the malting, brewing, fermentation, and clarification processes. In the lab, students will learn the fundamentals of using sterile technique to grow and culture yeast, carry out fermentation experiments, quantify and qualify beer characteristics, and investigate the role that yeast genetics plays in the fermentation process. The course will be complemented by a tour of a local brewery in addition to expert guest lectures in malting and clarification.
Fall 2025
BIOL 39002 CRN 41720 TOPICS GENETICS OF HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Genetics of Human Health and Disease will explore the genetic basis of disease, focusing on the genes and molecular underpinnings that influence health and disease. Investigating primary and secondary sources, this course will examine a variety of hereditary disorders ranging from single gene to multifactorial gene disorders, current treatments, diagnostic testing, emerging technologies, and the ethical implications associated therein. As a culminating semester-long project, students will take part in an in-depth investigation into a selected genetic disorder, conducting a thorough review of the primary scientific literature and identifying the genetic, molecular, and physiological mechanisms underlying the condition. Using genomic databases and bioinformatics tools, students will further develop a diagnostic test for an implicated gene based on their findings using a PCR and sequencing-based assay.