A study of major patterns of distribution of life and of the environmental and geological factors underlying these patterns. The role of phenomena such as sea-level fluctuations, plate tectonics, oceanic currents, biological invasions and climate change in determining past, present and future global patterns of biodiversity are considered. Fundamental differences between terrestrial and marine biogeography are highlighted. Prerequisite: a course in ecology, evolution, or organismal biology or permission of the instructor.

Topics course: The brain represents the next frontier for biological exploration. Studying how the brain is first built can reveal important insight into the brains structure-function principles. How is the central nervous system first formed? How was the diversity of cell types established? How did the human brain evolve? Many neurological disorders show remarkable similarity to the embryonic processes used to first build the brain.

Molecular level structure-function relationships in the nervous system. Topics include development of neurons, neuron-specific gene expression, mechanisms of neuronal plasticity in learning and memory, synaptic release, molecular biology of neurological disorders, and molecular neuropharmacology. Prerequisites: BIO 200 and NSC 210 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20.

How does a single cell give rise to the complexity and diversity of cells and forms that make us the way we are? Developmental biology answers this question by spanning disciplines from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution. The remarkable phenomena that occur during embryonic development will be presented in concert with the experiments underlying our current knowledge. This will be an interactive class experience using “flipped classroom” approaches as well as web conferencing with the prominent developmental biologists whose research we are covering.

How does a single cell give rise to the complexity and diversity of cells and forms that make us the way we are? Developmental biology answers this question by spanning disciplines from cell biology and genetics to ecology and evolution. The remarkable phenomena that occur during embryonic development will be presented in concert with the experiments underlying our current knowledge. This will be an interactive class experience using “flipped classroom” approaches as well as web conferencing with the prominent developmental biologists whose research we are covering.

A review of the evolutionary origins, adaptations, and trends in the biology of vertebrates. Laboratory (BIO 273) is recommended but not required. No Prerequisites.

This research-based lab allows students to explore the eukaryotic microbiomes associated with various environments on campus, including the greenshouse and marine aquaria. Students in the course will master the basics of light microscopy, PCR, and analyses of high-throughput sequencing data. Students will also use the scanning electron microscope to survey their communities. The work in the course culminates in a poster presentation on the discoveries of the sememster. A one-hour weekly lab meeting is scheduled in addition to the three-hour lab period. BIO 370 must be taken concurrently.

This course focuses on the origin and diversification of microorganisms, with emphasis on eukaryotic lineages. The first weeks of lecture cover the origin of life on Earth, and the diversification of bacteria and archaea. From there, we focus on the diversification of eukaryotes, examining the many innovations that mark some of the major clades of eukaryotes. Evaluation is based on a combination of class participation, short writings and an independent research paper. Prerequisite: BIO 230 or 232 or permission of the instructor. Laboratory (BIO 371) is strongly recommended but not required.

Topics course: Unlike Mendel’s round or wrinkled peas, many biological traits exhibit more than two distinct forms. Quantitative genetics allows the study of continuously varying traits through statistical models that incorporate interactions between multiple genetic loci and the environment. Ongoing improvements in high-throughput DNA sequencing are revealing genetic mechanisms underlying human traits, such as predisposition to disease.

A laboratory course designed to complement the lecture material in 332. Advanced techniques used to study the molecular biology of eukaryotes are learned in the context of a semester-long project. These methods include techniques for studying genomics and gene expression including: CRISPR, RNA interference, DNA sequence analysis, RT-PCR, genomics, bioinformatics and others. Enrollment limited to 16. Prerequisite: BIO 332 (should be taken concurrently) and BIO 231.