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Department of Biology University of St. Thomas, Minnesota USA

   Course Descriptions

Fall Semester

(BIOL 105) Human Biology
An introduction to cells, genetics, development, and the human body, and the impact of humans on the environment.  Laboratories will emphasize creative, scientific thinking and problem solving.Two laboratory hours per week.  Fulfills the Natural Science requirement but does not count toward Biology major.  Does not fulfill entrance requirements for some Health Professions Programs. Recommended for Social Work and Psychology majors. MWF, 9:35 and 10:55

(BIOL 201) Adaptation and Diversity
A survey of living organisms with emphasis on their origins, relationships, and adaptation to the environment.  An examination of the structural and functional bases of adaptation.  Three laboratory hours per week, emphasizing hypothesis testing, experimental design, data collection and analysis.   Fulfills the Natural Science requirement.  First core course in the Biology major. MWF, 8:15, 9:35, and 12:15, Drs. Evarts, Verhoven, and Nelson

(BIOL 204) Cellular and Molecular Biology
An examination of cellular structure and function emphasizing unifying principles and regulatory mechanisms in eukaryotes.   Coverage includes biological important molecules and macromolecules, organelles, and organellar systems, growth, metabolism, gene expression, and cellular differentiation.   Laboratory work emphasizes experimental methods and data-based reasoning.   Four laboratory hours per week. Third core course in the Biology major.   Prereq: BIOL 202; CHEM 112. TR, 9:55 and 1:30, Drs. Manske and Sherer

(BIOL 315) General Botany
A broad consideration of plant diversity, ecology, levels of organization, reproduction, growth and development, and function.  Laboratories explore plant geography, taxonomy and diversity, morphology, and physiology.  Three laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 202; completion or concurrent registration in CHEM 111. TR, 8:00, Dr. Verhoeven

(BIOL 333) Ecology
Influence of environmental factors on all levels of plant and animal organization and activity.  Principles explaining growth and distribution of populations of organisms.  Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 202; completion or concurrent registration in CHEM 101 or CHEM 111. MWF, 12:15, Dr. Emms.

(BIOL 349) Comparative Anatomy and Physiology I
Examination of the functional morphology of the vertebrate skeletomuscular, nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems.  Emphasis will be placed on the evolution, development, and function of these systems, as well as the control and integration with all organ systems in vertebrates. Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 202; CHEM 112 strongly recommended. MWF, 10:55, Dr. Nelson.

(BIOL 360) Genetics
Detailed consideration of specific topics in transmission, molecular, and populations genetics. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems discussed.  Genetic reasoning and analysis will be emphasized.  Three laboratory hours per week. Prereq: BIOL 204; CHEM 202. MWF 9:35, Dr. Hartung.

(BIOL 371) Cell Biology
An advanced investigation of topics in cell structure and the regulation of cellular activities, including signal transduction, protein transport, cell-cycle regulation, and cellular movement, emphasizing molecular mechanisms, current concepts and their experimental basis.  Includes significant use of the primary literature. Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 204; CHEM 202. TR, 9:55, Dr. Cruise.

(BIOL 430) Behavioral Ecology
The influence of natural selection on behavior in relation to ecological conditions.  Emphasis is on quantitative and experimental methods and on integrating theoretical ideas with field and laboratory experience.  Includes critical reading of the primary literature.  Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 330.  Dr. Evarts

(BIOL 434) Field Ecology
Principles of ecology applied to the study of plant and animal communities.  use of recent primary literature to learn and evaluate field techniques data collection, and data analyses.  The laboratory includes a class research project as well as a signficant individual research project.  Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 333.  TR, 9:55.  Staff.

(BIOL 465) Developmental Biology
Examination of the mechanisms that underlie the structural and functional development of animal embryos, including nucleocytoplasmic interaction, tissue interactions, and differential gene expression.  Laboratory work emphasizes an experimental approach to the study of living organisms.  Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 360 or BIOL 371. TR, 9:55

(BIOL 486) Seminar in Physiology
Investigation of selected problems in physiology at the advanced level, involving student presentations based on the primary literature.  Prereq:  Upper-class standing and permission of the instructor.  TR, 9:55, Dr. Chaplin


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January Interim

(BIOL 210) Introduction to Laboratory Research (1/2 course)
An introductory experience in the pursuit of laboratory based research problems in biology.  Students work in teams to perform experiments designed to answer questions in a specific area of biology. Emphasis is on the application of the scientific method to biological problem solving, the role of research teams in science and the communication of findings to others as the end product of science.  Area of investigation varies with research interests of the instructors for the course.  Prereq: Open to biology majors or prospective majors; BIOL 201.  Preference given to students in their first year of study in the discipline.

(BIOL 211) Introduction to Field Research (1/2 course)
An introductory experience in the pursuit of field-based research problems in biology.  Field site varies from year to year but has included Baja California, Mexico,Belize, and Costa Rica.  See BIOL 210 for other details concerning this course.  Same Prereq. apply.

(BIOL 217) Health Professions Internship III
Students and Physicians Program at St. Joseph's Hospital provides students who are nursing assistants (completed BIOL 215 and 216) with an opportunity to accompany a physician on hospital duties.  Prereq: BIOL 216 and sophomore standing.


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Spring Semester

(BIOL 101) General Biology
Designed to foster independent thinking about the way our bodies develop and operate and the way we interact with our environment.  Emphasis on science as a creative process and the relevance of biology in today's world.  Fulfills the Natural Science requirement, but does not count toward the Biology major.  Two laboratory hours per week.  Dr. Evarts and Ms. Schroeder

(BIOL 102) Conservation Biology
An introduction to the basic concepts of conservation biology including the history of conservation, the value of biological diversity, conservation at the population, species, and community levels, and application to human activities.  Laboratories will emphasize collecting data, data analysis, and application of conservation practices. Two laboratory hours per week.  Fulfills the Natural Science requirement, but does not count toward Biology major. Recommended for Environmental Studies majors. TR, 9:55, 

(BIOL 202) Genetics and Population Biology
A consideration of the mechanisms of heredity and evolution utilizing a problem-solving approach.  Topics include: Mendelian genetics, gene mapping, changes in chromosome structure and number, population genetics, selection theory, speciation, growth and regulation of populations.  Laboratory work will emphasize techniques for data analysis.  Computer simulation will be employed.   Three laboratory hours per week. Second core course in the Biology major.  Prereq: BIOL 201; CHEM 112 strongly recommended. Drs. Hartung and Wilson

(BIOL 206) Global Ecology (1/2 course)
An exploration of ecological processes that operate at a global level and human influence on these processes.  Topics include: effect of climate variation on distribution of organisms and biological communities, energy flow, nutrient cycles, biodiversity, effect of human activity on extinction rates and health of natural ecosystems.  Case studies will integrate cellular, physiological, and ecological processes. Fourth core course in the Biology major.  Prereq: BIOL 201, 202; BIOL 204 strongly recommended.

(BIOL 330) Animal Behavior
The study of animal behavior from an evolutionary perspective.  The adaptive value of behaviors such as display, habitat selection, and mating system is examined.  Theoretical analyses of sexual selection and the evolution of cooperation and altruism are considered.  Laboratory work emphasizes the measurement and analysis of animal behavior under natural conditions.  Four laboratory hours per week.  Prereq: BIOL 202.  Dr. DeJong

(BIOL 350) Comparative Anatomy and Physiology II Examination of the functional morphology of the vertebrate cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and digestive systems.   Emphasis will be placed on the evolution, development, and function of these systems, as well as the control and integration with all organ systems in vertebrates. Four laboratory hours per week.   Prereq: BIOL 204; CHEM 201; QMCS 220 strongly recommended. Dr. Chaplin

(BIOL 353) Microscopic Anatomy
Microscopic Anatomy of the basic tissue types and selected organ systems of vertebrates, stressing relationships between structure and function.  Emphasis is on humans and other mammals.  Laboratory work includes preparation of fresh tissues for microscopic study.  Four laboratory hours per week. Prereq: BIOL 204.

(BIOL 354) Neurobiology
An integrative approach will be used to study the nervous system from the cellular, systems, and behavioral perspectives.  Topics will include how information is carried by neural tissues, the ionic basis for resting and action potentials, neurotransmitters and synaptic transmission, transduction and processing of sensory information, motor systems, and the neurobiology of learning and memory and behavioral neurobiology.  Prereq: BIOL 204 and completion of or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 202.  Dr. Nelson

(BIOL 356) Microbiology
An in-depth study of the biology of microorganisms directed at gaining an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the functions of bacteria and viruses.   The importance of microorganisms as they related to human disease, industry and the environment will be explored through lectures, readings form literature and discussions.   Laboratory includes an independent research project done in collaboration with the professor and peers.  Four laboratory hours per week. Prereq: BIOL 204; CHEM 202. 

(BIOL 462) Molecular Biology
An investigation of current concepts in molecular biology including gene expression and its regulation, the organization of genetic information, recombinant DNA techniques, oncogenes and genetic engineering.  The laboratory consists of a collaborative research project.  Four laboratory hours per week. Prereq: BIOL 360 or 371.  Dr. Cruise

(BIOL 463) Immunology
A study of the mammalian immune system emphasizing the genetic and cellular basis of the immune response.  Basic immunological concepts will be used to explore the mechanisms of transplantation, rejection, autoimmunity, AIDS and other topics of interest.  Laboratory will consist of an independent research project done in collaboration with the professor and peers.   Four laboratory hours per week. Prereq: BIOL 371; 360 strongly recommended.  Dr. Manske

(BIOL 489) Topics: Advanced Plant Biology

(BIOL 490) Topics: Advanced Conservation Biology

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