Course Descriptions

Department of Biology

Professors D. Bell-Pedersen, M. J. Benedik, L. Campbell, V. M. Cassone (Head), J. W. Golden, S. S. Golden, I. F. Greenbaum, L. A. Guarino, T. C. Hall, P. E. Hardin, A. K. Holzenburg, R. L. Honeycutt, T. D. McKnight, M. D. Manson, C. O. Patterson, B. B. Riley, M. Sachs, M. D. Summers, T. L. Thomas, M. K. Wicksten, H. D. Wilson, R. F. Young; Associate Professors R. Aramayo, K. J. Aufderheide, S. Datta, D. J. Earnest, J. W.  Erickson, L. R. Garcia, L. R. Griffing, A. C. Lekven, D. S. MacKenzie, J. R. Manhart, A. E. Pepper, P. J. Rizzo, D. A. Siegele, M. J. Zoran; Assistant Professors G. E. Carney, A. G. Jones, X. Lin, R. Lints, T. J. Lints, K. A. Maggert, B. D. Perkins, H. Qin, G. Rosenthal, K. J. Ryan, M. S. Smotherman, T. A. Stidman, W. K. Versaw, J. Xiong; Senior Lecturers C. B. Johnson, R. B. Moyes, W. Wen, L. Winemiller

Biology
(BIOL)

101. (BIOL 1111 and 1311, BIOL 1411) Botany. (3-3). Credit 4. I

Structure, physiology and development of plants with an emphasis on seed plants. (Not open to students who have taken BIOL 111 and 112 or BIOL 113.) Course includes laboratory that reinforces and provides supplemental information related to the lecture topics.

107. (BIOL 1313 and 1113, 1413) Zoology. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II

Survey of animal life with respect to cell organization, genetics, evolution, diversity of invertebrates/vertebrates, anatomy/physiology, and interaction of animals with their environment; course includes laboratory that reinforces and provides supplemental information related to lecture topics. (Not open to students who have taken BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 or BIOL 113).

111. (BIOL 1306 and 1106, 1406) Introductory Biology I. (3-3). Credit 4.

First half of an introductory two-semester survey of contemporary biology that covers the chemical basis of life, structure and biology of the cell, molecular biology and genetics. Course includes laboratory that reinforces and provides supplemental information related to the lecture topics.

112. (BIOL 1307 and 1107, 1407) Introductory Biology II. (3-3). Credit 4.

The second half of an introductory two-semester survey of contemporary biology that covers evolution, history of life, diversity and form and function of organisms. Course includes laboratory that reinforces and provides supplemental information related to the lecture topics. Prerequisite: BIOL 111.

113. Introductory Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

One-semester survey of basic biological principles, including chemical basis of life, cell biology, bioenergetics, genetics, evolution, anatomy and physiology, reproduction and development, and interaction with the environment. Not suitable for students who plan to take additional courses in the Biology Department. BIOL 123 is the corresponding laboratory course.

114. Introductory Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

Continuation of a two-semester course in biological concepts; BIOL 114 will emphasize organismal diversity, comparative physiology, ecology and evolution. BIOL 124 is the laboratory course for this lecture course. Prerequisite: BIOL 113.

123. Introductory Biology Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II, S

One-semester course for non-majors; covers the basic biological principles; includes cell biology, genetics, ecology and evolution, biodiversity and anatomy and physiology. Prerequisites: BIOL 113 or concurrent registration in BIOL 113.

124. Introductory Biology Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II, S

Laboratory studies of topics covered in BIOL 114; diversity of life, comparative anatomy and physiology, and ecology and evolution. Prerequisites: BIOL 113, 123, 114 or concurrent registration in BIOL 114.

206. (BIOL 2421) Introductory Microbiology. (3-4). Credit 4. I, II, S

Basic microbiology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; main topics include morphology, physiology, genetics, taxonomy, ecology, medically important species and immunology; mandatory laboratory designed to give hands-on experience and to reinforce basic principles. Prerequisites: CHEM 102 or 104; BIOL 111 or biology equivalent. May not be used for credit by biology, botany, microbiology, zoology, predentistry or premedicine majors.

213. Molecular Cell Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II

Explores the molecular basis of cell structure, function and evolution; gene regulation, cell division cycle, cancer, immunity, differentiation, multicellularity and photosynthesis. Students may not take concurrently with, or after the completion of, BIOL 413. Prerequisites: BIOL 112; CHEM 227 or concurrent enrollment.

214. Genes, Ecology and Evolution. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II

A genetically-based introduction to the study of ecology and evolution; emphasis on the interactions of organisms with each other and with their environment. Prerequisite: BIOL 112.

225. Physical Anthropology. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II, S

Human biology to include examination of evolutionary processes acting on human populations; human genetics; non-human primate anatomy, classification and ecology of primates; the primate paleontological record, and human variation and adaptation. Prerequisites: BIOL 111; BIOL 107 or equivalent. Cross-listed with ANTH 225. Credit cannot be given for both ANTH 225 and BIOL 225.

281. Seminar in Quantitative Biology. (1-0). Credit 1.

Designed to familiarize students with connections to the biological and mathematical worlds; weekly presentations on recent advances in quantitative biology for assessment and discussions; restricted to freshmen and sophomores in biology, botany, microbiology, molecular and cell biology, zoology, math and applied mathematical sciences. Cross-listed with MATH 281.

285. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4. I, II, S

Problems in various phases of plant, animal and microbial science. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification; approval of ranking professor in field chosen and Undergraduate Advising Office.

289. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.

Selected topics in an identified area of biology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.

291. Research. Credit 1 to 4.

Active research of basic nature under the supervision of a Department of Biology faculty member. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of faculty member.

301. Taxonomy of Flowering Plants. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II

Use of keys and identification of flowering plants, family characteristics and relationships and other applied phases of plant science. Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 and 112 or equivalent.

304. Comparative Biology of Plants. (3-3). Credit 4. I, II, S

A comparison of chemistry, cytology, life strategies, nutrition, relevance, reproduction and structure of the major groups of prokaryotes, protists, fungi and plants. Prerequisite: BIOL 101 or BIOL 111.

318. Chordate Anatomy. (3-3). Credit 4. I

Classification, phylogeny, comparative anatomy, and biology of chordates; diversity, protochordates, vertebrate skeletons, shark and cat anatomy studied in laboratory. Animals: Protochordates, fish, amphibia and mammals studied in laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 112.

319. Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology I. (3-3). Credit 4. I, S

Integrated approach to cellular, neural, skeletal, muscular anatomy and physiology; includes some histology, histopathology, radiology and clinical correlations. Prerequisite: BIOL 111; BIOL 112 strongly recommended.

320. Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology II. (3-3). Credit 4. II

Continuation of BIOL 319. Integrated approach to endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and developmental anatomy and physiology; includes some histology, histopathology, radiology and clinical correlations. Prerequisite: BIOL 319 or approval of instructor.

328. Plants and People. (2-3). Credit 3.

Development and uses of principal economically important plants of world; plants and plant parts used in production of important commodities; vascular plants. Prerequisite: BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 or 112 or approval of instructor.

330. Molecules and Life. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Survey of major biological concepts; readings, integrated lectures and discussions of selected topics such as evolution, developmental biology, recombinant DNA, sociobiology and human origins. Prerequisite: Junior classification.

335. Invertebrate Zoology. (3-3). Credit 4. II

Morphology, taxonomy, natual history and phylogeny of invertebrate animals, with emphasis on biodiversity; class includes both lecture and lab; lab includes study of preserved material and demonstration of living animals in aquaria and terraria. Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or approval of instructor.

344. Embryology. (3-3). Credit 4. II

Introduction to general and comparative embryology; molecular and cellular mechanisms of development; genetics and early development of selected invertebrates (C. elegans, Drosophila and sea urchin) and emphasis on vertebrates (frog, fish, chick and mouse). Prerequisite: BIOL 213 or GENE 302.

351. Fundamentals of Microbiology. (3-4). Credit 4. I, II, S

Introduction to modern microbiology with emphasis on prokaryotes; includes microbial cell structure, function, and physiology; genetics, evolution, and taxonomy; bacteriophage and viruses; pathogenesis and immunity; and ecology and biotechnology; includes laboratory experience with microbial growth and identification. Not open to BIMS majors. Prerequisites: BIOL 112; CHEM 227 and 237; or approval of instructor.

352. Diagnostic Bacteriology. (2-6). Credit 4. S

Practical experience in handling, isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms using biochemical tests and rapid identification. Prerequisite: BIOL 206 or 351.

357. Ecology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

Analysis of ecosystems at organismal, population, interspecific and community levels. BIOL 358 is the laboratory for this lecture course. Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or approval of instructor.

358. Ecology Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II, S

Analyses of freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems; field studies emphasized. Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or approval of instructor.

388. Principles of Animal Physiology. (3-3). Credit 4. II

Introduction to how animals function, including basics of neurophysiology, endocrinology, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, ormoregulatory, and metabolic physiology; broadly comparative in scope and encompassing adaptation of physiological systems to diverse environments; the laboratory stresses techniques used for monitoring and investigating physiological mechanisms and responses to environmental changes. Prerequisites: BIOL 111 and 112; CHEM 228.

401. Critical Writing in Biology. (1-0). Credit 1.

Reading scientific papers and writing short synopses of papers with a focus on learning how to think and write like a scientist; fills the current Writing Intensive “W” course requirement for biology.  Prerequisites: BIOL 213 and 214; junior or senior classification.

405. Comparative Endocrinology. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Basic principles of endocrinology including structure and functions of hormones in vertebrates; hormonal control of growth, metabolism, osmoregulation, and reproduction; endocrine techniques and mechanism of hormone action. Prerequisites: BIOL 319; WFSC 416 or BIOL 388 or approval of instructor.

406. Bacterial Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II

A problem oriented course surveying the manipulation and mechanisms of genetic systems in bacteria; recombination, structure and regulation of bacterial genes, plasmids and phages. Prerequisites: BIOL 351; GENE 302. Cross-listed with GENE 406.

413. Cell Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. I, II, S

Structure, function, and biogenesis of cells and their components; interpretation of dynamic processes of cells, including protein trafficking, motility, signaling and proliferation. Prerequisite: BIOL 213 and BICH 410.

414. Developmental Biology. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Concepts of development in systems ranging from bacteriophage to the mammalian embryo; use of recombinant DNA technology and embryo engineering to unravel the relationships between growth and differentiation, morphogenesis and commitment, aging and cancer. Prerequisite: BIOL 413 or concurrent enrollment or approval of instructor.

423. Cell Biology Laboratory. (0-3). Credit 1. I, II

Modern methods of study of cell structure and cell function. Prerequisites: BIOL 413 and BICH 412 or registration therein; approval of instructor.

430. Biological Imaging. (3-3). Credit 4. II

Still and video photography and photomicrography, computer-based digital image analysis and processing of biological images; theory and principles of light and electron microscopy including transmission and scanning electron microscopy; optical contrast methods for light microscopy including phase contrast, DIC, polarizing light and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Prerequisite: Junior classification or approval of instructor.

434. Regulatory and Behavioral Neuroscience. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Bioelectricity, nerve cell functions, brain functions; physiologic basis of behavior. Prerequisites: BIOL 319; WFSC 416 or BIOL 388.

435. Laboratory for Regulatory and Behavioral Neuroscience. (0-3). Credit 1. I

Laboratory study of topics covered in BIOL 434; principles of hormone action, bioelectricity, nerve cell function, brain function and physiological bases for behavior. Prerequisite: BIOL 434 or concurrent enrollment.

438. Bacterial Physiology. (2-6). Credit 4. I

Metabolic pathways, regulatory mechanisms and fine structure of the procaryotic and eucaryotic cell. Laboratory includes use of radioactive isotopes in growth and respiratory studies and enzyme assays. Prerequisites: BIOL 351 and 406; BICH 410 and 431 strongly recommended.

439. Growth of Biological Thought. (3-0). Credit 3.

Development of biological thought from the ancient Greeks to the present. Prerequisite: 8 hours of biological science or approval of instructor.

440. Marine Biology. (3-3). Credit 4. I

Introduction to biology of common organisms inhabiting bays, beaches and near-shore oceanic waters with special reference to Gulf of Mexico biota; emphasis on classification, distribution, history, ecology, physiology, mutualism, predation, major community types and economic aspects of marine organisms. Prerequisite: BIOL 112 or approval of instructor.

445. Biology of Viruses. (3-0). Credit 3. I

Introduction to the life cycles of structure, composition and viruses; their interaction with in host cells; the mechanisms of pathogenicity on cellular transformation; the responses of the host to viral infection and vaccine applications; followed by an indepth study of the life cycles of the major classes of viruses and discussion of emerging viruses. Prerequisite: BIOL 213 or 351 or approval of instructor.

450. Introduction to Genomics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introductory genomics course designed to provide a basic understanding of the science of genomics, the study of genome data; major emphasis placed on the logic behind genomic approaches and the capabilities and limitations of these approaches to investigate biological processes; discussion of genomics as another extension of the science of genetics. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification in Biology, Genetics or Biochemistry. Cross-listed with BICH 450.

451. Bioinformatics. (3-0). Credit 3.

Introduction to the entire field of bioinformatics; theoretical background of computational algorithms, with an emphasis on application of computational tools related to modern molecular biological research. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.

453. Plant Anatomy. (2-6). Credit 4. I

Anatomy of vegetative and reproductive organs of plants; development of tissue types. Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or BIOL 111 and 112; junior classification.

454. Immunology. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Introduction to basic immunological concepts and principles of serology. Prerequisite: BIOL 351 or equivalent or approval of instructor.

455. Laboratory in Immunology. (0-6). Credit 2. II

Practical application of serological principles which include precipitation, agglutination and blood banking principles; techniques in tissue culture and hybridoma technology also included. Prerequisite: BIOL 454 or registration therein.

456. Medical Microbiology. (4-0). Credit 4. I

Microbiology, epidemiology and pathology of human pathogens with an emphasis on bacterial agents. Prerequisite: BIOL 351 or approval of instructor.

460. Microbial Biotechnology. (3-0). Credit 3. II

An interdisciplinary overview of biotechnology which presents the roles of microorganisms in diverse commercial applications; emphasis on the use of recombinant DNA methodology in this field. Prerequisites: BIOL 351.

466. Principles of Evolution. (3-0). Credit 3. II

Evolutionary patterns, mechanisms and processes at the organismal, chromosomal and molecular levels; modes of adaptation and the behavior of genes in populations. Prerequisite: GENE 302 or approval of instructor.

481. Seminar in Biology. (1-0). Credit 1. I, II, S

Recent advances. Restricted to senior undergraduate majors in biology, microbiology, botany or zoology.

484. Internship. Credit 1 to 4.

Directed internship in a private firm or public agency to provide research experience appropriate to the student’s degree program and career objectives. May be taken two times. Prerequisite: Approval of internship agency and advising office.

485. Directed Studies. Credit 1 or more. I, II, S

Problems in various phases of plant, animal and bacteriological science. Prerequisites: Junior classification; approval of ranking professor in field chosen and Undergraduate Advising Office.

489. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4. I, II

Selected topics in an identified area of biology. May be repeated once for credit.

491. Research. Credit 1 to 4.

Active research of basic nature under the supervision of a Department of Biology faculty member. May be taken two times. Prerequisite: Approval of departmental faculty member.

*Field trips may be required for which departmental fees may be assessed to cover costs.