Course Descriptions
Department of Biology
R. Aramayo, K. J. Aufderheide, D. Bell-Pedersen, M. J. Benedik*, L. Campbell, G. E. Carney, V. M. Cassone (Head), S. Datta, D. J. Earnest, J. W. Erickson, L. R. Garcia, J. W. Golden, S. S. Golden, I. F. Greenbaum, L. R. Griffing, L. A. Guarino, T. C. Hall, P. E. Hardin, D. E. Harper, Jr., A. K. H. Holzenburg, R. L. Honeycutt, A. G. Jones, J. E. Kanz, W. M. Kemp, A. C. Lekven, R. Lints, T. J. Lints, D. S. MacKenzie, K. A. Maggert, J. R. Manhart, M. D. Manson, T. D. McKnight, C. O. Patterson, A. E. Pepper, B. D. Perkins, H. Qin, B. B. Riley, P. J. Rizzo, G. Rosenthal, K. J. Ryan, H. W. Sauer, D. A. Siegele, M. S. Smotherman, T. A. Stidham, M. D. Summers, M. H. Sweet, T. L. Thomas, W. K. Versaw, M. K. Wicksten, H. D. Wilson, J. Xiong, P. A. Youderian, R. F. Young, M. J. Zoran
* Graduate Advisor
Resources for Graduate Study
The Department of Biology offers graduate programs designed to prepare students for careers in academic institutions, government agencies and industry. The Biological Sciences Complex is centrally located on the campus of Texas A&M University. Graduate research is emphasized in over 50 laboratories that contain modern and sophisticated instrumentation for cellular, molecular, organismal and ecological studies. These laboratories provide opportunities for a broad spectrum of research specializations. The Microscopy Imaging Center, animal care facilities and a state-of-the-art DNA sequencing laboratory are among the many facilities housed in the Biological Sciences Complex.
The Department of Biology faculty has research interests that interface with those of faculty in the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Geosciences, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Biology faculty participate in interdisciplinary programs in biological clocks, filamentous fungi, genetics, genomics, neuroscience and plant sciences. Cooperation is encouraged to broaden the research experience of graduate students.
Areas of Specialization in Graduate Research
PhD and MS degrees are offered in Biology, Botany, Microbiology and Zoology. General areas of research interests within these degrees include:
Cellular and Developmental Biology. Plant protoplast and tissue culture, transformation and regeneration; molecular biology and genetics of development and differentiation; nuclear organization; developmental neurobiology; cell surface interactions; physiology of photosynthesis.
Evolutionary Biology. Modern and classical approaches to plant and animal systematics and evolution; genomic and biochemical evolution; cytogenetics.
Molecular Biology. DNA and RNA isolation, cloning and sequencing; gene isolation, characterization, transfer and expression; bacterial and phage genetics; molecular processes of differentiation and embryogenesis; molecular microbiology and virology; genomics and informatics.
Organismal Biology. Comparative endocrinology and physiology; neurobiology; invertebrate ecology and ethology; marine biology; biological clocks.
Entrance Requirements
Course work taken at the baccalaureate level normally must include mathematics through calculus, statistics, chemistry including organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, genetics and adequate preparation in a biological science. Any remedial work will be in addition to the semester hours required for the degree. Graduate admissions decisions are based on students’ academic record, research experience, letters of recommendation, GRE scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical) and suitability of students’ research interests for programs in the department. For information about admissions, contact the Graduate Advisor, Department of Biology or visit us on the website at www.bio.tamu.edu.
Language Requirement
The Department of Biology has no foreign language requirement for any graduate degree program.
Biology
The PhD degree program in Biology is designed to provide the student with training in cellular, molecular and developmental biology, and to prepare the student for a leadership position in academic or industrial research. The Department of Biology offers a broad spectrum of research opportunities including plant molecular biology, molecular and cell biology of differentiation and development, gene structure and regulation in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms and their viruses, and cell structure and function. Students obtaining a degree in biology may also work closely with faculty in biochemistry, entomology, genetics, plant physiology, medicine and veterinary medicine.
Biology PhD students must demonstrate competence in their specific area of research and are expected to develop proficiency in four of the following seven areas at the time of the preliminary examination: biochemistry, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, microbiology, computational/mathematical biology and molecular biology. An MS student must demonstrate competence in at least three of the above seven areas at the time of the final examination.
(BIOL)
601. Biological Clocks. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduction to the formal properties of biological rhythms; cellular and molecular bases for rhythmicity; temporal adaptations of organisms using clocks. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
602. Fundamentals of Transmission Electron Microscopy. (3-6). Credit 5.
This course is designed to provide students with state-of-the-art fundamentals in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Students will be equipped with the necessary theoretical background in support of a strong hands-on course component comprising specimen preparation, image acquisition and interpretation. Students will gain sufficient practical experience to attain a proficiency level permitting independent operation of one of the transmission electron microscopes in the Microscopy and Imaging Center. Prerequisite: Students are required to write a half-page summary describing the specific problem they wish to resolve using transmission electron microscopy.
603. Advanced TEM Methodologies in Life and Material Sciences (TEM II). (1-6). Credit 3.
Provides students with advanced TEM methodologies including specimen preparation and TEM imaging/analysis techniques as applicable to both biological and material samples; theory designed to support a strong hands-on component comprising specimen preparation, different imaging/diffraction/spectroscopic techniques and data interpretation. Prerequisites: BIOL 602; graduate classification.
604 Fundamentals of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and
Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). (1-3). Credit 2. Provides biologists, material scientists, and students from other disciplines with the techniques of operation of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the environmental SEM (ESEM) coupled with the appropriate theoretical background knowledge; individual instruction in support of their research endeavors involving SEM/ESEM. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
605. Principles and Methods of Systematic Biology. (3-3). Credit 4.
Evolutionary theory, sub-specific variation, speciation and phylogeny; evolutionary, cladistical and numerical taxonomy, methods and rules used in viral, bacteriological, botanical and zoological classification. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
606. Microbial Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.
Basic understanding of microbial genetic systems and how genetic analyses can be used to investigate fundamental biological processes in microbes. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
607. Terrestrial Ecosystems. (3-3). Credit 4.
Population and community structure and function in organization of terrestrial ecosystems, the worldwide pattern of major terrestrial ecosystems. Representative ecosystems studied in the field. Prerequisite: BIOL 357 or equivalent.
608. Theory and Applications of Light Microscopy. (2-3). Credit 3.
This course provides biologists, material scientists and students from other disciplines with the theoretical background and practical techniques of sample preparation, operation of light microscopes as well as image acquisition and processing. In addition, students will receive individual instruction which will facilitate the completion of their research projects involving light microscopic techniques. Prerequisite: ½ page write-up describing how their graduate work will benefit.
611. Molecular Biology of Differentiation and Development. (3-0). Credit 3.
Major paradigms of eukaryotic gene regulation in terms of the role of gene expression during ontogeny and the effect of dysfunction in these processes on the neoplastic state.
613. Cell Biology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Consideration of the eukaryotic cell as a functional, integrated unit in living organisms: structure, composition, function and biogenesis of subcellular components; dynamic processes and interactions of cells, including division, communication, and death; experimental approaches in modern cell biology and selected applications of experimental cell biology to problems in medicine. Prerequisite: BICH 410 or BIOL 213. Concurrent enrollment in BIOL 213 or BICH 410 strongly discouraged.
614. Signaling and Development. (3-0). Credit 3.
Sensing, signal transduction, regulation, differentiation, and morphogenesis as it occurs in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms at molecular, cellular, and genetic levels explored through classic and current research literature. Prerequisites: Graduate classification.
615. Signaling in Behavior and Development. (3-0). Credit 3.
Will focus on signaling pathways used in multicellular animals. In each lecture, major signaling pathways used in behavior, physiology, and development will be introduced at the molecular level, and then be discussed in the context of organismal biology. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
620. Mechanisms of Transcription Initiation. (3-0). Credit 3.
Molecular mechanisms of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, with an emphasis on prokaryotic systems; scientific papers will provide the basis for class discussion. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
624. Fungal Genetics. (3-0). Credit 3.
Development of classical and modern genetic approaches in Fungi; genetic approaches to understanding basic biological processes including gene regulation, cell-cell interactions and cellular organization. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
634. Comparative Neurobiology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Cellular, molecular and systems neurobiology, together with neuroethology. A comparative approach to subject matter is stressed. Topics such as evolution of nervous systems and their diverse structure and complex functions are dealt with.
635. Plant Molecular Biology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Molecular aspects of plant growth, development, reproduction and evolution, emphasizing the structure, function, regulation, interaction and manipulation of plant genes; practical applications of plant molecular biology. Prerequisite: GENE 431.
636. Plant Cell Biology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Biogenesis, structure, function and interactions of plant cells during development, with emphasis on current literature and experimental approaches. Prerequisite: BIOL 413 or 613 or approval of instructor.
637. Field Systematic Botany. (2-6). Credit 4.
Basic principles and concepts of seed plant systematics; procedures of identification, family recognition, terminology, nomenclature, herbarium techniques, systems of classification and the taxonomic literature. Prerequisite: BIOL 301 or equivalent or approval of instructor.
644. Neural Development. (3-0). Credit 3.
Classical and current research literature to explore the major events in the development of a nervous system, including topics ranging from neurogenesis to synapse information. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
649. Comparative Endocrinology. (3-3). Credit 4.
Function of endocrine glands and hormonal regulatory systems in different animal groups, vertebrates and invertebrates; mechanisms of action of hormones at the cellular and molecular level; recent experimental advances in endocrinological research; isolation, purification and assay of certain hormones. Prerequisite: Course in physiology, BICH 410 or equivalent, or approval of instructor.
650. Genomics. (3-0). Credit 3.
Modern genomics as a tool for understanding biological systems; review of gene structure and organization and the history of sequencing technologies; focus on transcriptional, translational and functional genomics. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with BICH 650.
651. Bioinformatics. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduction to applications related to information processing in biological research with practical training exercises; includes internet databases, sequence alignment, motif prediction, gene and prometer prediction, phylogenetic analysis, protein structure classification, analysis and prediction, genome annotation, assembly and comparative analysis, and proteomics analysis. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
652. Epigenetic Mechanisms. (3-0). Credit 3.
Lectures and discussion of current research in epigenetic inheritance and its mechanisms in a variety of organisms. Structure of the course includes paper discussion and presentation, grant-writing, and grant-review. Prerequisite: BICH 631.
653. Zoogeography. (3-0). Credit 3.
Evolutionary, geological and ecological interpretations of the present and past distributions of terrestrial, freshwater and marine organisms.
654. Field Zoogeography. (0-3). Credit 1.
An optional laboratory designed to accompany BIOL 653, Zoogeography; field studies of ecological, geological and systematic processes which govern the geographical distribution of animals and formation of biogeographical provinces. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
663. Biology of the Crustacea. (3-3). Credit 4.
Classification, life history, morphology, physiology, ecology, diseases, parasites and predators of crustaceans; economic aspects of crustaceans; original literature emphasized. Prerequisite: BIOL 335 or equivalent, or approval of instructor.
665. Biology of Invertebrates. (3-3). Credit 4.
Morphology, biology and phylogeny of invertebrates. Topics may be either detailed discussions of specific organisms or comparative information on a process. Prerequisite: BIOL 335 or equivalent.
667. Biology of Marine Annelida. (3-3). Credit 4.
Survey of marine annelids including their physiology, reproduction; emphasis on morphology and taxonomy of polychaetous annelids to enable students to more rapidly and accurately analyze benthic assemblage data. Prerequisites: BIOL 335 or equivalent; approval of instructor.
670. The Cell Cycle. (1-0). Credit 1.
Discussion of current cell cycle research, a universal principle of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, and of the causation of cancer and aging. Prerequisite: BIOL 413 or approval of instructor.
672. Molecular Biology of Photosynthesis and Light Signal Transduction. (3-0). Credit 3.
Structure, function, and regulation of the photosynthetic apparatus of a variety of photosynthetic systems, including plant chloroplasts, cyanobacteria, and purple and green photosynthetic bacteria; Photoreceptors involved in metabolic and developmental control in photosynthetic organisms. Prerequisite: BICH 631.
674. Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Development. (3-0). Credit 3.
Mechanisms of development at the cellular and molecular levels; gene regulation during embryogenesis; tissue interactions in relation to morphogenesis and differentiation, and pattern formation; emphasis on eukaryotic systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 413 or 414 or equivalent.
681. Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Detailed reports on specific topics in field chosen. Students may register in up to but no more than three sections of this course in the same semester.
682. Research Seminar. (1-0). Credit 1.
Seminars presented by students based upon their research projects. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 6 each semester.
Limited investigations in fields other than those chosen for thesis or dissertation.
689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of biology.
690. Theory of Research. Credit 1 to 3.
Examination of subdisciplines of biology concentrating on the design of experiments, evaluation of research results, and the discussion of the primary literature. May be repeated for credit.
691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.
Research for thesis or dissertation.
697. Methods in Teaching Biology Laboratory. (1-0). Credit 1.
Introduction to teaching methods associated with the teaching of undergraduate biology laboratories; emphasis on effective preparation and delivery of laboratory course content, clear instructions for procedures and laboratory safety. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in a biological science.
Other related graduate courses offered by the Department of Biology that may be of interest to biology students include BIOL 614 Microbial Development and MICR 689 Special Topics in...