Biology and Biotechnology

This course is designed for students seeking a broad overview of biologic concepts, especially at the cell and organism level. It is conducted in an active style including the use of case studies, class discussion/participation, and classroom polling systems. The major goal of this course is to help students become more informed citizens, skeptical when presented with data in the media, and knowledgeable enough to question and make informed decisions about scientific advances and science policy. It will primarily focus on current topics which may include genetic engineering, viruses and vaccines, antibiotic resistant bacteria, the evolution of infectious diseases. This course is intended for non-life science majors.

This course is designed for students seeking a broad overview of ecological systems and the effect of humans on the ecosystems. It provides an introduction to natural ecosystems, population growth, and the interaction between human populations and our environment. It is conducted in an active style including the use of case studies, class discussion/participation, and classroom polling systems. The major goal of this course is to help students become more informed environmental citizens, skeptical when presented with data in the media, and knowledgeable enough to question and make informed decisions about the environment. It will primarily focus on current topics but areas of discussion likely to be covered include ecosystems, populations, biodiversity, pollution, environmental economics and climate change. This course is intended for non- life-science majors. This will not fulfill a major distribution requirement for BBT majors.

Life scientists are generating huge amounts of data on many different scales, from DNA and protein sequence, to information on biological systems such as protein interaction networks, brain circuitry, and ecosystems. Analyzing these kinds of data requires quantitative knowledge and approaches using computer science and mathematics. In this project-based course, students will use case studies to learn about both important biological problems and the computational tools and algorithms used to study them. Students will study a sampling of topics in the field; recent topics included complex disease genetics, HIV evolution, antibiotic resistance, and animal migration behavior. In addition, students will hear from several guest speakers about their interdisciplinary research. Computational tools explored will include both freely-available tools to analyze sequences and build phylogenetic trees (e.g. BLAST, MUSCLE, MEGA) as well as guided programming using languages such as Python, R, and Netlogo. Students may not receive credit for both BCB / BB 100X and BCB / BB 1003. BBT majors may count this course as fulfilling part of their quantitative science and engineering requirement, but not as part of their BB 1000 level course requirement.

This course is designed for students seeking an introduction to general concepts of human biology, with particular focus on human structure and function. Concepts such as homeostasis, structure/function, and regulatory systems will be introduced. Discussion of current topics related to human health, such as personalized medicine and recent advances in cancer research and autoimmune disease will be integrated throughout the course. This course is intended for non-BBT majors.

Students may not receive credit for both BB 1004 and BB 1025. 

In this foundational course, students will explore the cellular and molecular basis of life through lectures, discussion, and project work. Students will gain an understanding of how genetic information is stored and used, as well as how the structures of cells underlie their functions. There will be a focus on the application of these topics to genetic engineering and biotechnology. This course is designed for BBT majors and minors, as well as others who plan further study in topics such as cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. Credit cannot be received for both BB 1101 and BB 1035. 

In this foundational course, students will explore our planet's diversity of organisms and environments and the interactions among them. Lectures, discussion, and project work will address topics such as biodiversity, ecology, evolution, and animal behavior. Students will develop their communication skills and gain experience using primary literature to understand the process of biological research. This course is designed for BBT majors and minors, as well as others who plan further study in topics such as environmental biology, conservation, ecology, and evolution.

Credit cannot be received for both BB 1102 and BB 1045. 

This course will provide a foundational experience by exposing students to how research questions are identified and addressed via biological experimentation. Importantly, the lab will also serve as a unifying experience for biology majors, providing a framework that will allow them to identify as contributing members of a scientific community. This lab will convey the breadth of biological systems from organismal to molecular scales, and the overarching principles of evolution and effects of environment on behavior. Focus areas may include how resistance to antibiotics arises, how ecosystems and organisms are adversely affected by pollution, and how experiments can be designed to identify strategies to overcome global problems. This introductory biology lab experience is intended for first-year Biology & Biotechnology majors, and anyone intending to take 3800-level biology laboratories.

This course will introduce the basic principles of microbiology through lectures, discussion, readings, and projects. The course will explore both the fundamental biology of microbes and the ways in which microbes influence society and the world. Topics will include the morphology, physiology, and genetics of unicellular organisms with a primary focus on bacteria. Special attention will be given to organisms known to have important roles in health, research, industry, and the environment. This course is designed for life sciences majors.

Students may not receive credit for both BB 2002 and BB 2003.

This course focuses on general concepts as they relate to the vast array of plant species and their taxonomic links. Current uses of major plant phyla in both society and the biotechnology industry will be explored. Some emphasis will be given to economically important species chosen from agronomic and non-agronomic situations with examples related to society and climate change.

Students may not receive credit for both BB 2030 and BB 1040 (no longer offered).

This course is intended to help students understand ecological concepts at different levels of integration, from individuals to ecosystems, and the linkages among them. Students will also practice the application of qualitative and quantitative models to ecological systems and processes, as well as hypothesis generation, experimental design, and analysis and interpretation of data. In a format that includes team-based case studies, discussion and presentations, and ecological simulations, students will explore topics in both basic and applied ecology, which may include population ecology, host-parasite ecology and epidemiology, climate change, and sustainable agriculture, among others.

This course will provide an introduction to the scientific study of animal behavior. A combination of lecture, reading, and video will be used to illustrate how proximate and ultimate forces interact to shape animal behavior in complex and fascinating ways. Behavioral phenomena in all members of the animal kingdom will be discussed and analyzed from ecological, evolutionary, cognitive, and neurobiological perspectives to highlight how the use of an integrative approach has greatly accelerated our ability to solve complex behavioral problems. Primary scientific literature will be used to outline experimental tools and techniques used to investigate behavior in different contexts, including communication, foraging, navigation, mate choice, predation, and social behavior.

Physiology combines some basic principles of physics, chemistry, molecular genetics, anatomy and evolution to explore the relationships among cells, tissues, organs and organ systems in the context of the whole organism. With homeostasis and regulation as unifying principles, we will examine the essential interactions between body systems that maintain proper function. This course differs from our Anatomy and Physiology sequence in its focus on the concepts that unify organismal function, using selected physiologic systems and both comparative and integrative approaches.

The goal of this course is to help students to develop a working understanding of the unifying concepts that define cell structure and function including replication, metabolism, regulation, communication and transport. Applications in therapeutics, molecular medicine, and genetic engineering will be introduced. Classic and current research examples will provide practice in hypothesis generation and testing as well as making clear the importance of a working knowledge of cell biology to support advances in biotechnology and medicine. The course serves as the foundation of all fields of modern biology, and is recommended for all BBT and other life science majors.

This course gives basic practical experimental experience in how enzymes work and how to purify proteins for later use. These techniques are foundational for the design and production of many therapeutic products. Examples of the types of techniques and experiences included in this course are: The action and optima of enzyme catalysis, induction of protein production, quantification and detection techniques for proteins, extraction and purification of proteins from biological material using column chromatography, and assessing the efficacy of a purification process.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 2902.

This course is an active exploration of topics in anatomy and physiology through the use of simulations, measurements, and hands-on discovery. It will be particularly relevant to any student considering a health-related career, doing work where body structure is central, or has interest in how body systems connect. A significant portion of this discovery will be accomplished by a hands-on dissection. Examples of the specific types of experiences and techniques included in this course are comparative and general anatomy of several organisms; physiology and function of body systems, processes, and organs; Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA); and microscopy.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 2903

This course examines topics in ecology and animal behavior through hands on experimentation and simulation. Activities in this course include interactions and observation of live animals as well as some outdoor activities and environmental sampling. This course will be relevant to students who have an interest in biology at more than the individual organism level as well as those majors studying environmental and ecological concerns. Examples of the specific types of techniques and experience included in this course are observing, recording, understanding, and analyzing animal behaviors; handling of organisms; environmental and ecological assessment and sampling; and observations of population dynamics. 

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 2904, BB 294X, or BB 292X

Students in this course will be part of a national student crowd sourcing initiative, developed in response to a decreasing supply of effective antibiotics and increased microbial resistance, to identify novel antibiotics produced by soil bacteria. Operating in an authentic research paradigm, students will gain skill in the process of scientific inquiry, including hypothesis generation and testing, and in common procedures of microbial culture and characterization. They will learn about and have the opportunity to use the techniques of recombinant DNA including plasmids, restriction enzymes, and PCR. At the conclusion of the course students will report their findings in poster format and will be able to see the results of other groups around the country.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 2915. 

Students in this course will become part of a national crowd sourcing initiative to isolate and identify novel bacteriophage. Students will design experiments to initially isolate phage (bacterial viruses) from environmental samples they have collected, then characterize and determine their DNA sequence. The DNA sequences will be used in the follow-on bioinformatics course BB 3526 Phage Hunters: The Analysis. Students in this course will make significant contributions to the field of genomics while gaining skill in the process of scientific inquiry, including hypothesis generation and testing, and practice in common microbiologic techniques. Students enrolled in this course may wish to consider enrollment in BB 3526 (Phage Hunters: The Analysis). Students that have already received course credit for BB 29IX or BB 2916 may not also receive credit for BB 2917.

Through interactive lectures, group problem solving, and analysis of primary scientific literature, this course will help students understand the gene concept and its application in modern biological analysis. This course will cover patterns of inheritance, the relationship between genotype and phenotype, and the transmission, coding, and expression of genetic information contained in DNA in both model systems and humans. Students will gain an understanding of the modern tools of genetic analysis, including genomics, creation of transgenic organisms, CRISPR editing, and RNA interference. Applications of genetic analysis to current advancements in human health, such as gene therapy and personalized medicine, will be explored.

This course will introduce the basic principles of Medical Microbiology. It will focus on molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of a wide range of infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions including a survey of human immunobiology. We will explore microorganisms that are of medical relevance including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoans, enabling one to make informed decisions about appropriate medical interventions. We will evaluate how our day-to-day choices impact public health as well as alter microbial communities. This interactive course is designed for all majors who have an interest in pre-health professions or students who seek a deep understanding of infectious diseases

Students may not receive credit for both BB 2002 Microbiology: Plagues of the Modern World and BB 3003. 

Computer simulations are becoming increasingly important in understanding and predicting the behavior of a wide variety of biological systems, ranging from metastasis of cancer cells, to spread of disease in an epidemic, to management of natural resources such as fisheries and forests. In this course, students will learn to use a technique called ‘agent-based modeling (ABM)’ to simulate biological systems. Most of the classroom time will be spent working individually or in groups, first learning a language (either the block-based language Starlogo Nova, or the text-based language Netlogo), and then creating simulation projects. We will also discuss several papers on biological simulations from the primary scientific literature. In constructing and comparing their simulations, students will demonstrate for themselves how relatively simple behavioral rules followed by individual molecules, cells, or organisms can result in complex system behaviors. 

This course will be offered in 2023-24, and in alternating years thereafter. 

In this course, students will learn and apply advanced cellular and molecular biology concepts to understand causes and consequences of cancer cell transformation. Through an integration of primary literature and lecture material students will explore how research into basic mechanisms of cancer biology is used to identify therapeutic targets, and inform drug design. This course will cover discussion of the hallmarks of cancer including the deregulation of cell growth, cell death, and metabolism; corruption of genome stability, evasion of immune response, and metastatic potential.

This course will provide an introduction to the scientific study of animal behavior. A combination of lecture, reading, and videos will be used to illustrate how proximate and ultimate forces interact to shape animal behavior in complex and fascinating ways. Behavioral phenomena in all members of the animal kingdom will be discussed and analyzed from ecological, evolutionary, cognitive, and neurobiological perspectives to highlight how the use of an integrative approach has greatly accelerated our ability to solve complex behavioral problems. Primary scientific literature will be used to outline experimental tools and techniques used to investigate behavior in different contexts, including communication, foraging, navigation, mate choice, predation, and social behavior.

Students may not earn credit for both BB 2050 and BB 3060. 

The nervous system underlies every aspect of our behavior, including sensation, movement, emotion, and cognition. In this course, students will develop an understanding of neurobiology at several levels, from the physiology of individual neurons, through the functioning of neural circuits, and finally to the behavior of neural systems such as vision, motion, and memory. The class will be based on lectures accompanied by in-class activities and will include weekly discussion of a paper from the scientific literature. Each year, the papers will focus on a guiding theme, (e.g. as neurotransmitter systems) with emphasis on research that is relevant for human health such as neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. autism), psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia), addiction, or neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s, etc.).

The form and function of the systems that are responsible for the support, movement, internal communication, and interaction of the human body with its environment will be presented and discussed: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous (including the senses), and Endocrine.

Students who have received credit for BB 2130 may not take BB 3101 for credit.

The form and function of the systems of the human body that provide for the intake, distribution, and processing of nutrients, water, and oxygen, and the systems that safeguard health by elimination of wastes, regulation of metabolism, and surveillance against disease will be presented and discussed. Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Lymphatic, Urinary, and Reproductive.

Students who have received credit for BB 3110 may not take BB 3102 for credit.

This course explores the remarkable physiology of plants and emphasizes their importance in past and future life on earth. Conserved and unique aspects of plant cellular physiology will provide the foundation to understand the challenges of life on land and multicellularity. Topics such as water relations, mineral nutrition, intra- and inter-cellular transport, photosynthesis, and light responses will be discussed. Examples from the recent literature will be used to illustrate some of the key existing problems in plant physiology. This course will be offered in 2021-22, and in alternating years thereafter. Some sections of this course may be offered as Writing Intensive (WI).

In this course, students will explore the foundations of micro- and macro-evolutionary theory and will learn to apply these fundamental evolutionary principles through critical analysis of the primary scientific literature. In a course format that emphasizes case studies, critical analysis of primary scientific literature, students will explore the evolutionary foundations of a wide range of biological disciplines, and will gain experience in critical evaluation of approaches, arguments, and points of view in the field. Topics may include the history of life on Earth; biogeography and the origins of biodiversity; host-pathogen coevolution; and genomic and molecular evolution, among others. This course will be offered in 2023-24, and in alternating years thereafter. 

The topic of gene therapy will be used to give students experience with several fundamental skills in biotechnological research and practice: on-line information search and retrieval, computer cloning, and biological sequence analysis and manipulation. Course is entirely computer based.

The experiments in this course focus on basic fermentation theory and practice, common to any bio-product production facility. Students will gain significant experience in hypothesis generation and testing as they work toward the goal of optimizing their proposed culture media.

This is a laboratory course focusing on the theory and practice of protein purification from a primary source. Chromatographic techniques will include two more of the most commonly used in the biotech industry.

In this computer lab students will work with phage genomic sequences obtained from novel bacteriophages isolated in BB 2910, Phage Hunters: The Quest. The raw genome files will be finished and oriented; students will then search the sequence to identify and map existing genes and other genomic components (sequence annotation). Additional course goals are to do an initial comparative genomic analysis and post-annotation experimentation. The ultimate goal is to produce novel bacteriophage genome sequences that are ready to be submitted to GenBank, the US repository of DNA sequence information at the National Institute of Health. Students planning to take this course may wish to consider enrollment in BB 2916 (Phage Hunters: The Quest) Students may not receive credit for both BB 350X and BB 3526

Through interactive lectures, individual and group activities, and readings, this course will help students understand how a fertilized egg develops into a multi-cellular animal and how diversity in form develops during evolution. The course will focus on the following topics: Embryogenesis; Morphogenesis and Body Patterning; Limb Development and Regeneration; and Evolution and Development. Consequences of genetic and environmental perturbations on development in human disorders and model systems will also be covered. This course will be offered in 2023-24, and in alternating years thereafter.

Basic laboratory skills in mammalian cell culture including cell counting, freezing and thawing cell lines, and culture of suspension and attached cells.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3513.

Exercises in this course focus on computer and wet laboratory studies of nervous, musculoskeletal, circulatory, and respiratory systems structures, functions, and physiology. Students will gain experience in hypothesis generation and testing and will be introduced to an interactive biomedical/physiological data acquisition and analysis system. 

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3515, BB 3511, or BB 3514. 

Through a research-based laboratory and short lectures, students will learn the basic principles of image formation, resolution, and digital imaging. Students will develop confidence in the use of the light microscope and be able to apply different modes of microscopy to solve biological problems. This course emphasizes a quantitative approach to microscopy and digital imaging applied toward simple phenotypic analysis. Students will develop scientific writing skills and learn how to prepare professional quality images. Some sections of this course may be offered as Writing Intensive (WI).

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3521.

Basic studies in the biochemical and physical systems plants use to sustain life; includes an introduction to plant cell culture techniques. Some sections of this course may be offered as Writing Intensive (WI).

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3525.

Students will learn to use current techniques in molecular and genetic engineering to address authentic research questions. Students will design and execute experiments to assess hypotheses, and evaluate data relative to those hypotheses. Specific approaches may include the generation of novel plasmids, genes, and cells, designed to specifically address contemporary problems in biology and biomedical science. In each offering, the problem addressed will be selected from and the results contribute to current faculty research initiatives.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3527.

The clinical use of monoclonal antibodies as human therapeutics represents an increasingly popular and promising application. Beginning with a hybridoma cell line and using a discovery-based approach, students in this course will explore the processes involved in the production and purification of monoclonal antibodies. Using cells in culture to produce the antibody, students will explore the efficacy and cost of a purification scheme involving separation techniques such as ion exchange and affinity chromatography to produce a purified product. Purification will be assessed using typical analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and immunological methods.

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3530.

Students will gain experience in several fundamental skills applicable to academic and industrial research and development. Producing a biologic product is of paramount interest in both basic and applied research and requires the ability to both design and produce a functional product. There are numerous potential variables that influence the amount, quality, and cost of producing these molecules. This course will explore some of those variables which allow students to design, test, and evaluate strategies for product and process optimizations. Students will learn how DNA sequences are designed, constructed, and analyzed. A model organism will be grown and induced to express a protein product using common fermentation principles and techniques. Students will evaluate efficiency of the fermentation and output of the gene product through an original research project of their design.

Students may not receive credit for BB 3840 and either BB 3512 or BB 3517.

This course is an intensive hands-on laboratory that explores mammalian cells as building blocks of complex tissues in vitro. In addition to learning standard cell culture skills, students will have the opportunity to examine cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and function under different culture conditions. The course culminates with design and development of a cell-based system for an application in regenerative medicine (e.g., wound healing and fibrosis). Students will synthesize and present their work in the form of a research manuscript. This course carries the writing-intensive designation. 

Students may not receive credit for this course and BB 3570. 

Through lecture, reading, and discussion, this course will help students understand the origin of immune cells in bone marrow development, the distinction between innate and adaptive immunity, and the function of the immune system in health and disease. The mechanisms responsible for the exquisite specificity of the adaptive immune system will be described. Throughout the course, the probable paths of evolution of the immune system will be stressed. As examples of major genetic diseases of immunity, case studies will be discussed on a weekly basis.

Through lectures, discussion, and other activities, students will learn the essential concepts of molecular biology, including the mechanisms by which genetic information is stored, replicated, and used to produce RNA and proteins. The theory behind major molecular biology laboratory techniques such as recombinant DNA technology, nucleic acid sequencing, and genetic engineering will also be covered. Basic mechanisms by which gene expression is regulated will be addressed. The themes of structure/function relationships, evolution, and intersections of molecular biology and human disease will run throughout the course. The concepts learned in this course will provide a foundation for further study and work in this rapidly expanding field.

Students may not earn credit for both BB 2950 and BB 3950.

In an age when the amount of new biological data generated each year is exploding, it has become essential to use bioinformatics tools to explore biological questions. This class will provide an understanding of how we organize, catalog, analyze, and compare biological data across whole genomes, covering a broad selection of important databases and techniques. Students will acquire a working knowledge of bioinformatics applications through hands-on use of software to ask and answer biological questions in such areas as genetic sequence and protein structure comparisons, phylogenetic tree analysis, and gene expression and biological pathway analysis. In addition, the course will provide students with an introduction to some of the theory underlying the software (for example, how alignments are made and scored). This course will be offered in 2022-23, and in alternating years thereafter.

In this course, students will learn and apply advanced cellular and molecular biology concepts to understand causes and consequences of cancer cell transformation. Through an integration of primary literature and lecture material students will explore how research into basic mechanisms of cancer biology is used to identify therapeutic targets and inform drug design. This course will cover discussion of the hallmarks of cancer including the deregulation of cell growth, cell death, and metabolism; corruption of genome stability; evasion of immune response; and metastatic potential.

Students may not earn credit for both BB 3050 and BB 4050.

Through lectures, problem sets, reading and discussion, and presentations this course will help elucidate for students the processes that allow regulated gene expression, mechanisms used in each type of regulation, and methods and techniques used for investigation of regulatory mechanisms. Readings from the current original research literature will explore the growing use of model systems and “omics” level approaches to enhance our ever expanding understanding of the gene regulatory mechanisms. The development of cell-based therapeutics and genetic engineering as they relate to gene regulation will be introduced.

Do we yet have the technology to engineer life? Can we control gene expression to create organisms that function in useful ways? Do we understand the tenets of genetic regulation as well as we think we do? These important questions and more are investigated by the emerging field of Synthetic Biology. In this course, students will explore this exciting new realm of biology through in-depth analysis and discussion of primary literature. Topics to be covered include the design and construction of synthetic gene circuits, synthesis of new genes and genomes, logic gate regulation of gene expression, and the latest applications of synthetic biology to advances in medicine, information processing, and the environment. This course will be offered in 2022-23, and in alternating years thereafter.

These classes will serve as integrative experiences for students majoring in Biology & Biotechnology. The course will help students integrate concepts from other courses in the curriculum, practice skills of critical analysis, and evaluate and communicate scientific information effectively. The specific theme of each offering will center around a current topic of biological interest, and may include such areas as genomics, cancer, environmental problems, and synthetic biology.

Only one offering of BB 4900 can count toward BBT major distribution requirements, although additional offerings may be taken as free electives. 

Experimental courses, special conferences and seminars are offered by advance arrangement only. The lab activities in these courses will provide foundational skills needed for the study of living organisms and systems at the molecular, organismal and environmental level. In these labs students will begin building the skills to carry into more advanced labs, their MQPs and professional careers. In particular students will gain experience with scientific procedures and techniques, technical equipment, teamwork, laboratory safety, hypothesis generation and testing, scientific data analysis (including statistics), oral and written scientific communication and skills common to all areas of biology.