BIOL 104 - Topics: Ecotoxicology (4 credits) M. Collier
This course will examine the impacts of pollution and other anthropogenic stresses on the structure and function of natural ecosystems. Topics such as risk assessment, environmental law, fate and transport of pollutants, environmental chemistry, and remediation of contaminated systems will be covered over the course of the semester.
BIOL 110 - Survey of Biology (4 credits) D. Mason
Lecture, discussion, and demonstration dealing with such topics as the origin of life, sexual reproduction, diversity, adaptation, heredity, environment, and infectious diseases as they relate to humans. Open to all students.
BIOL 131 - Trees and Shrubs of the Urban and Natural Environments (Woody Plants) (4 credits) R. deLanglade
Will meet R-8 and lab experience for general education requirements or may be counted in Biology major/minor requirements as a botany course.
Course Goals: This course will focus on the urban and natural environments as related to woody trees and shrubs and vines. The prime goal of the course is to give the student the necessary framework to understand and be acquainted with the woody plant world around them.
Course Subject: The course is to acquaint the student of the various native and cultivated forms of woody trees, shrubs, and vines as found in natural and urban environments. Topics to be covered include: basic classification, naming, use of taxonomic keys, life histories, basic growth patterns, culture and care. Field trips to various local sites will be taken.
Required Texts: Graves, Arthur H., Illustrated Guide to Trees and Shrubs
Cope, E. A., Native and Cultivated Conifers of Northeastern North America
Assessment: Assessment of student achievement of the stated learning goals will be by:
1. At least 2 to 3 lecture tests.
2. 2-3 Field identification tests
3. A specimen collection (made with a partner).
4. Oral presentation to the class on a specific current article regarding this group of plants.
5. A scrap book of current articles in the lay press concerning this group of plants.
BIOL 160 - Concepts of Biology: Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution (5 credits) C. Pederson /M. Hanson
This course and Biol 180, required for the biology major, provide an overview of the primary concepts in biology and are prerequisites for upper level biology courses. Students may take Biology 160B and Biology 180B in either order. The major themes of this course are information flow from DNA to protein, animal reproduction, and evolution. Students must also enroll in an accompanying lab section. The laboratory portion of the course will provide students with hands-on activities designed to reinforce lecture content and develop the basic scientific skills that are needed for future courses in the major. Offered in the fall semester.
BIOL 204 - Morphology of Non-Vascular Plants (5 credits) D. Mason
Course Goal: Provide students with an opportunity to systematically study various nonvascular plants, including: algae, bacteria, viruses, fungi and bacteria.
Course Topic: Students study the structure, reproduction, ecology and evolution of algae, bacteria, viruses, fungi and bacteria.
Assessment Methods: Students are evaluated by a means of lecture and laboratory examinations in addition to credit assigned their field collections.
Instructional Methods: This is carried out by means of lecture-discussions, including slide presentations of organisms and laboratory and field experiences.
Text: Bold, etc. Morphology of Plants and Fungi. and Mason, Laboratory Manual of Nonvascular Plants.
BIOL 209 - Developmental Biology (5 credits) M. Hanson
The course is a detailed examination of the molecular and cellular events that control the process of embryonic development in diverse species such as sea urchins, chickens, mice, and human beings. Special emphasis is placed upon understanding the experimental methodologies used by developmental biologists to elucidate the mysteries of embryogenesis. The laboratory portion of the course provides hands-on opportunities to observe the fundamental concepts discussed in lecture. Taught every year.
BIOL 213 - Mammalian Ecology (5 credits) T. Lewis
Course subject: Mammals are probably the most loved animals, yet their generally cryptic habits make most of them unknown to the average person. Mammalian adaptations include flight, fully aquatic habitats, the fastest land animals, and even fossorial adaption. This course will examine the adaptations of mammals to their varied habitats and modes of living, and examine the taxonomy of the world's mammals, with an emphasis on the diversity of mammals native to Ohio. Lab experiences will include trapping, tagging (radio telemetry), relocating mammals, census techniques, and exposure to the diversity of mammals.
Course Goal: The goal of this course is to make the student familiar with the taxonomy and ecology of the
world's mammals. The student should also become familiar with the techniques used to study mammals.
BIOL 217 - Marine Ecology (5 credits) K. Reinsel
This course will focus on the ecology of marine systems, particularly nearshore benthic communities. Students will become familiar with the primary literature and ‘classic’ studies that helped to define marine community ecology, as well as the processes that structure a variety of marine communities. Lab exercises may include collection, identification and enumeration of sediment-dwelling invertebrates, comparisons of species diversity of different habitats, and general diversity of marine organisms in a variety of habitats.
BIOL 218 - Extended Field Studies - Cave Ecology (1 credit) H. Hobbs
A three day field trip is offered as an optional field experience (highly recommended).
BIOL 218 - Extended Field Studies - Limnology (1 credit) H. Hobbs
A five-day field trip is offered as an optional field experience.
BIOL 218 - Field Studies - Marine Ecology (1 credit) K. Reinsel
A five-day trip to the coast of North Carolina to study the variety of marine communities in the area.
BIOL 222 - Entomology (5 credits) C. Trisler
An introduction to entomology including morphology, taxonomy and behavior. Emphasis on collection and preservation of specimens representing a prescribed number of Orders. Identification of terrestrial insects to the taxonomic level of Family using dichotomous keys as well as field characteristics. Some collection of aquatic orders as well. The course is constructed to equal two lectures and one lab per week. Much of the instruction is done in the field with local field trips, and the possibility of one overnight trip. Students are required to purchase collection and preservation supplies and make their own insect collection to use as type specimens.
BIOL 230 - Survey of Human Disease (4 credits) D. Mason
This course considers the major diseases that affect the human organism. It includes what causes the disease, clinical signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention. A general overview of disease is considered first, including infections, autoimmune, genetic diseases, and cancer, to be followed by specific disease problems relating to each organ system.
BIOL 235 - Vertebrate Zoology (5 credits) K. Gribbins
This course will examine comparatively the structural and functional anatomy of vertebrates using an evolutionary approach. Lectures will focus on major morphological systems, phylogenetic relationships, natural history and biogeography, and development of the vertebrate groups. Labs will follow the progression of lecture topics to compare each anatomical system in a diversity of vertebrates. Field trips to the aquarium will introduce students to the great diversity of vertebrate life and provide a basis for writing papers that integrate morphology, function, and ecology.
BIOL 241 - Cave Ecology (4 credits) H. Hobbs
This course is a basic introduction to cave ecology and will follow a lecture-seminar-discussion format with no formal laboratory. Several field trips to caves will be scheduled and mini-projects relating to cave ecology will be carried out on these trips. Much of the term will be spent examining speleogenesis, the structure and function of cave ecosystems, as well as the evolutionary biology of obligate cave inhabitants. The grade is based on class participation, mini-projects, one lecture exam, a short paper, and a final exam..
BIOL 250 - Topics: Plant Ecology (5 credits) M. Collier
This course will examine the factors controlling the abundance and distribution of terrestrial plants. We will survey the major types of plant associations and cover topics such as competition, plant-animal interaction, physiological ecology, succession, population dynamics, germination ecology, invasive plant ecology, and community structure/stability during the course of the semester. In lab, students will learn how to apply basic ecological principles to the study of plants by performing a series of field experiments.
BIOL 302 - Cell (5 credits) J. Yoder
Correlation of cell structure and function, with an emphasis on the fundamental processes involved in building and maintaining a cell. Prerequisites: Chemistry 121 and 162.
BIOL 310 - Molecular Biology (5 credits) M. Goodman
Molecular Biology will provide an introduction to the molecular biochemistry of cell function, focusing on the genetic aspects. Topics to be discussed include structure of DNA and RNA, transcription, translation and regulation of gene expression, and DNA replication and repair. This is a writing intensive course, requiring one major paper and in-class essays on lecture exams. The laboratory portion of the course will focus on techniques used in the molecular biology laboratory, including electrophoresis (both agarose and polyacrylamide), blotting techniques, cloning and PCR.
BIOL 313 - Limnology (5 credits) H. Hobbs
This writing intensive course offers a study of inland aquatic ecosystems with emphasis on lakes and streams. Physical, chemical, and biological features are studied and numerous field experiences supplement lectures. Literature reviews and an exhaustive bibliographic research paper concerning an appropriate limnological topic are part of the requirements of this lecture/laboratory course. Chemistry 121 and 162 required.
BIOL 335 - Human Anatomy and Physiology (5 credits) C. Pederson
Students will learn about the major systems of the human body in both lecture and laboratory. Topics will be discussed relative to the major systems including the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, reproductive, digestive, immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous system. Disease states will also be discussed. Laboratories will focus on both anatomy and physiology of each system as they are discussed in the lecture portion of the course. Laboratories will include dissection. Assessment will include 3 written examinations, lab practical examinations, a research paper, an oral presentation, and a final examination. This course is restricted to juniors and seniors. Every other year.
BIOL 494 - Molecular Genetics and Bioinformatics (5 credits) M. Goodman
This course will focus on the molecular basis of heredity, beginning with an introduction to DNA structure, replication, and transcription, then move to a consideration of the entire genetic makeup of an organism: the genome. Students will investigate the components of a gene, the arrangement of genes on the chromosome and the regulation of gene expression. They will also learn the computational and laboratory methods used in chromosome mapping and genome sequencing. Emphasis will be placed on sequence comparison as a means to learn more about gene structure and prediction, protein structure and function, and evolutionary relationships between species. We will take advantage of the extensive data available through on-line databases of the human genome and other gene sequences.
Prerequisites: Bio 200, Chem 162, and one of the following: Bio 209, 211, 302, 305, 309, or Chem 271.
BIOL 496 - Senior Capstone (4 credits) M. Goodman/J. Welch
The capstone culminates the student’s education in biology. Central concepts in biology will be discussed, with a focus on the primary literature and the process of scientific discovery. These concepts range from the molecular level through organismal biology to populations and ecosystems. The inter-relatedness of different disciplines within biology will be emphasized. In this course students develop skills in presenting scientific material in both oral and written form. This writing-intensive course is required of all biology majors and is intended to be taken during the senior year.
