COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
FALL 2006
BIOLOGY 104 – Topics: Insects and Society
4 credits
Trisler, Carmen
Open to all students
This course is designed to introduce students to the natural world of insects by looking at the life cycles, behavior, and ecology of a selected group of insects, and the applications of the science of entomology. Insects are the dominant arthropod on the earth filling many niches and interacting with humans on all levels and in all cultures. This course will look at unique insect behavior by Orders and Families. The laboratory experience will consist of five field sessions in which insects will be collected, as well as classes in the indoor lab. Evaluation will be primarily based on three exams and an insect collection. Students will be expected to purchase collection supplies for their insect collection. The difference between this course and Biology 238 is the number of hours spent in lab and the size of the required insect collection.
BIOLOGY 130 - The Botanical World
4 credits
deLanglade , Ron
Open to all students
Course Goals: This section of The Botanical World will focus on the natural world as related to higher plants. The prime goal is to give the students the necessary framework to understand the botanical world around them.
The course will cover the basic aspects of the science of botany, general plant structure, growth and development and reproduction as related to plants. Where appropriate the importance to man/society of the various topics will be discussed.
Assessment: Knowledge of botanical life will be gained through four written exams, a collection of lay press articles with summaries. Students will also grow plants in the greenhouse or make a leaf collection.
BIOLOGY 131 - Trees and Shrubs of the Urban and Natural Environments (Woody Plants)
4 credits
deLanglade , Ron
Open to all students
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 Text: Graves, Arthur H., Illustrated Guide to Trees and Shrubs
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.
BIOLOGY 143 - Cave Ecology
4 credits
Hobbs, Horton
Open to all students
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, several quizzes, and a final exam.
BIOLOGY 170 - Concepts of Biology : Biological Information, Reproduction, and Evolution
5 credits
Collier, Matthew & Lewis, Timothy
Open to all students planning to major in biology
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 170B 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 (BIOL 171). 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.
BIOLOGY 221 – Pharmacology
5 credits
Pederson, Cathy
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
This course shows biology majors and minors the effects of particular chemicals on human physiology. Humans interact with many pharmacological agents on a regular basis. These agents range from prescription to illicit drugs, as well as contact with environmental chemicals. The primary focus of this course is the effects of these chemicals on the nervous system. Some of the pharmacological agents to be studied will include cocaine, barbiturates, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and oral contraceptives. In addition, the course will focus on chemicals encountered in the environment, i.e. pesticides and their effects on wildlife and human populations.
BIOLOGY 224 – Developmental Biology
5 credits
Baker, Kimberly
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
This course will investigate the genetic regulation of animal development. Lectures and discussions will examine development from fertilization to establishment of the adult body form. Topics include embryonic pattern formation, cloning, regulation of gene expression, formation of tissues and organs, regeneration, sex determination, and evolution of development will be explored. Emphasis will be placed on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control developmental processes as well as the experimental methods utilized to address questions in developmental biology. In the laboratory portion of the course students will observe embryonic development and conduct experiments with a variety of organisms.
BIOLOGY 230 - Trees and Shrubs of the Urban and Natural Environments (Woody Plants)
4 credits
deLanglade, Ron
Open to biology majors only
Please see the description of this course listed under Biology 131. Biology majors and minors who need thiscourse to count toward the major or the minor should register for Biology 230, rather than Biology 131.
BIOLOGY 231 - Vertebrate Zoology
5 credits
Gribbins, Kevin
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
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. A field trip to the Newport (KY) 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 234 - Morphology of Non-Vascular Plants
5 credits
Mason, David
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
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.
Laboratory Manual on Nonvascular Plants, and information on the University class files, Q drive.
BIOLOGY 238 - Entomology
5 credits
Trisler, Carmen
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
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 and aquatic insects to the taxonomic level of Family using dichotomous keys as well as field characteristics. 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. Evaluation is primarily based on three exams and an insect collection.
BIOLOGY 243 – Cave Ecology
4 credits
Hobbs, Horton
Open to biology majors only
Please see the description of this course listed under Biology 143. Biology majors and minors who need thiscourse to count toward the major or the minor should register for Biology 243, rather than Biology 143.
BIOLOGY 247 – Marine Ecology
5 credits
Reinsel, Kathleen
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
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, comparison of species diversity of different habitats, and general diversity of marine organisms in a variety of habitats.
BIOLOGY 255 – Biological Literacy
4 credits
Collier, Matthew
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180
A study of common sources, methods, and techniques used in scientific writing and in presenting biological literature. There will be a strong emphasis on bibliographic sources as well as written and oral presentations of biological material.
BIOLOGY 258B - Extended Field Studies - Cave Ecology
1 credit
Hobbs, Horton
Prerequisite: Must take concurrently with Biology 143/243
A four-day field trip to Kentucky is offered as an optional field experience (highly recommended).
BIOLOGY 258 - Extended Field Studies- Limnology
1 credit
Hobbs, Horton
Prerequisite: Must take concurrently with Biology 341
A five-day field trip is offered as an optional field experience.
BIOLOGY 258 – Extended Field Studies – Marine Ecology
1 credit
Reinsel, Kathleen
Prerequisite: Must take concurrently with Biology 247
A 5-day field trip (Tuesday, September 5 – Sunday, September 10, 2006) to the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC. Students will participate in field trips to marine habitats to collect samples and conduct experiments that will be analyzed at Wittenberg.
BIOLOGY 310 - Molecular Biology
5 credits
Goodman, Margaret
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180 and Chemistry 162
Molecular Biology will provide an introduction to the molecular biochemistry of cell function, focusing on genetic aspects. Topics to be discussed include structure of DNA and RNA, transcription, translation, regulation of gene expression, and DNA replication and repair. This is a writing intensive course, requiring one major paper, one lab report, 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.
BIOLOGY 325 - Human Anatomy and Physiology
5 credits
Pederson, Cathy
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180 and two upper-level biology courses and must have junior or senior status
Students will learn about the major systems of the human body in both lecture and laboratory. Topics to be discussed include the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, reproductive, digestive, immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous system. Disease states will also be discussed. Laboratories will focus on the anatomy 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, and a final examination. Offered every year.
BIOLOGY 341 - Limnology
5 credits
Hobbs, Horton
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180 and Chemistry 162
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.
BIOLOGY 347 - Evolution
4 credits
Lewis, Timothy
Prerequisites: Biology 170 and 180 and at least two (2) other biology courses
Evolution, or genetically based changes in species or populations over time, and natural selection as a mechanism of evolutionary change, have been easily demonstrated and accepted by scientists for over a century. Evolution forms one of the most fundamental frameworks for studying biology, and yet still creates controversy to the general public, including debates about the merits of including it in high school curricula. This class will examine the theory, the evidence for it, the way it shapes our understanding of biology, how it is used to preserve rain forests and invent medical cures, and some associated hoaxes. And, of course, we will examine the issues surrounding evolution as it plays out today. Classes include significant discussion and lecture components. There is no associated lab.
BIOLOGY 406 - Senior Capstone
4 credits
Goodman, Margaret and Gribbins, Kevin
Prerequisite: Must have senior status
The capstone course uses a topic-driven approach to promote synthesis of biological concepts and emphasize the inter-relatedness of different disciplines within biology. These concepts range from the molecular level through organismal biology to populations and ecosystems. The course will rely heavily on the primary literature with emphasis on the process of scientific discovery. 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 to be taken during the senior year .
