Biological Sciences

This course examines the roles of RNA, coding and in particular non-coding (ncRNA), in regulation of gene expression, host-pathogen interaction, and catalysis as well as their applications in research, diagnosis, and therapy of human diseases. The topics cover the 'RNA world hypothesis', the relation between structure and function of RNA, the mechanisms of regulation and dysregulation of gene expression by ncRNAs, selection and design of functional RNAs, features and usage of ncRNAs, the role of RNA in early stage pharmaceutical developments, and RNA-based drug development. 

This course covers the molecules that constitute living organisms and their control mechanisms, as well as biotechnologies and the principles of aging and disease. Students are expected to acquire the abilities to understand and explore biological systems at the molecular and cellular level.

Course topics include:

• Cells: The Fundamental Units of Life and Chemical Components of Cells
• Protein structure and function
• DNA and Chromosomes
• DNA Replications and Repair
• From DNA to Protein: How Cells Read the Genome
• Analyzing the Structure and Function of Genes 
• How Cells Obtain Energy from Food and Energy Generation in Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
• Cell Signaling
• Cytoskeleton
• The Cell-Division Cycle
• Cell Communities: Tissues, Stem Cells, and Cancer

This course examines the ubiquity of biological evolution in both natural and human modified environments. It will describe and explain the agents of change— drift, migration and selection, and show their effects on both single and multiple gene traits, and on the phylogenetic relationships of species. The course  will introduce co-evolutionary processes, which are critical for understanding traits that evolve through interactions between species, including humans. Particular topics will include (but not limited to): heritable variation; agents of evolution; artificial, natural and sexual selection; phenotypes and quantitative genetics; phylogeny, speciation and the tree of life; and antagonistic and mutualistic co-evolution. The subject will emphasize both the outcome and process of scientific research leading to our understanding of evolutionary processes, drawing on examples from across the diversity of life.

This course introduces methods and equipment for collecting, identifying, studying, and preserving insects, and explains how to store and care for insect specimens in collections. In addition, insect rearing, behavioral observation, and scientific illustration are also important teaching content.

The class gives an introduction to basic microarray technology focusing on the development, analysis, conceptual and theoretical basis of microarray technology. The course also covers the modern and emerging applications. Other topics include microarray analysis, introduction to the chemistry, basics of biochemistry, genes and genomes, microarray surfaces, targets and probes, microarray manufacturing, microarray detection, and microarray informatics. Text: Mark Schena, MICROARRAY ANALYSIS. Assessment: report and presentation, final exam, miderm exam, homework and participation.

The course covers the fundamental concepts in microbiology, covering the basic biology of viruses, fungi and bacteria, and focusing on genetics and genomics, how genetic variability arises and how genetic information is processed into important phenotypic characteristics including structural diversity, metabolic diversity and virulence.

This course outline the major processes giving rise to the diversity of extinct and extant organic life, to indicate the time frame over which these processes occur, and to introduce the methods used to study evolutionary processes. The examples used in the lectures and workshops are drawn from animals, plants and microorganisms, and the characters considered are behavioral, ecological, morphological, cellular and molecular. Visits to Edinburgh Zoo and the National Museum of Scotland allow students to think about how the evolutionary concepts that they learn apply to real organisms.