Biological Sciences

This course offers a study of genome and cell biology. Topics covered include gene regulation, structure of genomes and their content of information, use of databases and experimental techniques for genome analysis, gene control, genome function, gene and genome techniques, membrane structure, membrane transport, intracellular compartments and the sorting of proteins, signal transduction, cell division, cell cycle control, programmed cell death, and autophagy. The course consists of lectures, group work, and student presentations. The course highly recommends but does not require that students have completed a bachelor level course in cell biology as a prerequisite.

This course provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary teamwork on solutions for a sustainability problem posed by a local organization.

This course is designed to develop and/or enhance students' skills in experimental design and data handling in a context appropriate for biological sciences. The course covers data collection and processing and is illustrated with a range of real world biological examples and data sets from work in the department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment. In addition to lectures, students attend computer workshops and problem-based tutorials. In the workshops, students learn to use the software researchers use and have the opportunity to apply the statistical techniques that you have covered in the lectures. Students learn how to interpret and present these findings in a professional format.

This course examines key body systems and physiological concepts. It focuses on integrating concepts and synthesizing ideas to tackle challenging Physiological questions related to various clinical and functional scenarios. 

This course studies the diversity of microbial metabolisms. It looks at bacterial growth and replication, including organization and division of the chromosome, yield and responses to temperature, and nutrient availability. The course teaches photolithotrophy, photoorganotrophy, chemilithotrophy, and chemoorganotrophy; fermentation and anaerobic respiration; growth and extension metabolism of fungi; nitrogen transformations by microorganisms in free-living and mutualistic settings; microbiological standards in public health; clean water processing and waste-water treatment. Practical work covers prokaryote photosynthesis, bacterial fermentation, fungal digestion of wood and nitrogen transformations in sediments, and microbiological water quality. The course gives brief consideration to clean water processing and waste-water treatment.