Biological Sciences

This course introduces major organ systems that contribute to the "constancy of the internal environment" of an organism. Physiologically, homeostasis is the body's attempt to maintain a constant and balanced internal environment for living processes to take place, which requires persistent monitoring and adjustments, as external and internal conditions change. The major organ systems covered include the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, and the urinary system.

Using examples drawn from all animal life (invertebrates to humans), this course provides students with an overall review of the fundamentals of animal behavior. Following a detailed introduction into proximate and ultimate causation of behavior, the course covers key behavioral phenomena: sexual reproduction, selection and mating systems, kinship and cooperative breeding, habitat selection, movement, migration, and territoriality, aggression and game theory, group living and anti-predator behavior including vigilance and foraging behavior, and animal personalities. The practical element of the course allows students to develop the skills necessary to measure behavior in addition to allowing an exploration of some aspects of behavior through experimentation.

This course is designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of fundamental ecology principles, their practical applications, and how the concepts relate to the real world with examples from published scientific studies. Ecology is introduced at its different levels of organization, including organism-environment (biotic-abiotic) interactions, adaptations of plants and animals, the characteristics of populations as a basic biological unit in an ecosystem, intra and inter-specific interactions, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Students develop critical thinking and analytical skills by interpreting ecological data and applying theoretical knowledge to real-life scenarios. By the end of the course, students have a solid foundation in ecological principles, preparing them for further study or careers in conservation, environmental science, scientific research, and related fields.

This course introduces the basic principles and techniques in genetics (in the context of oncology), to develop basic competences in the planning and performance of experiments and the evaluation of results, as well as writing reports. The course consists of 6 sessions of approx. 4 hours and covers topics such as DNA isolation/purification, gel electrophoresis, staining procedures, protein detection, and basic bioinformatics (commonly used databases, finding the genetic location of a specific gene and its gene sequences, design amplification primers for a specific genetic region, etc) using online available tools. Furthermore, this course provides basic knowledge on Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and Laboratory Safety Regulations. Besides the hands-on time in the lab, each session requires preparation beforehand and reporting afterwards. Students work in pairs. Lab experience is not required, although biological and chemical background knowledge at secondary school level is recommendable for full understanding of the provided techniques. If necessary, in the first lab session, pipetting skills will be trained or refreshed. This course is designed to be taken in combination with SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution. Students who wish to take this course should concurrently enroll in SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution or have taken SCI2022 Genetics and Evolution before. 

This course examines philosophical and conceptual issues in the life sciences. Topics may include the units and levels of selection, adaptationism, the evolution of altruism, biology and ethics, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, evolution versus creationism, and the origin and nature of life. It addresses questions including: What is life? Why do living things inevitably die? Could artificial life (for example, synthetic cells made in a laboratory) ever be genuinely alive? How should we understand the role of our genes in shaping who we are? We're told that it's important to conserve biodiversity, but what exactly is biodiversity, and should it be the main target of conservation efforts? How do (and how should) social values relate to life scientists' study of human behavior, sexuality, and other topics? How does our increasing knowledge of microbial life, including the bacteria and other microorganisms living inside our own bodies, affect our understanding of the living world and of what it means to be human?

This course introduces the composition and structure of microbial cells, the biochemical activities associated with cellular metabolism and how these activities are regulated and coordinated. The course has a molecular and genetic approach to the study of microbial physiology. Prerequisite General Microbiology.

This course examines the main phyla of marine invertebrates, including their diversity, phylogenetic relationships, morphofunctional characteristics, habitat, and main lines of research in Chile. Practices methodologies used for studying,  including lab sessions and field work, of marine invertebrate in the plancton, in sand and rocky beaches.

This course teaches basic knowledge and techniques used in animal cell biology, through performing the following animal cell and molecular biology experiments: RNA and protein extraction from rat tissues/cell culture pellets, quantification of transcript (RT-qPCR) and protein (Western-Blotting) expression, and observation of protein expression on rat tissues/cell culture by confocal microscopy.

Recommended Prerequisites: Basic Concepts in Cell Biology; Basic Concepts in Genetics; Advanced Cell Biology, and Laboratory in Foundation of Biology. 

This course introduces fundamental methods and techniques for analyzing both biotic interactions and abiotic conditions in diverse marine ecosystems. Through a combination of laboratory work and field studies, students gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. Topics include measurement of abiotic factors, assessment of species interactions and community structure, evaluation of biodiversity and similarity indices, and investigation of behavioral and ecological patterns. The course also explores the effects of human activities on marine environments and examines strategies for ecosystem restoration, rehabilitation, and conservation.