Biological Sciences

This course examines applied animal behavior theory, and the responses of animals to common interventions that arise in the context of interacting with humans and the environment. It covers a framework for animal welfare assessment, and applies it across a range of contexts for domesticated, wildlife and captive animals. Animal welfare will be critically evaluated through the integration of behavioral, physiological, cognitive and emotional responses. Methods for assessing and enhancing animal environments and husbandry systems are explored. Finally, the design and conduct of scientific experiments are assessed with a focus on animal ethics and current welfare issues.

This course examines ecology & conservation of marine and estuarine plants and animals. It covers the dynamics & interactions of populations; assemblages & communities in marine environments, including an examination of theory, methods & approaches used to study these systems (including field activities); threats that impact marine ecosystems and how this can affect people; the degree to which evolutionary adaptation can build resilience to the effects of climate change; and cutting-edge conservation issues and practices including marine reserve design and the importance of blue carbon.

This course is offered through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program in Science (UROPS). The intent of UROPS is to formally involve undergraduate students in research activities under the supervision of faculty members in their respective fields of study. UROPS aims to enhance undergraduate students’ knowledge of, and acquire the skills required for, the intellectual process of inquiry. 

This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to introduce how complex biological phenomena can emerge from simple rules. Through interactive lectures, guided reading and hands-on tutorials and simulations, students learn to appreciate how basic concepts like feedback and robustness generate biodiversity across multiples scales. The course requires a prerequisite of General Biology. 

The course begins with a brief introduction to the marine environment and oceanography. Following on from this a number of topical subjects are used to illustrate recent developments in the field of marine ecology. The biodiversity and biogeography in the marine environment are illustrated with reference to selected habitats, namely coral reefs and the deep ocean. The biology of the deep ocean, in particular the biology of mid-water and hydrothermal vent communities, includes consideration of technological advances in deep ocean exploration. This theme is developed further in lectures on tracking studies, behavior, and conservation of marine megafauna, e.g. sharks, sea birds, and marine mammals. The topical issues of marine pollution (including plastics pollution), ocean acidification and global climate change is considered with respect to effects on marine biodiversity. 

The course links knowledge on marine environment and organisms with applied cases, where such knowledge is required (e.g. climate change, eutrophication, pollution). The course is based on several themes representing specific applied issues, which provide the frame for understanding and assessing the potentials, limitations, and environmental effects of human activities on marine ecosystem structure and function. The cases are presented in a scientific context, where an understanding of the underlying basic physiological and ecological processes provide the foundation for evaluating, predicting, and managing environmental effects of human activities on marine systems. Each theme involves lectures, student presentations, and theoretical exercises. Students work in groups and deliver a written report for each theme.

This course provides an introduction to the cell, its structure and functioning. Also the basis of genetics and inheritance are explored. Topics include (1) an overview of cell biology; (2) cellular organelles and the cytoskeleton; (3) how cells work- cellular respiration and photosynthesis; (4) the cell cycle and the key roles of cell division; (5) how meiosis and sexual life cycles provide biological variation; (6) an introduction into genes and inheritance from a Mendelian perspective; (6) the link between chromosomes, genes, and inheritance; (7) DNA and the molecular basis of inheritance; (8) how proteins are made from genes; (9) how genomes can inform our understanding of life's diversity; and (10) a brief introduction into basic genetic molecular techniques. 

This course introduces the concepts, tools and techniques of bioinformatics to understand molecular evolution, individualized medicine, and data intensive biology. The course includes a conceptual framework for modern bioinformatics, an introduction to key bioinformatics topics such as databases and software, sequence analysis, pairwise alignment, multiple sequence alignment, sequence database searches, and profile-based methods, molecular phylogenetics, genomic analysis and personal genomics. Lectures include hands-on inquiry using bioinformatics tools in the practical sessions. The course requires students to take a prerequisite of General Biology. 

In this course, students learn about the different conceptualizations of emotion both in terms of historical developments as well as contemporary theoretical models of emotions. The course considers the biological basis of emotions in the brain and the body, how emotions are expressed and perceived in faces, bodies, voice, and music. The relationship between emotions and cognitions is considered, including emotion regulation and individual differences in emotions. Finally, cultural differences and disorders of emotion are discussed.

This course introduces a range of advanced and current topics in evolutionary ecology with a strong focus on studies using vertebrate systems. Evolutionary ecologists investigate the interactions between and within species, and, for example, consider the evolutionary effects of competitors, mutualists, predators, prey, and pathogens. Lectures and assigned readings provide a foundation in evolutionary ecology and a sampling of specific topics (i.e., Life-History Theory, evolutionary medicine, phenotypic plasticity, ecological speciation, and the evolution of sex).