Biological Sciences

The subject provides a broad introduction to plants' development, function, and interactions with other organisms. Emphasis is placed on the connection from genes and genomes to cells and organs in different plant types, and how the evolution, development and function of plants is understood in such a perspective. In an overall focus, the role of plants in society is highlighted in this perspective, such as domestication, agriculture, environment, climate, and genetic engineering.

This course explores the human microbiome and its effect on development and disease and explores the role of pre- and pro-biotics in health. Topics include mechanistic insights into microbial communities through more controlled studies focusing on experimental biofilms. The course requires students to take prerequisites.

This course examines how animals interact with each other and with their environment. It covers the control, development, adaptive significance and evolution of behavior. 

This course studies and discusses different aspects of modern science using some of the magical short stories of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. It uses Borges' work as a vehicle for discussing how our views of the world have been affected by the advances made by science in the last 100 years. In particular, the course focuses on the foundations of disciplines such as cosmology, quantum theory, statistical physics, neuroscience, and computing, as well as mathematical concepts such as combinatorics and the idea of infinity, and other notions such as the concept of time.

This course examines the elements of the immune system and the mechanisms that control the coordinated response. It explores the principles of experimentation on which the study of immunology is based.

This course covers the field of life science that describes underlying molecular genetic mechanisms by which biological traits are generated in life and are inherited throughout generations. It includes topics such as the genome, genes, control of gene expression and DNA replication that contribute to generation of biological traits in an organism and their inheritance throughout generations. The course also includes how research in recent genetics or molecular biology is performed, introducing recently developed techniques that rapidly advanced our knowledge of this field of study.  

This course examines the core concepts of pharmacology and toxicology. Students will study the science behind the use of medicines, as well as cover topics on environmental and clinical toxicology.

This course focuses on the biological foundations of information processing within the body (such as the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system) to deepen understanding of how human psychological processes are involved in physiological activities. Additionally, students will learn an overview of physiological methods used in psychology and their respective characteristics.

This general science education course is designed to provide students not majoring in a life science with knowledge about how biological principles are being applied to solve modern day problems. After an introduction to the properties of life, it covers current topics that often appear in the media, such as gene editing, genetically modified foods, metabolic engineering, stem cell technologies, synthetic biology, and precision medicine. The overall goal is for students to understand some of the basic science behind these biotechnological applications and to become aware of the strengths and limitations of current technologies. In addition, the course discusses the associated benefits and possible ethical concerns so that students can make informed opinions about the development of such technologies.  

This course examines the use of microbes to make medicines, the sterile manufacture of medicines and the pathogenesis of common conditions treated or managed with pharmacotherapy.