Biological Sciences

This course examines the diversity of cell types, how these different cells interact with each other, how the cell cycle is controlled, as well as studying the roles of cellular movement, differentiation and interaction in reproduction and development. The laboratory program provides students with hands on training in key techniques such as cell culture, cell signal transduction, mitochondrial physiology, drug discovery in marine organisms, digital microscopy and tissue specific gene expression. 

This course provides an introduction to the study of biogeography. Bridging the fields of ecology and geography, biogeography is the study of the spatial patterns of biological diversity and its causes. Students identify how historical, physical, and biological factors affect present and past distributions of individuals, species, populations, communities, and ecosystems. The actions of humans are a critical force impacting other species, and the human influence on past, present and future species distributions is a central topic in this module.

Microorganisms exist everywhere in human society and the natural environment. They have beneficial functions, such as antibiotic production, and harmful functions such as pandemic diseases. This course aims to understand the characteristics of microorganisms and examine the functions they perform on Earth from the perspectives of diversity, ecology, molecular genetics, and biotechnology.  The course also exposes students to microbiological research methods needed in biomedical science.

This course begins by discussing the physiology of the cell and the function of the cell membrane. It then continues to cardiovascular physiology, respiratory, fluid, and salt balance, followed by the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system and ending with gastrointestinal physiology, control, and feedback. This course is designed to be taken in combination with SKI2079 Lab Skills: Human Anatomy and Histology. Students wishing to take the Lab Skills should concurrently enroll in or have completed this course. Students wishing to take SCI2009 Human Physiology without taking the Lab Skills may do so. Prerequisites include Introduction to Biology. 

The course looks at how plants work and how this knowledge is being used in crop improvement and biotechnology. The course is also about developing students' skills, from designing and analyzing experiments to finding, evaluating, and presenting information.
The course particularly explores aspects of plants that make them unique. It is centered on the processes underlying growth, development, and how plants interact with their environment and with the pathogens and symbionts that they share it with.
Students learn how plants use their genetic information and how this knowledge can be harnessed via the latest synthetic biology, gene editing, and high-throughput sequencing technologies available to improve crops and tackle climate change.

This course examines the biological, behavioral, social and ecological determinants of health from scientific, social, cultural and policy perspectives. It covers current and historical health challenges faced locally and globally. 

This course covers the biology, agronomy, physiology, and ecology of seaweeds to analyze cultivation, ecophysiology, and ecology in marine systems vs. terrestrial systems. Aspects covered include the limits and possibilities of seaweed production concerning the physical environment (light, temperature, carbon); the importance of salinity for productivity and metabolism; ecological risks and environmental hazards; and biodiversity, reproduction, and breeding.

This course studies hormones and the regulation of metabolism, reproduction and water/salt homeostasis in our body. Topics include: adrenal medulla; adrenal cortex, ACTH, renin-angiotensin, and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP); the thyroid; hypothalamus releasing and inhibitory factors; pituitary gland; neurohypophysis; growth hormones; prolactin; and gastro-entero-pancreatric peptides. 

The objective of the course is to obtain insight into the endocrine system of the human body by studying illnesses that disturb this homeostatic control mechanism. Physiology deals with the explanation of the biological, physical, and chemical factors that are responsible for the origin, development, and progression of life. Students study the disturbances in physiological function (homeostasis) resulting in disease, to deepen their knowledge on human endocrinology. These disturbances are studied through the presentation of patient cases exemplified by hypertension, renal failure, infertility, steroid abuse, diabetes, and starvation. This course also studies the treatment of these diseases. The course prerequisite is Human Physiology.