Biological Sciences

This course exploits the development of biobased materials involving the biology of biological feedstock, the chemistry of biobased building blocks and polymers, the technical processes, principles of circularity, and environmental and societal implications. This course creates a critical and creative attitude towards biobased materials and technologies. Pre-req: Organic Chemistry. Assessment includes assignments, presentations, written exams, and attendance.

This course examines modern stem cell biology with respect to current roles of stem cells in development of organisms, regenerative medicine and ethical considerations of biotechnological applications. Different types of stem cells will be discussed with emphasis on embryonic stem cells compared to adult stem cells and roles in embryonic development and adult tissue regeneration. The role of stem cells in diseases such as cancer, anemia etc., will be discussed by leading stem cell researchers in terms of dysregulation of tissue regeneration and current potential treatment strategies. New therapies based on stem cells such as in vitro production of organs, stem cell transplantation and cloning will be presented along with the ethical dilemmas posted by these advances. The course will also cover the latest advances in Induced Pluripotent Stem cell (iPS) technology and what this tells us about the nature of pluripotency.

This course covers the fundamentals of immunology, exploring the various immune systems, functional role of immune cells, and concept of innate and adaptive immunity.

This course examines human anatomy. In laboratory classes using human cadavers, students gain fundamental knowledge of the anatomy of the brain and nerves; the anatomy of the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and digestive systems, and musculoskeletal anatomy. The laboratory classes are interwoven with lectures, tutorials and discussion groups. The course consider the processes of body donation and the ethical, legal and moral frameworks around which people donate their remains for anatomical learning, teaching and research.

This course examines transmission, pathogenicity and the immune response to microbes. It explores the characteristics of viral, bacterial, fungal and protist pathogens and their virulence mechanisms for establishment and progression of disease; host immune response and characteristic pathological changes to tissues; mechanisms for colonization, invasion and damage to host tissue; the ways in which the immune system recognizes and destroys invading microbes; how the T cell response is activated and antibodies function; antibiotic resistance; and control and vaccination strategies. 

The course covers topics on the patterns of inheritance,  the molecular properties of genes and chromosomes,  transcription and translation, genetic methods and technology, and genetic analysis of individuals and populations. This includes an in-depth understanding of Mendelian patterns of inheritance and variations that could occur due to multiple alleles, lethal genes, chromosomal variations, linkage, gene interaction and other genetic phenomena. Emphasis is placed on the understanding of the underlying molecular and biochemical basis of inheritance. Quantitative and population genetics are also discussed with the emphasis of understanding the processes and forces in nature that promote genetic change. 

The course covers the central metabolic reaction pathways as well as (hormonal) regulation of these reaction pathways. It illustrates how organisms generate energy for essential energy-consuming processes. The metabolic reaction pathways and the regulation of these are seen in physiological connection.

This course provides an introduction to basic elements of animal behavior and application of ethology (i.e. the study of animal behavior) in relation to livestock farming and keeping of domestic animals. Furthermore, it provides an understanding of how different types of behavior are affected by management and the external environment to enable assessment of these factors on animal welfare. Topics include: domestication; behavior and physiology; motivation; factors controlling behavior; learning and cognition; normal and abnormal behavior in selected farm animal species; human-animal relations; and behavioral variables as welfare indicators.

This course offers a study of human biodiversity. Topics include: morphological variability; life cycle-- fertility, fecundity, and birth; growth and puberty; aging and mortality; mating in human populations; population dynamics; genetic diversity in human populations.