Biological Sciences

This course teaches the intricacies of the interaction between animal and plant parasites and their host. The focus is on current topics in the field of host-parasite interactions, including recent insights from many other disciplines such as ecology, soil biology, molecular and cell biology, plant and animal physiology, biotechnology, immunology, and genetics. Besides developing a more integrative view of host-parasite interactions as a broad biological phenomenon, students also discuss how this knowledge can be translated into better human, animal, and plant health. This course uses the development of effective writing skills help to deepen the understanding of a topic.

The main focus of this course is the structure and function of limnic ecosystems. It presents recent theories and models about physical processes and biogeochemical cycles in relation to organisms and their interactions. In this context, the course discusses the microbial loop and trophic interaction hypotheses. Moreover, human's influence on the limnic ecosystem is illustrated. The course also includes training in chemical analysis and water sampling technique as well as exercises in species knowledge of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish. Teaching is performed as lectures, workshops, and group discussions. During one week, students get experience in field sampling in oligotrophic lakes at the Aneboda Field Station in Småland. In addition, a eutrophic lake in Scania is studied during a one-day excursion. Collected samples are analyzed for water chemistry and organisms, and data are interpreted in lake-systems perspective. All field work is carried out as several group projects that are planned and designed in advance by the students under teacher supervision.

After completing this course students can:

1. explain the major concepts of human and animal physiology, development, and evolution.
2. describe the contemporary issues related to these general biological topics.
3. obtain basic skills in, scientific writing, oral presentations,  group work, and laboratory work. 

Content

This course focuses on the many intriguing aspects of human biology. Examples from the animal kingdom are used to illustrate the context of human physiology, development, and evolution. The course builds upon secondary high school higher level biology. The textbook functions as basis however additional content is added throughout the course. The main topics discussed and studied are:

• Human and animal structure (morphology and anatomy) and function (physiology).
• And, related to the above-mentioned topic, investigating how evolution accounts for diversity of animal body forms and strategies that animals use to cope with their environments.

In addition, general academic skills are trained through a variety of assignments.

The program is divided in three content units:

Unit 1. Homeostasis, Hormones and Adaptation. Based on textbook chapters 40-44. This includes

• The structural organization of the animal body at tissue, organ, and organ system level
• Chemical signaling in animals
• The digestive system
• The circulatory and respiratory system
• The excretory system

Unit 2. Animal Diversity, Reproduction and Development. Based on textbook chapters 22, 24, 32 and 34 (partly), and 45-46 (completely). This includes:

• Animal reproduction
• Evolution, animal diversity and animal development

Unit 3. Defense and Neural Integration. Based on textbook chapters 47-50. This includes:

• The innate and adaptive immune system
• The neural system and neural integration
• The sensory system
• Movement in animals    

This course, taken prior to departure for the Costa Rica Tropical Biology Program, provides a supplemental seminar so the students may meet semester contact time/unit requirements. This directed reading course provides an introduction to current ideas about the origin, maintenance, uses and conservation of tropical biodiversity. Topics, selected by students, could include comparisons of terrestrial vs. marine biodiversity, analysis of the costs and benefits of bioprospecting, and patterns found in Old World vs. New World Tropics. Students ask and address a question in a written paper based on the literature. They also give an oral presentation of their findings to others in the class. *Course includes 75 hours of contracted independent study.

This course provides a broad exploration of life, qualities of life, the meaning of life, appreciation of life, respect for life, and preservation of life values. Topics include: what is life; life of origin and evolution; life from genes to see creatures; reproductive physiology; circulation, the immune system; neurophysiological aspects of life; animal behavior; Thoreau's Brave New World - evolution of genetic plant diversity; biological diversity and ecological conservation; genetic engineering and life application; cloning sheep and ethics; facing sickness and death; and the circle of life.

The study of the structure and function of eukaryotic cells at the molecular level has been one of the major growth areas in biology over the past decade. Our understanding of many complex processes such as cell division, differentiation, movement and cell-cell interactions has been greatly extended by use of a combination of biochemical, molecular genetic and immunological methods. This course takes as its starting point the material covered in several of the first-half 3rd year courses and 1st and 2nd year courses, and applies that knowledge to a detailed study of five major topics in molecular cell biology: the cytoskeleton, signal transduction, cell cycle, membrane trafficking and nuclear domains. As the pace of research in these areas is very rapid, the course concentrates on techniques and experimental designs used to dissect and analyze these complex processes, and it looks at current ideas about how they occur. An important element in the course is the opportunity for students to develop the skills of an active learner through taking part in the courses exercises. 

This course offers a study of the classification and morphology of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial animals, and consists of lectures and laboratory practicals. Students dissect and demonstrate representatives from most animal phyla with emphasis on their morphology, development, and general biology. During the laboratory practicals, students utilize modern morphological instruments and interpret results from videos of live animals and from electron and confocal microcopy. The lectures review topics including embryology, larval development, life cycles, body skeletons, motility, reproduction, and managing of body functions in general. The course utilizes specimens in the Natural History Museum collections. This course requires a strong background in biology, zoology, or a relevant field as a prerequisite.

This course examines the basic principles of receptor pharmacology and of pharmacokinetics with emphasis on molecular and cellular mechanisms of action, clinical uses and adverse effects using lectures, tutorials and practicals. The lecture topics start with the classical drug receptor theory followed by pharmacokinetics and molecular pharmacology of drug receptors and their regulation including receptor-mediated signal transduction and membrane ion channel function. Autonomic pharmacology (adrenergic and cholinergic) is introduced. The module also focuses on the pharmacology of autacoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, anti-asthma drugs, and anti-arthritic drugs.