Department of Biology

Last updated: July 5, 2012 at 4:15 p.m.

Objectives

Undergraduate Major
The undergraduate program in biology, leading either to the BA or to the BS degree, is designed to give students an understanding of fundamental and current biological knowledge in a variety of fields. The program offers a wide array of courses to undergraduates, ranging from introductory to advanced, specialized, graduate-level courses in many of these areas. The biology department has more than twenty-five full-time faculty members with teaching and research interests in the fields of genetics, molecular biology, development, cancer, immunology, neurobiology, motility, cell biology, structural biology, animal behavior, and ecology.

Because the interests and needs of our students vary, the major is designed to provide flexibility once the core courses have been completed. Students may elect undergraduate-level courses in a variety of areas of biology and biochemistry or may choose to obtain more-advanced, in-depth training in one particular area. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to become integral members of research laboratories in the department and to attend departmental colloquia.

A major in biology provides excellent preparation for students intent on careers in biological research; for those seeking careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry; and for those interested in the allied health professions such as public health, genetic counseling, physical therapy, or physician assistant. For those seeking courses concerned with ecology or environmental science, the biology department offers study in those areas. See "Special Note B" below for additional programs in those areas.

Graduate Programs in the Biological Sciences
For MS and PhD degrees in the biological sciences, see the separate listings for molecular and cell biology, biophysics and structural biology, neuroscience, and genetic counseling programs in this Bulletin.

Learning Goals

Biology is the science of life. We may study biology for its practical applications in fields that include medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing, or simply because of what E.O. Wilson terms "biophilia", our innate fascination with living things. B.A. and B.S. programs build upon fundamental concepts to give an understanding of major areas of modern biology, including molecular biology, neurobiology, and structural biology. Courses for non-majors introduce aspects of the biology of our everyday lives. They provide background for students to make choices in areas such as diet and immunization, and to be informed participants in broader debate of issues such as stem cell research and human impact on the environment.

Knowledge
Living things work in ways that reflect principles of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Biology majors will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of these subjects. All biology majors will demonstrate basic knowledge of cell biology. This includes knowledge of the molecular building blocks of cells, structure-function relationships of molecules and cells, and the flow of energy, materials, and information within and between cells. All biology majors will demonstrate basic knowledge of molecular biology and genetics. This includes knowledge of the flow of genetic information from genes to proteins, and from generation to generation of cells and organisms. All biology majors will demonstrate knowledge of techniques and equipment commonly used in modern biology and genetics laboratories. These include the use of recombinant DNA techniques and the genetic manipulation of model organisms. Additionally, students will demonstrate knowledge of subjects chosen, depending upon their interests and career goals, from a broad range of elective courses.

Skills
Students who major in biology will develop skills in three core areas. Firstly, they will develop skills in collecting and analyzing quantitative data, including the creation of visual representations of data, and statistical analysis. Secondly, students will develop critical thinking skills by interpreting biological data and scientific reports. Thirdly, they will develop skills in written and oral communication of scientific observations, ideas, data, and opinions.

Upon graduation
The flexible bachelor's degree program educates biology graduates for a variety of careers, which may depend upon the elective courses taken. Some will enter the workforce in technical positions in biological research in academic, medical or industrial laboratories. Others will go on to graduate study in dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, and allied health professions such as genetic counseling, physical therapy, physician assistant, or public health. Some students will enter master's or doctoral programs in the life sciences. Still others will bring their scientific backgrounds to other professions, including business, secondary and post-secondary education, and law.

How to Become a Major

Students wishing to major in biology should enroll in general chemistry during their first year. Students may elect to take BIOL 15b, an introductory course in biology, in the first year. Exceptionally well-prepared students may enroll in BIOL 22a (Genetics) in their first year.

Most students begin the biology series in their sophomore year and take BIOL 22a (Genetics) and BIOL 22b (Cell Structure and Function), plus BIOL18a and b labs. We recommend that during their sophomore year, students also enroll in CHEM 25a and b (Organic Chemistry), with associated labs.

Other course schedules are indeed possible, but students should note that some courses have a prerequisite of completion of CHEM 25a. Taking CHEM 25a and b in the sophomore year allows students to begin taking these courses in their junior year, as well as to begin completing the remaining requirements for the BA or BS degree in biology. Students also have the option of enrolling in BIOL 93a (Independent Research) during their junior or senior year, and BIOL 93a and BIOL 99b, or BIOL 99a and b (Senior Research) during the senior year.

To learn more about the biology major, students should attend one of the special departmental or UDR programs held each fall or consult with the undergraduate advising head.

Faculty

Sacha Nelson, Chair (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Synaptic integration in the visual cortex.

Susan Birren, Dean of Arts and Sciences (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Developmental neurobiology.

Paul Garrity (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems) (on leave spring 2013)
Neural development and behavior.

Bruce Goode (Rosenstiel Center)
Biochemistry and genetics of yeast cytoskeleton.

Leslie Griffith (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Biochemistry of synaptic plasticity.

James Haber (Director, Rosenstiel Center)
Genetics and molecular biology of yeast meiotic and mitotic recombination. Mating-type switching. Repair of broken chromosomes.

Lizbeth Hedstrom
Enzyme structure-function. Chemical biology. Mechanisms of retinal degeneration.

Melissa Kosinski-Collins
Protein biochemistry and biology education.

Nelson Lau (Rosenstiel Center)
Gene and genome regulation by RNAi and small RNAs. Molecular biology of germline gene and transposon regulation.

John Lisman (Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Mechanisms of phototransduction. Molecular mechanism of memory storage.

Susan Lovett (Assistant Director, Professional Science Master’s Program in Biotechnology; Rosenstiel Center) 
Genetics and molecular biology of bacteria and yeast. DNA repair. Recombination and mutagenesis.

Michael Marr (Rosenstiel Center)
Mechanisms controlling gene expression.

Eve Marder (Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Neurotransmitter modulation of neural circuits.

Paul Miller (Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Computational and theoretical neuroscience.

James Morris
Epigenetics and biology education.

Daniela Nicastro (Rosenstiel Center)
Electron tomography of cellular and macromolecular structures.

Suzanne Paradis (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Molecular mechanisms of synapse development.

Dan L. Perlman
Ecology, conservation biology, animal behavior.

Joan Press, Undergraduate Advising Head and Senior Honors Coordinator (Rosenstiel Center) 
Developmental immunology and immunogenetics.

Ruibao Ren (Rosenstiel Center)
Signal transduction.

Avital Rodal (Rosenstiel Center, Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Endosomal Membrane Traffic in Neurons.

Michael Rosbash (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
RNA processing and molecular neurobiology.

Piali Sengupta (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems) 
Behavioral and neuronal development in C. elegans.

Neil Simister (Director, Professional Science Master’s Program in Biotechnology; Rosenstiel Center) (on leave fall 2012)
Molecular immunology. Antibody transport.

Judith Tsipis (Chair, Genetic Counseling)
Genetic counseling.

Gina Turrigiano (National Center for Behavioral Genomics; Volen National Center for Complex Systems) 
Activity-dependent regulation of neuronal properties.

Stephen Van Hooser (Volen National Center for Complex Systems)
Development and function of cortical circuits.

Lawrence Wangh
Mammalian embryogenesis. Gene expression in single cells. DNA amplification and in vitro DNA diagnostics.

Rachel Woodruff
Molecular and biology education.

Satoshi Yoshida (Rosenstiel Center)
Cytoskeletal organization during cell division.

Requirements for the Major

A. Required of all candidates: BIOL 22a,b; BIOL 18a,b lab; CHEM 11a,b or CHEM 15a,b; CHEM 18a,b or CHEM 19a,b lab; CHEM 25a,b; CHEM 29a,b lab; PHYS 10a,b or PHYS 11a,b or PHYS 15a,b; PHYS 18a,b or PHYS 19a,b lab; and Option I or II below.

Option I: The BA Degree in Biology
The BA is the standard biology option that provides students with a general background in biology. In addition to the courses required of all candidates (listed above), students must complete one course from the Quantitative Course List below. Also, students must complete a total of five elective courses, three of which must come from Category 1 (below) and be taken at Brandeis.

The combination of BIOL 93 plus BIOL 99, or two semesters of BIOL 99 (or NEUR 99a,b) may count as one elective in Category 1 with permission of the biology department honors coordinator and the biology undergraduate advising head.

Additional courses may be taken from the Quantitative Course List, or Category 1 or Category 2 (see below).

Option II: The BS Degree in Biology
The BS is the intensive biology option that provides students with a strong background in several areas of biology. In addition to the courses required of all candidates (listed as in A above), students must complete BCHM 100a plus two courses from the Quantitative Course List. In addition, students must complete five 
elective courses, at least three of which must come from Category 1 and be taken at Brandeis.

The combination of BIOL 93 plus BIOL 99, or two semesters of BIOL 99 (or NEUR 99a,b) may count as one elective in Category 1 with permission of the biology department honors coordinator and the biology undergraduate advising head.

Additional courses may be taken from the Quantitative Course List (beyond the two used to fulfill the BS quantitative requirement), or Category 1 or Category 2 (see below).

No course offered for major requirements in either Option I or II may be taken on a pass/fail basis. Satisfactory grades (C- or above) must be earned in all biology and biochemistry courses offered for the major, in any course(s) offered for the quantitative requirement, and in all elective courses offered for the major in biology. No more than one D will be allowed in any other course offered toward the requirements in this major.

Quantitative Course List
BIOL 107a
BIOL 135b
CHEM 144a
MATH 10a, 10b, 15a, 20a, 22a, 22b
NPHY 115a
NPSY 137b
QBIO 110a
Any one of the following statistics courses: BIOL 51a, ECON 83a, HSSP 100b, MATH 36b, or PSYC 51a.

Category 1 (three electives must come from this course list)
BIOL 17b
All other BIOL courses numbered 23 or higher (excluding BIOL 51a, courses numbered 90-98 and BIOL 135b.)
BCHM 100a (for BA only; BCHM100 is a requirement for the BS)
BCHM 155b
BCHM 172a
CBIO 106b
All NBIO courses

One semester of BIOL 93 plus one semester of BIOL 99, or two semesters of BIOL 99 (or NEUR 99a,b) may count as one elective with permission of the biology department honors coordinator and the biology undergraduate advising head.

Category 2 
ANTH 116a
BCHM courses numbered higher than 100 excluding those in category 1
CBIO 101a
CHEM 33a, CHEM 141a, CHEM 142a, CHEM 143b, CHEM 147b
QBIO 120b
PHYS 105a

Note: Only one course may be taken from the statistics grouping (BIOL 51a, PSYC 51a, ECON 83a, MATH 36b, or HSSP 100b), and this one course can be used either as an elective or to fulfill the quantitative requirement, but not both.  

Note: Students are permitted to use one course from the following list as a category two elective if that course is taken before Biol 22: any BISC course, NPSY11b, or BIOL 15b. After completing that course with a grade of C- or better, students must fill out an RG01 form and submit it to the BIOL UAH in order for that course to appear on their SAGE audit as a category two elective.

Note:  AP calculus cannot be used to satisfy the quantitative requirement or the elective requirement. 

B. Independent Research (BIOL 93)
Any junior or senior majoring in biology may enroll in BIOL 93 (Independent Research). This course on its own does not count as an elective but may be used for course credit. The internship may be done during the summer or during one academic semester. No more than one BIOL 93 course may be taken. Students must petition the department for participation in BIOL 93. Petitions and information about the research internships are available in the biology department office or you can download the petition and information from http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/biology/BIOL_93_petition.pdf. See BIOL 93 course description for details.

C. Senior Research
Any senior majoring in biology may enroll in senior research. This two-semester program is taken as a combination of two courses, which can be either BIOL 93 and BIOL 99, or BIOL 99a and BIOL 99b

In the first option, the student can do the BIOL 93 research internship in the summer of junior year followed by BIOL 99a in fall semester of senior year; or the student may do the BIOL 93 research internship in fall semester, followed by BIOL 99 in spring semester of senior year. 

In the second option, the student enrolls in BIOL 99a in fall semester and BIOL 99b (or BIOL 99e) in spring semester of the senior year. The combination of BIOL 93 and BIOL 99, or the combination of BIOL 99a and BIOL 99b, may be used as one elective in biology. No more than 3 courses (combinations of BIOL 93, BIOL 99) may be taken for course credit. Students petition the department for participation in BIOL 93 or BIOL 99. Petitions and information about the research internship and senior research are available in the biology department office or you can download the petition and information from http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/biology/BIOL_93_petition.pdf and http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/biology/BIOL_99_petition.pdf. See BIOL 93 and BIOL 99 course descriptions for details.

D. Senior Honors Program
Intensive laboratory research and scholastic excellence are major components of the senior honors program. The student enrolls in senior research (as described above, in section C above). At the conclusion of their second research semester (BIOL 93 and BIOL 99a or BIOL 99b, or BIOL 99a and BIOL 99b), candidates for senior honors will give an oral defense of their senior honors thesis to a designated faculty research committee. At the conclusion of their senior year, candidates for senior honors must have either (i) a minimum 3.30 GPA in all courses offered for the biology major, or (ii) a minimum 3.00 GPA in courses offered for the biology major and also have achieved an average of B+ or higher in three biology electives (BIOL 93 or BIOL 99 electives are not included in the GPA requirement of Honors). Petitions and information about the senior honors program are available in the biology department office or you can download the petition and information from http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/biology/BIOL_99_petition.pdf.

Combined BS/MS Program

Four-year Combined BS/MS Program in Biology

Undergraduate students majoring in Biology may be admitted to a four-year BS/MS program upon recommendation by the faculty research sponsor and approval by the Biology Undergraduate Advising Head and the Graduate School. BS/MS candidates must do senior honors research, i. e., take two semesters of BIOL 99 and receive departmental honors. Additional courses must be taken. The student must meet in their junior year with the Biology Undergraduate Advising Head to receive approval to apply to the Graduate School for the BS/MS program. Application to the Graduate School must be made by May 1 preceding the senior year. For specific details about the BS/MS requirements, see http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/undergrad/biology/bsms.html.

Five-year Combined BA /MS or BS/MS Program in Biotechnology

This combined degree program allows students to complete the full master’s program in biotechnology with one additional year of graduate study after earning a BA or BS degree at Brandeis. Requirements for the bachelor's degree, defined by the College of Arts and Sciences, remain unaffected by participation in this program. Students who successfully complete the five-year program must receive the bachelor's degree by the end of their fourth year and will matriculate in the Graduate School in the fifth year.

Applicants must demonstrate (through their transcripts and in their application statement of purpose) that they can complete the requirements for a bachelor’s degree while pursuing the courses of the full Year 1 master's degree in biotechnology curriculum. Students may achieve the bachelor’s degree in any major, but must have completed one full year of introductory biology and laboratory (BIOL 22a,b, BIOL 18a,b) and introductory chemistry and laboratory (CHEM 11a,b or CHEM 15a,b and CHEM 18a,b or CHEM 19a,b) to qualify for admission into the 5-year program.

Students interested in this option should apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by March 1 of their junior year using the links on the biotechnology program website. If accepted into the program, students will be expected to take the six required courses of the Biotechnology Year 1 program, plus CONT 300 Ethical Practice in Health-Related Sciences, in their senior year. Students may elect one additional course of their choosing each semester to complete any bachelor’s degree requirements.

Brandeis 5-year degree students will then continue with the biotechnology summer internship and enter the Year 2 master’s degree in biotechnology curriculum in the fall of their 5th year.

Special Notes Relating to the Undergraduate Program

A. BIOL 18a and b (labs) and BIOL 22a and b will satisfy the general biology entrance requirements of most medical schools. 

B. Biology majors wishing to study ecology and conservation may wish to look into the environmental studies program described in this Bulletin, as well as the following programs:

School for Field Studies: SFS offers programs at a number of different sites around the world, including East Africa, Costa Rica, Baja Mexico, Australia, and the West Indies.

School for International Training: SIT offers programs around the world in ecology, conservation, and sustainable development.

Denmark's International Studies Program: DIS offers a range of programs in marine biology and ecology, environmental biology, medical practice and policy, and molecular biology and genetics.

Students should see Mr. D.L. Perlman for further information on these programs, including information on the transferability of course credits as biology electives.

C. Biology majors who wish to enroll in PHYS 11a and b (Basic Physics), rather than PHYS 10a and b (Physics for the Life Sciences), must complete both MATH 10a and b as prerequisites.

D. AP exam credit: Students receiving AP credit as per university guidelines may use these to satisfy the general chemistry (CHEM 11) or physics (PHYS 10, 11) requirements. However, neither AP Math AB scores of 4, 5 nor AP Math BC scores of 3, 4, 5 may be used to satisfy the quantitative course requirement for the biology major.

Master of Science in Biotechnology

Program of Study
The program provides interdisciplinary, professionally-oriented training in biotechnology, stressing both science and business concepts. Mastery of the field of biotechnology will be taught both in the classroom and through hands-on laboratory work. In addition, students will build professional skills in data analysis, searching and reading the scientific literature, scientific writing, oral presentation and teamwork.

The program includes a summer internship at a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company or non-profit research center or in one of many biological sciences research laboratories on the Brandeis campus. Research areas on campus include genetics, molecular biology, developmental biology, cell biology, chemical biology, biophysics, structural biology, immunology, and neurobiology. Students should enroll in BIOT 212a for credit for the internship.

A total of twelve other courses are required for the program. Five lecture courses are mandatory for all biotechnology students. These are BIOL 101a Molecular Biotechnology*, BIOT 200a Biotechnology Proseminar, BIOT 201b Business of Biotechnology, BUS 261a Managing Technology Innovation, and BIOT 203b Management for Biotechnology.
*Students who previously have taken a course equivalent to BIOL 101a Molecular Biotechnology may substitute an elective course with the consent of the program directors.

All biotechnology students are required to take one of the following courses: BCHM 100a Introductory Biochemistry, BIOL 100b Advanced Cell Biology, BIOL 102b Structural Molecular Biology, or BIOL 103b Mechanisms of Cell Function.

Two laboratory courses are mandatory. These are Biol 156 Biotechnology Project Laboratory and Bchm 155 Biochemistry Laboratory.

All students will take two biology, biochemistry, or chemistry electives numbered higher than 22 (excluding courses numbered 90-98). The remaining two courses may be additional biology, biochemistry, or chemistry electives (as above), or relevant business‡, computer science, economics, or sociology courses as well as relevant courses in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, at appropriate levels approved by the program directors, or additional laboratory courses. The laboratory courses may be project laboratories (e.g. Project Laboratory in Cell Biology, Biol 158) or research in laboratories approved by the program directors (students should enroll in Biotechnology Research, Biot 293).

‡Two 2-credit business modules, e.g. Bus 226f Managing Global Human Capital, Bus 228f Management Communication, may be taken in place of a 4-credit course.

In addition, all students are required to take CONT 300b (Responsible Conduct of Science), offered in the spring.

Students must receive grades of B- or better in all courses and may be terminated from the program if their academic records are unsatisfactory.

Residence Requirement
The minimum residence requirement is two years.

Courses of Instruction

(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students

BIOL 15b Biology: Human Implications
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This course may not be taken for credit by students who have completed BIOL 22a or BIOL 22b. Core course for the HSSP program.
The last half-century brought an unprecedented expansion of our knowledge of the living world. The effects of these discoveries on our lives and the effects of our lives on the rest of the living world are increasing. Recent developments in biology affect our health care choices, our consumer choices, and even our choices as parents. This course is intended as an introduction to contemporary biology. It stresses the fundamentals of cell biology and genetics and explores the diversity of life, including microorganisms and plants. It emphasizes evolution, physiology, and ecology. The course is intended to prepare students to understand the biology of everyday life, and to provide a strong foundation for those who continue to study the life sciences. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Simister

BIOL 17b Conservation Biology
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First- and second-year students should contact the instructor before enrolling in this writing-intensive course.
Considers the current worldwide loss of biological diversity, causes of this loss, and methods for protecting and conserving biodiversity. Explores biological and social aspects of the problems and their solutions. Usually offered every year.
Mr. D.L. Perlman

BIOL 18a General Biology Laboratory
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This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: CHEM 18a or 19a or permission of the instructor. BIOL 22a must be taken before or concurrently with this course. Yields full-course credit. Laboratory fee: $150 per semester. This lab is time-intensive and students will be expected to come in to lab between regular scheduled lab sessions. In order to accommodate students with time conflicts it may be necessary to re-assign students without conflicts to another section of the course. Students' section choice will be honored if possible.
Provides firsthand experience with a wide array of organisms and illustrates basic approaches to experimental design and problem solving in genetics and genomics. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Kosinski-Collins

BIOL 18b General Biology Laboratory
Prerequisites: CHEM 18a or 19a. BIOL 22b must be taken before or concurrently with this course. Yields half-course credit. Laboratory fee: $150 per semester. This lab is time-intensive and students will be expected to come to lab between regular scheduled lab sessions. In order to accommodate students with time conflicts it may be necessary to re-assign students without conflicts to another section of the course. Students' section choice will be honored if possible. This is an experiential learning course. This course offers a 2-credit optional practicum.
Provides firsthand experience with modern molecular biology techniques and illustrates basic approaches to experimental design and problem solving in molecular and cellular biology including applications of biochemical techniques. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Kosinski-Collins

BIOL 22a Genetics and Molecular Biology
[ qr1 sn ]
Prerequisite: CHEM 10a or 11a or 15a.
An introduction to our current understanding of hereditary mechanisms and the molecular basis of gene transmission and expression. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Rodal

BIOL 22b Cell Structure and Function
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Prerequisite: CHEM 10a or 11a or 15a.
An introduction to the architecture and function of cells, organelles, and their macromolecular components. Topics include fundamental processes that are common to all cells, and the functions of specialized cells. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Nicastro

BIOL 23a Ecology
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22a or 15b, or a score of 5 on the AP Biology Exam, or permission of the instructor. This is an experiential learning course.
Studies organisms and the environments in which they live. Focuses on the physical factors and intra- and interspecies interactions that explain the distribution and abundance of individual species from an evolutionary perspective. Usually offered every year.
Mr. D.L. Perlman

BIOL 25a Molecular Motors
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b.
A discussion of movement at the cellular level. Analyzes how molecular motors generate motion and how their activity is controlled. Topics include intracellular transport, muscle contraction, rotary motion, enzymes moving along DNA, and cell division. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

BIOL 32a Field Biology
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This is an experiential learning course.
Introduces students to the biodiversity of southern New England, emphasizing woody plants. Course work primarily takes place on field trips to various terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 32aj Field Biology
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Introduces students to the biodiversity of southern New England, emphasizing woody plants. Course work primarily takes place on field trips to various terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Offered as part of JBS program.
Staff

BIOL 42a Physiology
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b. CHEM 25a and b are recommended.
Introduces basic physiological principles. Topics include the physiology of human nervous and endocrine systems, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, water and electrolyte regulation, digestion and absorption, reproduction, and immunology. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 43b Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
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This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisite: BIOL 22b.
This course provides a solid basis for understanding of vertebrate and, in particular, human anatomy. The gross microscopic morphology of each organ system is considered in depth. Comparative anatomy, embryology, and relationships between structure and function are emphasized. Lectures, laboratory dissections, and clinical cases are used to illustrate the structure and function of vertebrates. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morris

BIOL 50b Animal Behavior
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Prerequisites: BIOL 23a or BIOL 60b.
Examines a wide range of animal behavior, including mating and reproductive tactics, territoriality, and social behaviors. The course employs an ecological framework to understand the evolution of behavior. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

BIOL 51a Biostatistics
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a.
A basic introduction to methods of statistics and mathematical analysis applied to problems in the life sciences. Topics include statistical analysis of experimental data, mathematical description of chemical reactions, and mathematical models in neuroscience, population biology, and epidemiology. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 55b Diet and Health
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b must be successfully completed prior to taking BIOL 55b.
Reviews the current evidence concerning dietary impact on the chronic diseases of humans. Topics include genetics and nutrition, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Students also examine the involvement of specific nutrients; for example, fat and cholesterol, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and alcohol in these disease processes. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Hayes

BIOL 60b Evolution
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution," Dobzhansky said famously. Evolution is the unifying theory of biology because it explains almost everything about the living world - both the diversity of life and the similarities among organisms. This course examines processes and patterns of evolution, including the origin and fate of variation, natural selection and genetic drift, the evolution of sociality, the species concept and the origin of species, biodiversity and phylogenetics, as well as the history of life on Earth, including the fossil record and human evolution. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morris

BIOL 93a Research Internship and Analysis
Supervised biological research experience in a Brandeis University laboratory. In consultation with a Brandeis faculty member, the student will design and execute an individual research project, culminating in an oral and written presentation. Students seeking to do biology research in Brandeis laboratories outside the biology department must obtain sponsorship of a biology department faculty member as well as permission of the departmental undergraduate advising head (UAH). This course is not intended to and will not provide credit for off-campus internships. BIOL 93a is offered both semesters but is a one-semester course and may be taken only once. Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in BIOL 93a. Course requirements include laboratory research, a written report and an oral presentation, as specified in the BIOL 93a petition. Students wishing to do a summer internship for academic credit must: obtain permission from the BIOL 93 coordinator and their biology department sponsor prior to commencing the internship; complete the summer internship (a minimum of 10 weeks full-time); and complete the appropriate academic work. Credit will be awarded via the student enrolling in BIOL 93a in the subsequent fall term. BIOL 93a may also be used as one of the two courses needed for Senior Research (see BIOL 99). Usually offered every semester.
Staff

BIOL 98a Readings in Biology
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b. Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology. May not be taken for credit by students who have satisfactorily completed BIOL 98b.
Open to exceptionally well-qualified students. This is a tutorial course with readings in a specified biological field. The student will be given a reading list, including current literature and reviews of the topic to be discussed. Course requirements include weekly discussions and the writing of several papers. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 98b Readings in Biology
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b. Does NOT meet the major requirement in biology. May not be taken for credit by students who have satisfactorily completed BIOL 98a.
See BIOL 98a for course description. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 99a Senior Research
The first of a two-semester course involving the student in an independent research project conducted under the supervision of a staff member and serving as an intensive introduction to specific methods of biological research. In cases where students are able to do unusually long, intensive work in the laboratory, they may request a third course credit during the petition process; if this request is approved by the senior honors coordinator, students should register for BIOL 99a (fall) followed by BIOL 99e (spring). The combined enrollments for Senior Research may not exceed three semester course credits. Two semesters of BIOL 99 may be used as one elective for the biology major. Students may also use one semester of BIOL 93 and one semester of BIOL 99 to count as senior research and one elective. To fulfill the BIOL 99 requirements, students must (1) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their first BIOL 99 semester, a paper that reviews the literature pertinent to their field of research (or, fulfill the BIOL 93 requirements), and (2) submit to their research sponsor, at the conclusion of their second BIOL 99 semester, a senior thesis that includes an abstract, an introduction, a review of materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Students must petition the department for permission to enroll in BIOL 99. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 99b Senior Research
A continuation of BIOL 99a. See BIOL 99a for course description.
Staff

BIOL 99e Senior Research
See BIOL 99a for course description. Usually offered every semester.
Staff

BISC 2b Genes and the Human Story
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Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology.
Correlates findings from a wide variety of genetic sources with anthropological, cultural, historical, and religious information about human origins, human reproduction, infectious diseases, and lineages of human populations. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Wangh

BISC 3a Paradigms of Biological Investigation
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Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology. May not be taken by students who have completed BIOL 22a or BIOL 22b.
Examines the concepts and principles of scientific research with examples from its Greek beginnings to modern times. Topics from evolutionary biology, biophysics, molecular biology, and physics are used to describe the nature of scientific advances. Concepts related to experimental design and critical thinking are considered. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Farber

BISC 4a Heredity
[ sn ]
May not be taken by students who have completed BIOL 22a.
Explores genes and their functions. Examines how genes are inherited, how they work, and how changes in genes can cause inherited diseases. Also investigates recent biological developments such as the Human Genome Project, gene therapy, stem cells, and the new medical and ethical challenges these developments pose in the twenty-first century. Usually offered every third year.
Staff

BISC 4b Food, Nutrition, and Health
[ sn ]
Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology.
Nutrition is the science of food and its role in health and disease. This course will introduce the biological background to provide students with tools to better understand everything from how we choose food to how our diet influences our long-term health. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Lai

BISC 5a Pathogens and Human Disease
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: High school chemistry and biology. May not be taken by students who have completed BIOL 125a, 132a, or 175b.
This course discusses the life cycle, pathogenesis, transmission, and epidemiology of certain organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) that cause important human diseases. Other topics include emerging diseases, host defense mechanisms, vaccines, and public health concerns. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Press

BISC 5b Diseases of the Mind
[ sn wi ]
Prerequisite: High school chemistry. Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology. May not be taken by students who have completed BIOL 22b.
An exploration of biology of several protein folding diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS, and mad cow disease and their effect on normal brain function. Examines the medical and ethical challenges of therapies, drug design, and clinical trials on patients afflicted with these disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Kosinski-Collins

BISC 6b Environmental Health
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Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology. Yields six semester-hour credits towards rate of work and graduation.
The impact on human health of environmental contamination with toxic, carcinogenic, or pathogenic agents. Tools of toxicology, epidemiology, and risk assessment are applied to specific environmental issues such as air and water quality, petroleum, metal, and other chemical contaminations. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

BISC 6bj Environmental Health
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Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology. Yields six semester-hour credits towards rate of work and graduation.
An introduction to the science and tools of environmental health, giving students hands-on skills to explore directly current issues experienced by local communities. Students will become familiar with the environmental health paradigm, the conceptual model of the field, including underlying principles of hazard identification, exposure assessment, toxicology, risk assessment, and characterization and interpretation of epidemiological studies. Offered as part of JBS program.
Ms. Goldin and Mr. Stewart

BISC 7a The Biology and Culture of Deafness
This is an experiential learning course. Does NOT satisfy the school of science requirement. Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology.
An exploration of the biology, sociology, and language of the deaf. Looks at mechanisms of hearing and different causes of deafness. Medical models of deafness are compared with sociological and cultural concepts of deafness. The course also introduces students to the language of the deaf community in the United States, American Sign Language (ASL). Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Morris

BISC 7b Exercise Physiology
[ sn ]
Does NOT meet requirements for the major in biology.
An introductory course in exercise physiology, with the focus on the muscular, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic responses and the physiological adaptations that occur during exercise. Concepts related to physical fitness, body composition/weight control, and training principles are discussed. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Burr

BISC 8a Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: High school biology and chemistry. Does NOT meet the requirements for the major in biology.
Examines the science, history, policies and ethics behind this biomedical field. Although stem cells and regenerative medicine are touted as the next breakthroughs in human therapies, they have also engendered much argument and controversy. This course provides the scientific context for understanding the debate over stem cell research, and discusses the promises and pitfalls of the field. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Lau

BISC 8b Drugs that Changed the World
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: High school chemistry and biology. Does NOT meet the requirements for the major in biology.
Introduces the science underlying drug discovery and development. Students learn basic principles of microbiology, chemistry, biology, pharmacology and statistics while learning how a drug progresses from bench to bedside. Students learn to decipher a drug packaging insert. Topics include landmarks in antibiotic and cancer chemotherapy, featuring recently approved drugs such as Herceptin and Gleevec. Readings are drawn from the original scientific literature, FDA rulings, patent law, and the popular press. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Hedstrom

BISC 9b Biology of Cancer
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Does not meet the requirements for the major in Biology.
Introduces the fundamental aspects of cancer development, progression and treatment with an emphasis on the cellular and molecular changes thought to lead to cancer. Both genetic and lifestyle factors and their impact on the predisposition to develop and recover from cancer will be discussed. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Dore

(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students

BIOL 100b Advanced Cell Biology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and 22b.
An advanced course on cell biology. Topics include structure and organization of the cell, principles of signal transduction, and cell division and proliferation. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Yoshida

BIOL 101a Molecular Biotechnology
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
A study of the molecular basis of DNA replication, RNA transcription focusing on molecular biology techniques such as PCR, DNA sequencing, genomics, cloning, microarrays, and siRNA and their relation to human disease research applications. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Kosinski-Collins

BIOL 102b Structural Molecular Biology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b, or permission of the instructor.
Cells are filled with machines that carry materials about the cell, that chemically transform molecules, that transduce energy, and much more. Our understanding of how these machines work depends on understanding their structures. This introduction to the structural basis of molecular biology examines the designs of proteins, their folding and assembly, and the means whereby we visualize these structures. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Kosinski-Collins

BIOL 103b Mechanisms of Cell Functions
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 22b or BIOL 100b.
An advanced course focusing on the mechanistic basis of cell biological processes and how are elucidated experimentally. Classic and modern research papers are used to illustrate a variety of experimental approaches, including biochemistry, genetics, and microscopy. Topics include signal transduction, cytoskeleton, cell motility, membrane traffic, and cell division. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Goode

BIOL 105b Molecular Biology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b.
Examination of molecular processes in replication and expression of genetic information and techniques by which this understanding has been achieved. Topics include recombinant DNA and other molecular biological techniques, structure and organization of DNA in chromosomes, DNA replication, transcription and regulation of gene expression, RNA structure and processing, mRNA stability, and other mechanisms of post-translational control. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Marr and Mr. Lau

BIOL 107a Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop
[ qr sn ]
The interpretation of data is key to making new discoveries, making optimal decisions, and designing experiments. Students will learn skills of data analysis through hands-on, computer-based tutorials and exercises that include experimental data from the biological sciences. Knowledge of very basic statistics (mean, median) will be assumed. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Van Hooser

BIOL 111a Developmental Biology
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a and 22b.
How do complex organisms build themselves starting from single cells? Examines how processes such as fertilization, embryogenesis, cell differentiation, and tissue-specific gene expression occur; what is known about the key molecules and genes that orchestrate these processes; and how genetic changes affecting these processes underlie the evolution of body form. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Paradis

BIOL 122a Molecular Genetics
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
A lecture- and literature-based course emphasizing strategies of genetic analysis in understanding complex processes, mostly in eukaryotes such as budding and fission yeast, fruit flies, worms, and mice. Examples will focus on the control of DNA replication, the regulation of the cell cycle and cell differentiation, and on mechanisms that preserve genetic stability and ensure accurate transmission of genetic information from generation to generation in both somatic and germ cells. Classical genetic methods and recent molecular genetic and genomic approaches will be examined. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Haber

BIOL 124b Epigenetics
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b.
For years our concept of gene expression has been written in the language of DNA. Recently, scientists are turning their attention to alterations in chromatin structure that can stably and heritably influence gene expression. Such epigenetic changes are reversible and responsive to the environment. Drawing on readings from the primary literature, this course explores molecular mechanisms underlying diverse epigenetic phenomena. Their role in development, evolution, and human health is also considered. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Morris

BIOL 125a Immunology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a,b and CHEM 25a.
Topics include properties and functions of cells involved in innate and adaptive immunity; genes, structure and function of immunoglobins, B cell receptors and T cell receptors; lymphocyte differentiation; genetic regulation; MHC restriction; cell interactions and signaling; pathogen immunity (bacteria, viruses) and vaccines; tolerance and autoimmunity. Usually offered year.
Ms. Press

BIOL 126b Protein Structure and Disease
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b and CHEM 25a, or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor.
Reviews the basic principles of protein structure so that the functional aspects of different protein designs may be understood. Examines various protein mutations related to certain molecular diseases and the architecture of some key viruses and their infectivity. Consideration of drug design is an integral part of the course. Student presentations are essential to the course. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Cohen

BIOL 128a Human Genetics
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b.
Survey of topics, including: mutation and polymorphism; molecular methodology; single-gene inheritance and complexities thereof; multifactorial conditions, risk assessment, and Bayesian analysis; cytogenetics; hemoglobinopathies; population genetics; gene mapping; cancer genetics; ethical considerations in genetics; immunogenetics; pharmacogenetics; genetics of development; biochemistry of selected genetic diseases; gene therapy, genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 132a General Microbiology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a,b and CHEM 25a.
Topics include the physiology and the properties of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms; microbial nutrition, metabolism, growth, and genetics; horizontal gene transfer; concepts in infectious diseases; microbial pathogenesis; epidemiology; immunity and other means of microbial control. Selected disease-causing organisms are discussed, including problems they pose for medical control and society. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Press

BIOL 134b Topics in Ecology
[ oc sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 23a or permission of the instructor. Topics may vary from year to year. Please consult the Course Schedule for topic and description. Course may be repeated once for credit with permission of the instructor.
Annually, a different aspect of the global biosphere is selected for analysis. In any year the focus may be on specific ecosystems (e.g., terrestrial, aquatic, tropical, arctic), populations, system modeling, restoration ecology, or other aspects of ecology. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 135b The Principles of Biological Modeling
[ qr sn ]
Prerequisite: MATH 10a or 10b.
With examples from neuroscience, cell biology, ecology, evolution, and physiology, dynamical concepts of significance throughout the biological world are discussed. Simple computational and mathematical models are used to demonstrate important roles of the exponential function, feedback, stability, oscillations, and randomness. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller

BIOL 141b Molecular Pathophysiology
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 42a, BCHM 100a, or NBIO 140b, or permission of the instructor.
An in-depth investigation of the molecular mechanisms by which the body's organ systems maintain health/homeostasis and succumb to genetic diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease, ALS), with additional emphasis on understanding how the body adapts to physical exertion and exercise. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

BIOL 149b Molecular Pharmacology
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22b and CHEM 25a and b. NBIO 140b strongly recommended.
Covers the essentials of pharmacology and the study of the actions of chemical agents (drugs, toxins, neurotransmitters, and hormones) that interact with living systems. Emphasizes molecular mechanisms of neuropharmacology. Topics include pharmacokinetics, hormone action, autonomic pharmacology, and the psychopharmacology of drugs of abuse and mental disorders. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Griffith

BIOL 155a Project Laboratory in Genetics and Genomics
[ sn wi ]
This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b. Course fee: $150.
This small, laboratory-based course provides an opportunity for students to pursue a genuine research project. Each semester, we focus on a specific topic, such as DNA mutation and repair, epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation, or microbial diversity, and design and carry out original experiments. Students learn basic molecular biology techniques, genetic and genomic analysis, experimental design, and the fundamentals of reading and writing research papers. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Morris

BIOL 156a Project Laboratory in Biotechnology
[ sn ]
This is an experiential learning course. Prerequiste: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b or equivalents. Course fee: $150.
This laboratory course features experiments in molecular biology that are fundamental to the field of biotechnology. This includes DNA isolation, DNA sequence analysis, generation of mutations, recombinant DNA cloning, RNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction including real-time quantitative PCR, and DNA/RNA hybridization methods. As part of the course, students will contribute to real research projects of unknown outcome. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Marr and Mr. Sutera

BIOL 158b Cell Biology Project Lab
[ sn ]
Provides a hands-on experience in a laboratory setting with varied project topics involving cell development, differentiation and function, allowing students active involvement in the research process. Experimentation requires a focus on culturing, treating, and maintaining cell lines. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Dore

BIOL 160b Human Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b.
Course deals with hormonal, cellular, and molecular aspects of gametogenesis, fertilization, pregnancy, and birth. Pathological and abnormal variations that occur and the available medical technologies for intervention, correction, and facilitation of these processes are discussed. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Jackson

BIOL 172b Growth Control and Cancer
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b and CHEM 25a.
Covers the fundamental rules of behavior of cells in multicellular organisms. Examines cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern cell growth, and differentiation and survival in normal cells, as well as how this regulation is disrupted in cancer. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Ren

BIOL 174b Stem Cells
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and b and CHEM 25a.
Stem cells are cells that can both undergo self-renewal and give rise to all cells or special cell types of the body. They have the potential for the restoration of lost organ function that cannot be achieved through traditional drug therapies. Covers stem cell biology, cell differentiation and transdifferentiation, cell lineage commitment, gene expression regulation, signal transduction, cell identity memory, and cell therapies. Provides a unique way to gain insights into developmental biology, molecular and cell biology, cancer biology, biology of aging, and regenerative medicine, as well as bioethics and health and public policies. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Ren

BIOL 175b Advanced Immunology: Topics in Infectious Disease
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: BIOL 125a and permission of the instructor.
An advanced lecture- and literature-based course that focuses on a select group of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.) considered important in human disease. Topics include mechanisms/determinants of pathogenicity, immune evasion, host immune responses, vaccines, public health issues, and bioterrorism agents. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Press

BIOL 176b RiboNucleicAcids (RNA)
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 105b.
Examines the versatility and biological functions of RiboNucleicAcides (RNA) in an upper-level seminar and primary-literature based course.Topics include splicing and the spliceosome, the ribosome, ribozymes and the RNA World Hypothesis, RNA editing, RNA interference, and long non-coding RNAs. Usually offered second every year.
Mr. Lau and Mr. Rosbash

CBIO 101a Chemical Biology
[ oc sn ]
Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 25a/b and Biol 22a/b or the equivalent.
Explores how scientific work in chemistry led to fundamental understanding of and ability to manipulate biological processes. Emphasis is placed on chemical design and synthesis as well as biological evaluation and utility. Content based on scientific literature readings. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Pontrello

CBIO 106b Chemical Biology: Medicinal Enzymology
[ sn ]
Prerequisites: Satisfactory grade in BIOL 22a and BIOL 22b and CHEM 25a and CHEM 25b or the equivalent. BCHM 100 or the equivalent is recommended.
Introduces students to the conceptual framework and experimental methods in medicinal chemistry. Topics include mechanisms of drug-target interactions, strategies for lead optimization and issues in metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Readings drawn from textbooks and the original scientific literature. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Hedstrom

NBIO 123b Population Genetics/Genomics
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
Overviews the causes and consequences of genetic differences between and within species. Introduces classical population genetics and modern genomics and explores their application to understanding the genetics of neurological disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Garrity

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: MATH 10a or PHYS 10a or approved equivalents.
An introduction to concepts and methods in computer modeling of neural systems. Topics include single and multicompartmental models of neurons, information representation and processing by populations of neurons, synaptic plasticity and models of learning, working memory, decision making and neuroeconomics. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller

NBIO 140b Principles of Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b or permission of the instructor.
Examines the basic principles of neuroscience. Topics include resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, sensory systems, motor systems, learning, neural circuits underlying behavior, neurological diseases, and mental illness. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Marder

NBIO 143b Developmental Neurobiology
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 22a and 22b or permission of the instructor.
Discusses the molecular mechanisms used in the development of the nervous system in both invertebrate and vertebrate experimental systems. Topics include determination of neuronal cell fates, axon growth and guidance, plasticity during development, and mechanisms responsible for generation of connectivity in the nervous system. This course emphasizes reading of original scientific research papers and class discussion and oral presentations. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Paradis

NBIO 145b Systems Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
We are entering an historic period during which many systems-level mysteries of brain function will be solved. This course will attempt to give a perspective on this enterprise. We will begin by defining what it means to understand a brain region, i.e. what criteria must be satisfied. We will then read and discuss key papers that begin to meet these criteria for different brain stuctures, including the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lisman

NBIO 146a The Neurobiology of Human Disease
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
A lecture- and literature-based overview of the neurobiological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other developmental and degenerative disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Nelson

NBIO 147a Neurogenetics
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Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 22a.
Topics include function of genes, neurons and neuronal circuits in the generation of behavior. The use of genetics and genetic manipulations in the study of behavior will be emphasized. Model organisms to be discussed will include Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish and mammals.Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Sengupta

NBIO 148b Cellular Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with NBIO 140b.
Focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitability and synaptic plasticity. Students examine classic experiments on action potentials and synaptic transmission and the original research literature dealing with the cellular mechanisms of developmental and learning-related plasticity. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Turrigiano

NBIO 150a Autism and Human Developmental Disorders
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: BIOL 22b.
Autism and other developmental disorders are characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits and by subtle changes in brain development. This course takes an integrative approach to investigate the biological, behavioral, medical, and social aspects of human developmental disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Birren

NBIO 152a The Biology of Pain
[ sn ]
Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
Explores the biology of pain. Topics include noxious stimulus detection, neural encoding of pain, and brain systems that store, process, and modulate the pain experience. Pain disorders and the treatment of pain will also be examined. Special one-time offering, spring 2013.
Mr. Panzano

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
[ sn wi ]
This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b. Course fee: $150.
Focuses on neurobiology, the study of the function of the nervous system. Importantly, research conducted by students will address unanswered biological questions in this field. This course will focus on temperature sensation and regulation, using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system. Students will learn: techniques for studying animal behavior in a rigorous lab setting, experimental design and analysis, and the fundamentals of reading and writing scientific research papers. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Vecsey

(200 and above) Primarily for Graduate Students

BIOL 200a Proseminar
For first-year PhD students. Emphasizes the reading, analysis, and presentation of scientific papers. There is considerable emphasis on oral presentations and writing. Students will be guided toward preparing research papers and grant applications, presenting talks and posters at scientific meetings, and writing and defending PhD qualifying exams. Also examines how scientists frame important questions and design appropriate experiments. Papers will be chosen by the instructor for discussions and exercises. Papers focus on one specific research topic while encompassing a broad range of molecular biological, genetic, structural, and biochemical approaches. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Goode and Ms. Rodal

BIOL 202d Introduction to Genetic Counseling
A two-semester sequence that provides the historical and theoretical foundations for the practice of genetic counseling and the role of genetic services within the health care delivery system. Introduces students to some of the practical aspects of genetic counseling, including case preparation, pedigree construction/interpretation, risk assessment, psychological assessment and support, patient education and medical documentation. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Schneider

BIOL 203a Proseminar: The Molecular Basis of Genetic Diseases
Covers the molecular basis of muscular dystrophy, fragile X syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and several inherited cancer syndromes. A historical perspective is used for each topic; molecular diagnostics and genetic counseling issues are addressed as well. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Tsipis

BIOL 204b Clinical Genetics I
Introduces the major practice areas of clinical genetics: prenatal, pediatrics, biochemical and cancer genetics for first year students. The course is broken into fours blocks, each devoted to one of these areas. The blocks include didactic lectures from experts in the field as well as case discussions led by practicing genetic counselors meant to allow students to put what they have learned into practice. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Schneider

BIOL 205b Counseling Theory and Technique
A comprehensive overview of counseling theory and practice. Topics include listening, observation, and interview skills and strategies; family dynamics and development; coping and adaptation processes; referral and consultation procedures; and ethical principles. Students are provided an opportunity to integrate clinical experiences with the coverage of topics. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Rintell

BIOL 206d Genetic Counseling Journal Club
Noncredit.
Informal biweekly meeting of students and faculty at which recent papers are discussed. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 207a Genetic Counseling: Case Conferences and Family Counseling
Examines case studies providing the basis for discussion of a variety of genetic disorders and the application of counseling modalities. Students have an opportunity to share experiences gained during clinical internships. Discussions emphasize the interplay of medical, psychological, ethical, legal, social, and cultural factors in genetic counseling. Co-taught by a clinical psychologist and a certified genetic counselor. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Rintell and Ms. Rosenfield

BIOL 211a Genetic Counseling Fieldwork Placement: Part I
Students work one day per week in a community-based health service organization, school, clinic, or public health agency to develop awareness of disability-related issues and the variety of community-based services for individuals with special needs. Students also observe in a genetics clinic twenty to thirty hours over the course of the semester to gain exposure to concepts learned in BIOL 202d (Introduction to Genetic Counseling). Periodic course discussions supplement the fieldwork experience. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Rosen-Sheidley

BIOL 211b Genetic Counseling Fieldwork Placement: Part II
To begin preparing for clinical genetics internships, students participate in a variety of experiences that serve to foster and integrate the concepts introduced in courses and presentations. Students are exposed to procedures in clinical labs through lectures, site visits, and/or lab work. In addition, students continue observations in a genetics clinic and meet several times with a family with a child with a disability. Periodic course discussions supplement the fieldwork experience.
Ms. Rosen-Sheidley

BIOL 212a Genetic Counseling Internship I
Students complete a 30 contact day clinical genetic internship under the supervision of a genetic counselor or other qualified clinician. Students increase their knowledge of clinical genetics and master genetic counseling skills by offering genetic counseling services in a prenatal, pediatric, cancer, general, adult ,or specialty clinic setting. Usually offered every summer.
Ms. Schneider

BIOL 212b Genetic Counseling Internship II
Students complete a 25 contact day clinical genetic internship under the supervision of a genetic counselor or other qualified clinician. Students increase their knowledge of clinical genetics and master genetic counseling skills by offering genetic counseling services in a prenatal, pediatric, cancer, general, adult, or specialty clinic setting. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Schneider

BIOL 213a Genetic Counseling Research I
In the summer semester students chose a research project, do a review of the literature and summarize key findings, and write a research proposal for a thesis project (to be done in the following fall/spring semesters). Usually offered in the summer.
Ms. Rosen-Sheidley

BIOL 213b Genetic Counseling Research II
Prerequisite: BIOL 213a.
Students are introduced to the principles and basic techniques of social science research in a series of seminars while they implement their thesis research projects. Usually offered fall and spring.
Ms. Rosen-Sheidley

BIOL 214c Genetic Counseling Process Group
In this small group setting, students can share and learn from their collective experiences in their field placements, courses, and individual lives and have the opportunity to process and integrate the experience of becoming a genetic counselor. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Cunningham

BIOL 215b Readings in Molecular Biology
A combination of readings and clinical laboratory work to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the molecular biology of several human genetic diseases and the techniques used for their diagnosis. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Tsipis

BIOL 216b Internship Seminar Series
This is a noncredit seminar required for all genetic counseling students.
Students meet once a week for a series of lectures, presentations and mock sessions that explore issues related to advanced practice in genetic counseling. Topics include advanced genetic counseling case management, Baysian analysis, and the use of the NSGC code of ethics. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 220a Clinical Genetics II
Prerequisite: BIOL 204b or permission of the instructor.
Continuation of BIOL 204b with emphasis on the genetic and developmental disorders of most major organ systems. The course includes discussion of neurogenetics, neuromuscular, hematological, cardiovascular, connective tissue, skeletal dysplasias and craniosynostoses, vision and hearing disorders as well as coverage of renal, immunological and GI and pulmonary disorders. Each week covers a different system in both a didactic lecture and a case discussion. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Schneider

BIOL 224b The RNA World
Prerequisite: BCHM 100a, BIOL 105b, or permission of the instructor.
This course employs seminars and lectures to approach a wide range of topics in RNA research. Topics include RNA enzymes, RNA structure, protein-RNA interactions, pre-mRNA splicing, and RNA localization.
Staff

BIOL 235b American Health Policy & Practice and the Delivery of Genomic Health Care
Enrollment limited to Genetic Counseling or Health Policy graduate students or with permission of the instructor.
Introduces students to the political, financial and organizational issues that influence the changing landscape of the American healthcare system and how that affects the delivery of genetic services. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Lerner

BIOL 236b Genetics, Law, and Social Policy
Explores legal doctrines, developing skills in analyzing legal and policy issues arising in professional practice and preparing students to actively participate in the development of institutional and public policies. Topics covered include confidentiality, patient autonomy, regulation of genetic, reproductive rights, and genetic discrimination. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Roche

BIOL 296a Master's Research Lab
Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Director.
Students engage in biological research by working in the laboratory of a faculty member for a minimum of 10 hours per week for one semester. Intended for students in the MS Program in Molecular and Cell Biology. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Nicastro

BIOL 298a Readings in Molecular and Cell Biology
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 299a Master's Research Project
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 300a Biological Research
Primarily for the first-year student, with the purpose of introducing him or her to biological research and to the work in progress in the laboratories of a number of faculty members. In consultation with the graduate adviser, the student plans a sequence of such tenures, each comprising nine weeks, and then carries out experimental investigations under the guidance of the faculty members involved. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 300b Biological Research
Primarily for the first-year student, with the purpose of introducing him or her to biological research and to the work in progress in the laboratories of a number of faculty members. In consultation with the graduate adviser, the student plans a sequence of such tenures, each comprising nine weeks, and then carries out experimental investigations under the guidance of the faculty members involved. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 305a Topics in Molecular Genetics and Development
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 305b Topics in Molecular Genetics and Development
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 316a Mechanisms of Recombination
Usually offered every year.
Mr. Haber and Ms. Lovett

BIOL 316b Mechanisms of Recombination
Usually offered every year.
Mr. Haber and Ms. Lovett

BIOL 316d Mechanisms of Recombination
Usually offered every year.
Mr. Haber and Ms. Lovett

BIOL 320a Current Topics in Chromatin Structure
Yields half-course credit. Two semester sequence BIOL 320a in fall and BIOL 320b in spring.
Explores the key processes of DNA replication, transcription, DNA repair by recombination, and chromosome segregation that all take place in the context of chromatin. Topics including how chromatin is established and maintained during these key life processes will greatly enrich the curriculum. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Haber and Mr. Marr

BIOL 320b Current Topics in Chromatin Structure
Two semester sequence BIOL 320a in fall and BIOL 320b in spring. Continuation of BIOL 320a. Yields half-course credit.
Explores the key processes of DNA replication, transcription, DNA repair by recombination, and chromosome segregation that all take place in the context of chromatin. Topics including how chromatin is established and maintained during these key life processes will greatly enrich the curriculum. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Haber and Mr. Marr

BIOL 350a Graduate Student Research Seminar
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 350b Graduate Student Research Seminar
Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 401d Dissertation Research
Independent research for PhD candidates. Specific sections for individual faculty members as requested.
Staff

BIOT 200a Biotechnology Proseminar
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Prepares students to work in life science industries. Skills taught include reading and evaluating print and online sources, including peer-reviewed publications. Develops skills in written and oral communication for scientific and non-scientific audiences. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Simister

BIOT 201b Business of Biotechnology
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Biotechnology industries are based upon recombinant DNA methodology. Most are in areas of medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing. Business of Biotechnolgy gives an overview of these sectors and introduces their research and development models, regulation, financing, and marketing. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Simister

BIOT 203b Fundamentals of Management for Biotechnology
Prerequisite: BIOT 201b.
Introduces basic business concepts and tools, with an emphasis on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. It provides an overview of accounting, alliances, entrepreneurship, ethics, finance, human capital, leadership, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, organizational behavior, project management, and strategy. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Simister

BIOT 212a Biotechnology Internship
Prerequisites: BIOL 156a and BIOT 200a and permission of the instructor. Yields six semester-hour credits.
Biotechnology Internship is a real-world workplace experience. Students work in industrial or academic laboratories or in managerial positions in biotechnology or related industries. The internship is an opportunity to develop professional skills, explore career paths, and make connections with employers. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Simister

BIOT 293a Biotechnology Research
Prerequisites: BIOL 156a and BIOT 200a and permission of the Program Director.
Students work in industrial or academic laboratories in biotechnology or related areas for a minimum of 10 hours per week for 12 weeks. Intended for students in the MS Program in Biotechnology. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Simister

CONT 300b Responsible Conduct of Science
Required of all graduate students supported on a sponsored project. Not for credit.
Ethics is an essential aspect of scientific research. This course, taught by university faculty from several graduate disciplines, covers major ethical issues germane to the broader scientific enterprise, including areas or applications from a number of fields of study. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Marder

BIOL Quantitative Course List

BIOL 51a Biostatistics
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a.
A basic introduction to methods of statistics and mathematical analysis applied to problems in the life sciences. Topics include statistical analysis of experimental data, mathematical description of chemical reactions, and mathematical models in neuroscience, population biology, and epidemiology. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BIOL 107a Data Analysis and Statistics Workshop
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The interpretation of data is key to making new discoveries, making optimal decisions, and designing experiments. Students will learn skills of data analysis through hands-on, computer-based tutorials and exercises that include experimental data from the biological sciences. Knowledge of very basic statistics (mean, median) will be assumed. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Van Hooser

BIOL 135b The Principles of Biological Modeling
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a or 10b.
With examples from neuroscience, cell biology, ecology, evolution, and physiology, dynamical concepts of significance throughout the biological world are discussed. Simple computational and mathematical models are used to demonstrate important roles of the exponential function, feedback, stability, oscillations, and randomness. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller

CHEM 144a Computational Chemistry
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Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade in CHEM 11a,b or 15a,b or the equivalent; MATH 10a,b or the equivalent; PHYS 10ab, 11a,b or 15a,b, or the equivalent. Organic chemistry is also recommended.
Topics in computational chemistry: applications of quantum mechanics to structural and spectroscopic analysis of small molecules; molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations of biomacromolecules. Standard computational programs are used by students to perform homework exercises. Usually offered every fourth year.
Staff

ECON 83a Statistics for Economic Analysis
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Prerequisite: ECON 2a or 10a. Students must earn C- or higher in MATH 10a, or the equivalent, to enroll in this course. See "Special Notes Relating to Undergraduates" in the economics section of the Bulletin for more information.
A first course in statistical inference. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, normal and binomial distributions, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, properties of estimators, hypothesis testing, regression, and analysis of variance. Usually offered every semester.
Staff

HSSP 100b Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Population Health
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Core course for the HSSP major and minor.
Provides an orientation to the science of epidemiology, the quantitative foundation for public health policy. As a comprehensive survey course, students from varying academic backgrounds are introduced to biostatistics and major epidemiological concepts, and provided with training in their application to the study of health and disease in human populations. Case studies examine how environmental, physical, behavioral, psychological, and social factors contribute to the disease burden of populations. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Wittenberg and Staff

MATH 10a Techniques of Calculus (a)
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Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade of C- or higher in MATH 5a or placement by examination. Students may not take MATH 10a if they have received a satisfactory grade in MATH 10b or MATH 20a.
Introduction to differential (and some integral) calculus of one variable, with emphasis on techniques and applications. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.
Ms. Parker (fall) Ms. Torrey (spring)

MATH 10b Techniques of Calculus (b)
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Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade of C- or higher in MATH 10a or placement by examination. Continuation of 10a. Students may not take MATH 10a and MATH 10b simultaneously. Students may not take MATH 10b if they have received a satisfactory grade in MATH 20a.
Introduction to integral calculus of one variable with emphasis on techniques and applications. Usually offered every semester in multiple sections.
Ms. Torrey (fall) Ms. Parker (spring)

MATH 15a Applied Linear Algebra
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Prerequisites: MATH 5a and permission of the instructor, placement by examination, or any mathematics course numbered 10 or above. Students may take MATH 15a or 22a for credit, but not both.
Matrices, determinants, linear equations, vector spaces, eigenvalues, quadratic forms, linear programming. Emphasis on techniques and applications. Usually offered every semester.
Ms. Torrey (fall), Mr. Sultan (spring)

MATH 20a Techniques of Calculus: Calculus of Several Variables
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Prerequisites: MATH 10a and b or placement by examination. Students may take MATH 20a or 22b for credit, but not both.
Among the topics treated are vectors and vector-valued functions, partial derivatives and multiple integrals, extremum problems, line and surface integrals, Green's and Stokes's theorems. Emphasis on techniques and applications. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. Joyner (fall and spring)

MATH 22a Linear Algebra and Intermediate Calculus, Part I
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Prerequisite: MATH 22 placement exam and permission of the instructor. Students may take MATH 15a or 22a for credit, but not both.
MATH 22a and b cover linear algebra and calculus of several variables. The material is similar to that of MATH 15a and MATH 20b, but with a more theoretical emphasis and with more attention to proofs. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lian (fall)

MATH 22b Linear Algebra and Intermediate Calculus, Part II
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Prerequisite: MATH 22a or permission of the instructor. Students may take MATH 20a or 22b for credit, but not both.
See MATH 22a for course description. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Ruberman (spring)

MATH 36b Mathematical Statistics
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Prerequisite: MATH 36a or permission of the instructor.
Probability distributions, estimators, hypothesis testing, data analysis. Theorems will be proved and applied to real data. Topics include maximum likelihood estimators, the information inequality, chi-square test, and analysis of variance. Usually offered every year.
Staff

NPHY 115a Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Fractals
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Prerequisites: PHYS 10a or 15a, or instructor's permission for approved equivalents.
Advanced introduction to the theory of nonlinear dynamical systems, bifurcations, chaotic behaviors, and fractal patterns. Concepts and analysis are illustrated by examples from physics, chemistry, and biology. The course will be complemented by a significant number of computer labs. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

NPSY 137b Cognitive Modeling
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Prerequisites: MATH 10b and PSYC 51a or NBIO 136b, or permission of the instructor.
A general introduction to the construction and simulation of mathematical models of human cognitive processes. The major emphasis will be on models of human learning and memory. Students will be expected to have some background in computer programming. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Fiser

PSYC 51a Statistics
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Prerequisite: PSYC 1a or the permission of the instructor. Students must consult with the department one semester before anticipated enrollment. This course normally should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
Covers the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistics. Techniques useful in the behavioral sciences will be emphasized. Students learn the theory of statistical decisions, practical application of statistical software, and how to analyze journal articles. Usually offered every semester.
Mr. DiZio and Mr. Fiser

QBIO 110a Numerical Modeling of Biological Systems
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a and b or equivalent.
Modern scientific computation applied to problems in molecular and cell biology. Covers techniques such as numerical integration of differential equations, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations. Applications range from enzymes and molecular motors to cells. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Hagan

BIOL Cross-Listed in Category 1

BCHM 100a Introductory Biochemistry
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Prerequisite: One year of organic chemistry with laboratory.
Topics include chemistry, reaction, and metabolism of biologically important compounds; formation and utilization of "energy-rich" compounds; introduction to enzyme mechanisms; interrelation and comparison of basic biochemical and chemical processes; and metabolic regulation. Usually offered every year in multiple sections.
Ms. Westover

BCHM 155b Biochemistry Laboratory
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Prerequisite: BCHM 100a must be taken before or concurrently with this course. Required course for the MS in Biotechnology. Course fee: $150. This is an experiential learning course.
Time-intensive laboratory class provides hands-on experience in biochemical techniques, with a focus on proteins. Students engage in skill-building and inquiry-based experiments. Students present research findings in written and oral formats. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Westover

BCHM 172a Cholesterol in Health and Disease
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Prerequisite: BCHM 100a.
Considers cholesterol from the perspectives of biophysics, biochemistry, cell biology and physiology by analyzing primary research literature, historical reviews, and popular literature. Throughout this course, we will learn about the much-maligned molecule cholesterol. Students will give oral presentations. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Westover

CBIO 106b Chemical Biology: Medicinal Enzymology
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Prerequisites: Satisfactory grade in BIOL 22a and BIOL 22b and CHEM 25a and CHEM 25b or the equivalent. BCHM 100 or the equivalent is recommended.
Introduces students to the conceptual framework and experimental methods in medicinal chemistry. Topics include mechanisms of drug-target interactions, strategies for lead optimization and issues in metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Readings drawn from textbooks and the original scientific literature. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Hedstrom

NBIO 123b Population Genetics/Genomics
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a.
Overviews the causes and consequences of genetic differences between and within species. Introduces classical population genetics and modern genomics and explores their application to understanding the genetics of neurological disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Garrity

NBIO 136b Computational Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: MATH 10a or PHYS 10a or approved equivalents.
An introduction to concepts and methods in computer modeling of neural systems. Topics include single and multicompartmental models of neurons, information representation and processing by populations of neurons, synaptic plasticity and models of learning, working memory, decision making and neuroeconomics. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller

NBIO 140b Principles of Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b or permission of the instructor.
Examines the basic principles of neuroscience. Topics include resting potentials, action potentials, synaptic transmission, sensory systems, motor systems, learning, neural circuits underlying behavior, neurological diseases, and mental illness. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Marder

NBIO 143b Developmental Neurobiology
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22a and 22b or permission of the instructor.
Discusses the molecular mechanisms used in the development of the nervous system in both invertebrate and vertebrate experimental systems. Topics include determination of neuronal cell fates, axon growth and guidance, plasticity during development, and mechanisms responsible for generation of connectivity in the nervous system. This course emphasizes reading of original scientific research papers and class discussion and oral presentations. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Paradis

NBIO 145b Systems Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
We are entering an historic period during which many systems-level mysteries of brain function will be solved. This course will attempt to give a perspective on this enterprise. We will begin by defining what it means to understand a brain region, i.e. what criteria must be satisfied. We will then read and discuss key papers that begin to meet these criteria for different brain stuctures, including the cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Lisman

NBIO 146a The Neurobiology of Human Disease
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b.
A lecture- and literature-based overview of the neurobiological underpinnings of neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other developmental and degenerative disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Nelson

NBIO 147a Neurogenetics
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Prerequisites: BIOL 18a and BIOL 22a.
Topics include function of genes, neurons and neuronal circuits in the generation of behavior. The use of genetics and genetic manipulations in the study of behavior will be emphasized. Model organisms to be discussed will include Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish and mammals.Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Sengupta

NBIO 148b Cellular Neuroscience
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Prerequisite: NBIO 140b or permission of the instructor. Graduate students may take this course concurrently with NBIO 140b.
Focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms of excitability and synaptic plasticity. Students examine classic experiments on action potentials and synaptic transmission and the original research literature dealing with the cellular mechanisms of developmental and learning-related plasticity. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Turrigiano

NBIO 150a Autism and Human Developmental Disorders
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Prerequisite: BIOL 22b.
Autism and other developmental disorders are characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits and by subtle changes in brain development. This course takes an integrative approach to investigate the biological, behavioral, medical, and social aspects of human developmental disorders. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Birren

NBIO 157a Project Laboratory in Neurobiology and Behavior
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This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: BIOL 18a,b and 22a,b. Course fee: $150.
Focuses on neurobiology, the study of the function of the nervous system. Importantly, research conducted by students will address unanswered biological questions in this field. This course will focus on temperature sensation and regulation, using the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system. Students will learn: techniques for studying animal behavior in a rigorous lab setting, experimental design and analysis, and the fundamentals of reading and writing scientific research papers. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Vecsey

BIOL Cross-Listed in Category 2

ANTH 116a Human Osteology
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This is an experiential learning course. Anthropology majors have priority for enrollment. Students wishing to enroll during early registration should waitlist themselves.
Skeletal anatomy and application of forensic techniques to archaeological problems. Hands-on laboratory sessions focus on methods of estimating age at the time of death, determining sex, assessing variability, detecting instances of bone remodeling, and identifying cultural and natural modifications to bony tissue. Case studies exemplify bioarchaeological approaches. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Urcid

BCHM 101a Advanced Biochemistry: Enzyme Mechanisms
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Prerequisites: One year of organic chemistry with laboratory and BCHM 100a or equivalents.
Describes the principles of biological catalysts and the chemical logic of metabolic pathways. Discusses representative enzymes from each reaction class, with an emphasis on understanding how mechanisms are derived from experimental evidence. Topics include serine proteases, phosphatases, isomerases, carboxylases, and dehydrogenases. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Oprian

BCHM 102a Quantitative Approaches to Biochemical Systems
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Prerequisite: BCHM 100a or equivalent.
Introduces quantitative approaches to analyzing macromolecular structure and function. Emphasizes the use of basic thermodynamics and single-molecule and ensemble kinetics to elucidate biochemical reaction mechanisms. Also discusses the physical bases of spectroscopic and diffraction methods commonly used in the study of proteins and nucleic acids. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Grigorieff

BCHM 103b Advanced Biochemistry: Cellular Information Transfer Mechanisms
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Prerequisites: One year of organic chemistry with laboratory and BCHM 100a or equivalents.
Addresses fundamental issues of information transfer in biological systems at a molecular level. Topics may include: DNA recombination and replication; transcription (DNA to RNA); processing/maturation of precursor RNA transcripts; and translation (RNA to protein). An emphasis will be placed on through review of the scientific literature, our understanding of the basics of these events in different biological systems, as well as how they are regulated. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BCHM 104a Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules I
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Prerequisites: MATH 10a,b or equivalent, PHYS 11 or 15.
Covers basics of physical chemistry underpinning applications in BCHM 104b. Focus is placed on quantitative treatments of the probabilistic nature of molecular reality: molecular kinetic theory, basic statistical mechanics, and chemical thermodynamics in aqueous solution. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Miller

BCHM 104b Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules II
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Prerequisites: BCHM 104a, CHEM 141a, PHYS 40a or equivalent; and BCHM 100a or equivalent.
Illustrates the basic principles on which biological macromolecules are constructed and by which they function. Describes overall structures of proteins, nucleic acids, and membranes in terms of the underlying molecular forces: electrostatics, hydrophobic interactions, and H-bonding. The energetics of macromolecular folding and of the linkage between ligand binding and conformational changes will also be discussed. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Theobald

BCHM 150a Research for the BS/MS Candidates
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Prerequisites: BIOL 22a and BCHM 100a, one year of organic chemistry and laboratory, and BCHM 99.
BCHM 150a and 150b are the final semester(s) of laboratory research under the BS/MS program, to be pursued under the supervision of the faculty adviser. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BCHM 150b Research for the BS/MS Candidates
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See BCHM 150a for special notes and course description. Usually offered every year.
Staff

BCHM 153b Methods in High-Resolution Electron Cryo-Microscopy
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Transmission electron microscopy is introduced as a method in structural biology. Instrumentation, data collection, image processing, and interpretation of biological structures visualized by this method are discussed. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

BCHM 170b Bioinformatics
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Prerequisites: Familiarity with computing is necessary and a basic biochemistry course is recommended. A joint offering between Brandeis University and Wellesley College.
Familiarizes students with the basic tools of bioinformatics and provides a practical guide to biological sequence analysis. Topics covered include an introduction to probability and statistics; sequence alignments; database searches; alignments and phylogenetic trees; sequence pattern discovery; structure determination by secondary structure prediction; and three-dimensional structure prediction by homology modeling. In all cases, the strengths and limitations of the methods will be discussed. Usually offered every third year.
Ms. Ringe

BCHM 171b Protein X-ray Crystallography
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A practical guide to the determination of three-dimensional structures of proteins and nucleic acids by X-ray diffraction. Students learn the theory behind diffraction from macromolecular crystals and carry out all the calculations necessary to solve a protein structure at high resolution. Usually offered every second year.
Ms. Ringe

CBIO 101a Chemical Biology
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Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 25a/b and Biol 22a/b or the equivalent.
Explores how scientific work in chemistry led to fundamental understanding of and ability to manipulate biological processes. Emphasis is placed on chemical design and synthesis as well as biological evaluation and utility. Content based on scientific literature readings. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Pontrello

CHEM 33a Environmental Chemistry
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Prerequisite: A satisfactory grade (C- or higher) in CHEM 11b or 15b or the equivalent.
The course surveys the important chemical principles and reactions that determine the balance of the molecular species in the environment and how human activity affects this balance. The class evaluates current issues of environmental concern such as ozone depletion, global warming, sustainable energy, toxic chemicals, water pollution, and green chemistry. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Rose

CHEM 141a Thermodynamics and Statistical Thermodynamics
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Prerequisites: Satisfactory grade in CHEM 11a, 15a and CHEM 11b, 15b or the equivalent; MATH 10a,b or the equivalent; PHYS 10a,b, 11a,b or 15a,b or the equivalent. Organic chemistry is also recommended.
Classical and statistical thermodynamics; principles, tools, and applications in chemistry and biology. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Herzfeld

CHEM 142a Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy
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Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade in CHEM 11a,b or 15a,b or the equivalent; MATH 10a,b or the equivalent; PHYS 10a,b, 11a,b, or 15a,b or the equivalent. Organic chemistry is also recommended.
Solutions to the Schrodinger equation of relevance to molecular structure, reactivity and spectroscopy; introduction to quantum mechanical calculations and computational methods. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Agar

CHEM 143b Kinetics, Dynamics, and Transport
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Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade in CHEM 11a, 15a and CHEM 11b, 15b or equivalent; MATH 10a,b or equivalent; PHYS 11a,b or 15a,b or equivalent. Organic chemistry is also recommended.
Macroscopic kinetics: elementary reactions and rate laws. Kinetic study of reaction mechanisms: techniques for kinetic measurements, fast reactions, treatment of kinetic data. Microscopic kinetics: molecular dynamics, transition state theory, reactions in the gas phase and in solution. Catalytic and chain reactions, enzyme kinetics. Nonlinear dynamics: chemical oscillations and waves. Usually offered every fourth year.
Staff

CHEM 147b Advanced Mass Spectrometry Laboratory
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This is an experiential learning course. Prerequisites: A satisfactory grade (C- or better) in CHEM 18b or the equivalent and CHEM 25a or the equivalent, or permission of the instructor. CHEM 25b is also recommended.
Explores the fundamentals and historical significance of mass spectrometry. Students are trained to perform multidimensional liquid chromatography, and operate four different types of mass spectrometers, including MALDI-TOF MS, ESI-IonTrap MS, GC-MS, and ESI/MALDI-Fourier transform MS and gain practical experience in the following mass spectrometry applications: 1) organic and inorganic structure and reaction mechanism elucidation, 2) biological applications, including proteomics, imaging mass spectrometry, and forensics, and 3) environmental/green chemistry. Students will be briefly exposed to the next generation of mass spectrometry applications, including quantum computation and fusion research. In the last third of the course, students are given free reign to design an independent project based upon personal or thesis research interests. One hour lecture and one afternoon of laboratory per week. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Agar

PHYS 105a Biological Physics
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Physical forces in living matter are studied from the perspective offered by statistical mechanics, elasticity theory, and fluid dynamics. Quantitative models for biological structure and function are developed and used to discuss recent experiments in single-molecule biology. Usually offered every second year.
Mr. Kondev

QBIO 120b Quantitative Biology Instrumentation Laboratory
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Focuses on optical and other instruments commonly used in biomedical laboratories to make quantitative measurements in vivo and in vitro. Students disassemble and reconfigure modular instruments in laboratory exercises that critically evaluate instrument reliability and usability and investigate the origins of noise and systematic error in measurements. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Samadani