Biology

Graduate Courses In Biology

The following courses are offered to graduate students at the School of Biology. Note that although courses are grouped by areas of study, each student can take courses from different areas. After the title of the class are given the number of class hours/week, the number of lab hours/week, and the number of credit hours earned for the completed course.

Graduate Courses in Bioinformatics

BIOL 7023: Bioinformatics , 3-0-3; Introduction into mathematical, statistical, and computer methods of nucleic acid and protein sequence analysis and interpretation. Algorithms for gene finding, protein structure and function prediction, and constructing phylogenetic trees. Pre-requisites: MATH 3215 or MATH 3225

Graduate Courses in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior

BIOL 6221 : Biological Oceanography , 3-0-3;An introduction to the major biological processes in the ocean, including primary production, elemental cycling, food webs, and fisheries.

BIOL 6417 : Marine Ecology, 3-0-3; Marine Ecology An overview of the ecological and evolutionary patterns, processes, and mechanisms affecting the organization, structure, and function of a broad variety of marine communities.

BIOL 6600: Evolution , 3-0-3; Basic evolutionary biology including adaptation and evolution, evolution of species and higher taxa, molecular evolution, evolution of developmental systems, life-history traits, and sexual reproduction.

BIOL 6620: Aquatic Chemical Ecology , 3-0-3; The course focuses on understanding the chemical mechanisms of aquatic chemical signaling and the cascading effects on population regulation, community organization, and ecosystem function.

BIOL 6626: Physiological Ecology , 3-0-3; Study of the basic physiological processes and systems in vertebrates and invertebrates. Comparative study on how these systems are adapted for specific environments and functions. Pre-requisites: BIOL 4010

BIOL 6628: Aquatic Toxicology , 3-0-3; Study of the biological effects of toxicants on aquatic organisms-mechanisms of toxicity, biotransformation, toxicity tests, ecological risk assessment. Pre-requisites: BIOL 4010

BIOL 6630: Advanced Microbial Ecology , 3-0-3; Advanced studies of selected aspects of the ecology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Pre-requisites: BIOL 4010

BIOL 6756: Discovery of Signaling Molecules , 3-0-3; The diversity of chemical signals between organisms and their structural specificities will be presented along with chemical and biological methods for isolating signaling molecules. Crosslisted with CEE 6756 and CHEM 6756.

BIOL 6765: Geomicrobiology , 3-0-3; Interactions between microorganisms and the geosphere, microbial energetics and genetics; geochemical controls on microbial diversity and activity. Crosslisted with EAS 6765. Pre-requisites: EAS 3311 and (BIOL 4410 or BIOL 4418)

BIOL 7101: Advanced Sensory Ecology , 3-0-3; A quantitative analysis of how organisms of all kinds obtain information about their environment, and how they use it to guide locomotions.

Graduate Courses in Molecular and Cell Biology

BIOL 6570: Graduate Immunology , 4-0-4; A survey of modern immunology and its applications, with emphasis on immunological methods used in molecular and cell biological research.

BIOL 6608: Prokaryotic Molecular Genetics , 3-0-3; Genetics of bacteria, plasmids, and viruses. Organization and regulation of expression of genetic material, with emphasis on techniques and current mechanisms of nucleic acid metabolism. Pre-requisites: BIOL 2334

BIOL 6611: Advanced Microbial Physiology , 3-0-3; Advanced studies of selected aspects of the physiology of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic microorganisms. Pre-requisites: BIOL 4418 and CHEM 4511

BIOL 6612: Advanced Bacterial Metabolism , 3-0-3; A study of microbial chemistry with emphasis on catabolic events. Pre-requisites: BIOL 6611

BIOL 7001: Foundations in Molecular and Cell Biology, 4-0-4; Goal of this course is to provide new students with fundamental knowledge in the general areas of Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Structural Biology, and Bioinformatics.

BIOL 7010: Advanced Cell Biology , 3-0-3; Current topics in eukaryotic cell biology including membrane functions, intracellular sorting and compartmentalization, cell signaling, cell cycle, cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, motility, and current experimental approaches. Pre-requisites: BIOL 3331

BIOL 7668: Eukaryotic Molecular Genetics , 3-0-3; Topics in molecular genetics of eukaryotic organisms, including: gene structure and expression, protein processing and folding, genome stability and molecular evolution.

BIOL 7670: Advances in Biomolecular Separation Techniques , 3-0-3; Introduction to modern biomolecular separation methods. Topics include theory of chromatography, discussion of chromatography and electrophoretic techniques for protein, nucleic acid separations and other biological substances.

Seminar and Special Topic Courses

BIOL 7913: Advances in Microbiology , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in microbial physiology, applied microbiology, microbial ecology, and medical microbiology.

BIOL 7914: Advances in Bacteriology , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in the physiology and ecology of bacteria and applications to practical problems.

BIOL 7923: Advances in Ecology , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in the general areas of population growth and limitation, and the structure and stability of ecosystems.

BIOL 7924: Advances in Environmental Biology , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in environmental biology.

BIOL 7963: Advances in Molecular Biology , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in the area of molecular biology.

BIOL 7964: Advances in Genetics , 2-0-2; Topics of current interest in the area of genetics

BIOL 8000: Integrative Biology Seminar , 2-0-2; A reading and discussion course structured around the School of Biology weekly seminar .

BIOL 8001: Seminar , 2-0-2; Presentation on thesis research progress.

BIOL 8006: Integrative approaches to biological systems , 2-0-2; The course will investigate, using examples from the literature and faculty research, the general principles of biological systems, from gene expression circuits to ecological communities.

BIOL 8106: Tools of Science Seminar , 2-0-2; This course addresses issues important to all successful scientists and engineers such as: research ethics, collaborations between industry, academics, and government, women and minorities in science, balancing research, teaching, and service, writing, editing, reviewing, presentations, job interviews, time management, speaking to the public and media, and scientific and university politics.

BIOL 8801-8805: Special Topics ; New graduate lecture courses in areas of current interest. Examples include:

•  Introductory Neuroscience , 3-0-3; An introduction into neurobiology, from the cell and molecular biology of neurons to higher order functions such as memory and the control of movement.

•  Molecular Membrane Neurophysiology , 3-0-3; The physiology of excitable membranes and non-excitable membranes, and some of the methods used to study these concepts at the cellular and molecular level. 

•  Macromolecular Modeling , 4-1-3;   Introduction to the principles and practices of macromolecular modeling, using standard computer programs for molecular graphics and molecular mechanics.  

•  Molecular Evolution , 3-0-3.

Laboratory and Research Courses

BIOL 6180 : Organisms in Flows Lab , 0-3-1; Laboratory provides students with hands-on experimental demonstrations of the basic principles of environmental fluid mechnaics regarding chemical and hydrodynamic signals produced and sensed by organisms. Co-requisites: BIOL 7101

BIOL 6621 : Aquatic Chemical Ecology Lab , 0-3-1; Laboratory approaches to testing hypotheses of aquatic chemical ecology will be applied to theory and methods from Aquatic Chemical Ecology (BIOL 6620) and Discovery of Signaling Molecules (BIOL/CEE/CHEM 6756). Co-requisites: BIOL 6620, BIOL 6756

BIOL 6623: Exper-Aquatic Signaling , 2-12-6; A full-time commitment to student originated , but faculty guided, interdisciplinary research in aquatic chemical signaling using field, lab, and flume facilities at Skidaway Institute of Oceanography on the coast.

BIOL 7000: Master's Thesis ,1-0-1 to 21-0-21.

BIOL 8901-8902: Special Problems , 1-0-1 to 21-0-21; Research in biology under the supervision of a faculty member.

BIOL 8997: Teaching Assistantship , 1-0-1 to 9-0-9; For graduate students holding a teaching assistantship.

BIOL 8998: Research Assistantship , 1-0-1 to 9-0-9; For graduate students holding research assistantships.

Graduate students can also take a limited number of senior undergraduate courses at 4XXX level. Examples of these courses include (refer to Undergraduate Courses for more information):

BIOL 4010: Aquatic Ecology , 3-0-3; Physics, chemistry, and ecology of aquatic communities, and ecosystems. Physical, chemical and biological investigations of lakes, streams, and estuaries. Pre-requisites: BIOL 2335

BIOL 4340: Medical Microbiology , 3-0-3; Advanced study of bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses that cause human diseases; emphasis on epidemiology, mechanisms of disease causation, prevention and treatment. Pre-requisites: BIOL 3310

BIOL 4410: Microbial Ecology , 3-0-3; Advanced studies of microbial ecosystems, the specific roles of bacteria in maintaining ecological balance, and the evolution of the ecosystem in response to changing environments. Pre-requisites: BIOL 2335 and BIOL 3310

BIOL 4440: Plant Physiology , 3-0-3;. Chemical transformation in photosynthesis, photophysiology and water relationships, organic nutrition and effects of hormones on growth and development of plants. Pre-requisites: BIOL 3331 and CHEM 2312

BIOL 4446: Animal Physiology , 3-0-3; Systems physiology including nerves, muscles, kidney, digestion, circulation, endocrinology, reproduction, and respiration. Pre-requisites: BIOL 3331

BIOL 4464: Developmental Biology , 3-0-3; Investigations of cell differentiation and development, using the tools of molecular genetics and cell biology. Pre-requisites: BIOL 2334

BIOL 4471: Behavioral Biology , 3-0-3; An introduction to the study of the principles of behavior of all kinds of organisms, from microbes to mammals. Pre-requisites: BIOL 1510 and (MATH 1502 or MATH 1512) or (MATH 15X2 and MATH 1522) and PHYS 2212

BIOL 4478: Biophysics , 3-0-3; Biophysical aspects of nucleic acids, proteins and their interactions. Pre-requisites: BIOL 1510 and PHYS 2212

BIOL 4755: Mathematical Biology , 3-0-3; An introduction to practical applications of mathematical models to help unravel the underlying mechanisms involved in biological processes. Crosslisted with MATH 4755. Pre-requisites: BIOL 3332 and CS1321 and (MATH 1502 or MATH 1512) or (MATH 15X2 and MATH 1522)