2008 Fall Term
Biology 237L Systematic Biology
Instructors: Lutzoni and Swofford
Laboratory version of Biology 237. Theory and practice of identification, species discovery, phylogeny reconstruction, classification, and nomenclature. Prerequisite: Biology 25L or equivalent.
Biology 260 Cancer Genetics
Instructor: Bejsovec
Overview of the genetic changes associated with cancer and the molecular events that transform normal cellular processes into tumor-promoting conditions. Topics include: tumor viruses, oncogenes, growth factors, signal transduction pathways, tumor suppressors, cell cycle control, apoptosis, stem cells, and metastasis. Prerequisites: Biology 118 and Biology 117 or 119.
BME 258L/CBB 222 Genome Science Technology Lab
Instructor: Tian
Hands-on experience on using and developing advanced technology platforms for genomics and proteomics research. Experiments may include nucleic acid amplification and quantification, lab-on-chip, bimolecular separation and detection, DNA sequencing, SNP genotyping, microarrays, and synthetic biology techniques. Laboratory exercises and designing projects are combined with lectures and literature reviews. Prior knowledge in molecular biology and biochemistry is required. Instructor consent required.
CBB 241/STA 271 Statistical Genetics
Instructor: Hauser
Mechanisms, probability models and statistical analysis in examples of classical and population genetics, aimed at covering the basic quantitative concepts and tools for biological scientists. This module will serve as a primer in basic statistics for genomics, also involving computing and computation using standard languages.
CBB 220 Genome Tools and Technologies
Instructor: Dietrich
This course introduces the laboratory and computational methodologies for genetic and protein sequencing, mapping and expression measurement.
COMPSCI 160 Intro Computational Genomics
Instructor: Hartemink
A computational perspective on the analysis of genomic and genome-scale information. Focus on exploration and analysis of large genomic sequences, but also attention to issues in structural and functional genomics. Topics include genome sequence assembly, local and global alignment, gene and motif finding, protein threading and folding, and the clustering and classification of genes and tissues using gene expression data. Students to learn computational approaches to genomics as well as to develop practical experience with handling, analyzing, and visualizing information at a genome-scale.
Philosophy 114/Biology 174 Philosophy of Biology
Instructors: Brandon and McShea
An introduction to conceptual and methodological issues raised in contemporary biology, including teleology, reductions, the units of selection, and the structure of evolutionary theory. Prerequisites: Biology 25.
Philosophy 118 Issues in Medical Ethics
Instructor: Park
Ethical issues arising in connection with medical practice and research and medical technology. Definition of health and illness; experimentation and consent; genetic counseling and biological engineering; abortion, contraception, and sterilization; death and dying; codes of professional conduct; and the allocation of scarce medical resources. Prerequisite: for freshmen, previous philosophy course and consent of instructor.
Philosophy 142 Problems in Phil Science
Instructor: Sterrett
The principal philosophical problems of scientific practice. Explanation, confirmation, instrumentalist and realist conceptions of scientific theory. Laws and indeterminism in modern science.