Biology

• CAS BI 539: Coral Reef Dynamics: Shallow Waters, Deep Time
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: enrollment in the Marine Semester. - Tropical reefs-- diverse, complex, and ancient-- exhibit lawful cycles of growth, degradation, and regeneration. Explore these through observations on the Belize Barrier Reef in fossil reef environments and through laboratory experiments. Insights are applied to reef conservation in today's changing world. Also offered as CAS EE 539.
• CAS BI 541: Coral Reef Resilience and Restoration
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: enrollment in the BU Marine Semester and junior or senior standing. - Caribbean coral reefs have fallen into ruin. Students develop methods to restore reef health by applying genomics, life history theory, landscape ecology and climatology. This course includes field work in Belize.
• CAS BI 542: Neuroethology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 325 or CASNE 203 or consent of instructor. - An in-depth study of the neural mechanisms underlying natural behaviors in animals, integrating perspectives from behavioral ecology and neurobiology. Emphasizes behaviors central to fitness, including sensory and motor bases of prey detection, predator avoidance, communication, courtship, navigation, and migration. Covers non-model organisms (e.g., honey bees, owls, bats, and crickets). Lectures are integrated with student-led discussions of relevant research papers. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Scientific Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 546: Marine Megafaunal Ecology: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Surrounding Waters
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 260 and CASMA 213 or consent of instructor; enrollment in the BU Marine Semester. - Marine macrofauna, from macrobenthos to whales, seals, seabirds, sharks, bony fishes, turtles, jellies, and humans in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Sail aboard research vessel "Auk" and become a participant in SBNMS research to understand life in the Gulf of Maine. Apply data collected to marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. Student research helps to invent the science of coupled human and natural systems, mines ecosystem insights for Sanctuary operations, and guides deployment of the new kid on the block: offshore renewable energy.
• CAS BI 548: Marine Microbial Ecology: Exploring Marine Microbes through Microscopy
  Microorganisms are the most abundant form of life in the ocean. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a critical tool that uses sequencing to develop a deeper sense of specific microbe roles in an ecosystem. This project-based course weaves together scientific background, analytical tools, and data processing and analysis. Students gain insight into the complexity and importance of marine microbial communities. With lab-based FISH projects, students design and conduct an adaptive set of experiments. Through computational data analysis, students turn raw data into usable results.
• CAS BI 550: Marine Genomics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASBI 108 or equivalent. - Covers the evolution of genomes, the architecture of gene networks, and the connection between genotype and phenotype in marine organisms, as well as the technical development of modern genomics. Student research projects utilize modern genomics experimental approaches. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Teamwork/Collaboration.
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  • Teamwork/Collaboration
• CAS BI 551: Biology of Stem Cells
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 OR CASBI206) , or consent of instructor. - Views on stem cell research range from assumptions of a potential cure for most diseases to fears that it will depreciate the value of human life. This course equips students with the science that underlies this discussion, including the biological properties of stem cells and the experimental hurdles to utilization in regenerative medicine.
• CAS BI 552: Molecular Biology 1
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 or CASBI213) and (CASBI206 or CASBI216). - Synthesis, structure, function, regulation of macromolecules (DNA, RNA, protein). Prokaryotic and eukaryotic molecular biology. Topics include: replication, repair, recombination, transcription, translation, 5-methylcytosine, transcription factors, DNA looping (enhancer- promoter, insulator, etc.), histone modification/chromatin remodeling, non-coding RNA. Discussion of genetic and recombinant DNA techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9.
• CAS BI 553: Molecular Biology 2
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI552) (CAS BI/CH 421/422 recommended.) - This course focuses on eukaryotic gene regulation. Course topics include genome organization and DNA rearrangement, RNA interference and noncoding RNAs, gene editing, mouse transgenic approaches, signal transduction pathways, chromatin structure, and cell cycle. Research articles will be discussed.
• CAS BI 556: Drug Discovery in Neuroscience
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASNE 102 (or BI 108), CH 102, and NE/PS 333. - The process of drug discovery is complex especially when a drug is intended to treat a neurological disease. This discussion-heavy course examines the specific challenges of modern neuroscience drug discovery, including: target selection, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, modeling of disease states within the context of the drivers and limitations of the Drug Discovery Industry. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 558: Coastal Biogeochemistry
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASCH101 & CASCH102 & CASES144) or equivalents, and admission to the Marine Semester. - Examines coastal energy flow and nutrient cycling in the context of human impacts. Links between local and global scales are emphasized. Course is part of the Marine Semester and involves field and laboratory work. Also offered as CAS ES 558. Effective Fall 2019, this course is part of a Hub sequence.
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  • Part of a Hub sequence
• CAS BI 559: Quantitative Microbiology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI108 & CASMA121 & CASPY105) or equivalents; or consent of instructor. - Covers mathematical models used to describe bacterial behaviors and phenomena including growth, multispecies interactions, motility, and cell differentiation. Includes an introduction to python (no programming experience needed). Techniques/approaches learned are applicable to any area of the life sciences.
• CAS BI 560: Systems Biology
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI552) or consent of the instructor. - Examines critical components of systems biology, including design principles of biological systems (e.g., feedback, synergy, cooperativity), and the generation and analysis of large-scale datasets (e.g., protein- protein interaction, mRNA expression).
• CAS BI 561: Proteostasis in the Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASNE 102 or CASBI 108. CASBI 203 or CASBI 213 are recommended. - A hands-on class focusing on the mechanisms that control protein homeostasis, and on the approaches that we can use to study how it may change in conditions associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The class mimics, as much as possible, a real research environment, as students carry out experiments throughout the semester, learn how to develop and test new hypotheses, and also share knowledge through weekly readings and presentation of research articles inherent to the topics of the class. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Creativity/Innovation, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Creativity/Innovation
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 562: Tropical Seagrasses: Ecology and Conservation
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: admittance to the BU Marine Semester. - This field course focuses on tropical seagrasses located in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve Belize. Lecture topics include seagrass biology, ecology and conservation. Students gain proficiency in research and field assessment methods and carry out a group research project.
• CAS BI 565: Functional Genomics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI552) or consent of instructor. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120) - Graduate Prerequisites: background in molecular biology. - This paper- and problem-based course focuses on functional genomics topics such as genetic variation, genome organization, and mechanisms of transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation. Up-to-date methods include NGS, genome editing, ChIP-seq, chromatin accessibility assays, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Critical Thinking.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS BI 566: DNA Dynamics in Disease
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI206 OR CASBI216) or consent of instructor. - What goes wrong to cause disease? In this course we examine diseases caused by problems in basic cellular processes including mitosis, meiosis, and DNA repair. We focus on past and current research that has led to the understanding of the mechanisms contributing to disease. Content is delivered through active, engaging lectures where you analyze data from past and current research papers, and think critically to answer questions. Paper discussion days include an in- depth analysis of one primary literature article that is central to the field. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Scientific Inquiry II, Critical Thinking, Research and Information Literacy.
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  • Critical Thinking
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Scientific Inquiry II
• CAS BI 569: Tropical Marine Invertebrates
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI107 & CASBI260) and enrollment in the Marine Semester. - Explores the diversity of marine invertebrates, including body plans, feeding biology, reproductive strategies, and developmental programs. Field biodiversity surveys and behavioral studies in shallow water tropical marine environments, especially seagrass beds and mangrove.
• CAS BI 572: Advanced Genetics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI206 & CASBI203) CAS BI 552 is recommended. - An in-depth study of eukaryotic genetics, ranging from the history and basic principles to current topics and modern experimental approaches. Genetics of Drosophila, C. elegans, mice, and humans are explored in detail, including readings from primary literature. Three hours lecture, one hour discussion. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning.
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  • Ethical Reasoning
  • Oral and/or Signed Communication
• CAS BI 576: Carcinogenesis
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASBI203 & CASBI206 & CASBI552) - Covers multiple aspects of cancer biology with a focus on molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development and progression, and the implications for therapy. Topics include oncogenes, tumor suppressors, apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, mouse models, and chemotherapy. Emphasis on current research. Students may not receive credit for more than one of the following courses: CAS BI 327, CAS BI 576, and GMS BT 520.