Biological Sciences

BIOL 50000 - Introductory Module: Protein Expression - Session Offered: Fall

Biology 50000 modules are project-oriented courses designed to give the student exposure to laboratory research through a series of five-week modules. During this five-week introductory module, the students will learn the basics of expression, characterization and purification of recombinant proteins in E. coli using SDS-PAGE, Western blot and affinity purification. In the first half of the course, students work initially with a known recombinant DNA construct to learn the essential lab skills. In the second half of the course, students will finish a final project with an unknown construct to identify and purify the protein expressed.

BIOL 50000 - Animal Physiology - Session Offered: Spring

This module involves measurements of respiratory, cardiovascular and renal function.  When appropriate, measurements are made in both rats and humans.

BIOL 50000 - Introductory Module: Protein Expression - Session Offered: Spring

Biology 50000 modules are project-oriented courses designed to give the student exposure to laboratory research through a series of five-week modules. During this five-week introductory module, the students will learn the basics of expression, characterization and purification of recombinant proteins in E. coli using SDS-PAGE, Western blot and affinity purification. In the first half of the course, students work initially with a known recombinant DNA construct to learn the essential lab skills. In the second half of the course, students will finish a final project with an unknown construct to identify and purify the protein expressed.

BIOL 50000 - Introductory Module: Protein Expression - Session Offered: Summer May 18-Jun 17

Biology 50000 modules are project-oriented courses designed to give the student exposure to laboratory research through a series of five-week modules. During this five-week introductory module, the students will learn the basics of expression, characterization and purification of recombinant proteins in E. coli using SDS-PAGE, Western blot and affinity purification. In the first half of the course, students work initially with a known recombinant DNA construct to learn the essential lab skills. In the second half of the course, students will finish a final project with an unknown construct to identify and purify the protein expressed.

BIOL 51100 - Introduction to X-Ray Crystallography - Session Offered: Spring

Analysis of crystal structures by X-ray diffraction methods.  Growth and properties of protein crystals.  Geometry of diffraction.  Measurement of diffraction.  Intensity of diffracted waves.  Symmetry of crystals.  The phase problem.  Isomorphous replacement.  Molecular replacement.  Anomalous diffraction methods.  Structure refinement and analysis.  Crystallography is a primary method for the determination of the structures of biological macromolecules at near atomic resolution.  As such it has a tremendous impact on aspects of biological and biochemical research as diverse as the protein folding problem, the regulation of gene expression, signal transduction, the catalytic functions of enzymes, and the design of therapeutic agents to bind to known receptors.

BIOL 51100 is an introduction to the use of crystallography to determine the structures of biological macromolecules and is designed for students with typical backgrounds in biology or chemistry.  The goal is to familiarize students with all aspects of crystallography that are usually encountered in the course of the analysis of a crystal structure, including crystallization methods, aspects of symmetry, diffraction experiments, solving and refining the structure, and building and interpreting a model.  Students who have completed BIOL 51100 should possess sufficient knowledge of crystallography to understand and evaluate the technical aspects of structure determinations reported in the general or biochemical literature.  The course also provides a base for research in crystallography and is recommended as preparation for the advanced crystallography course, BIOL 61100, which is designed for graduate students involved in research in crystallography or related areas of physical biochemistry. 

BIOL 51600 - Molecular Biology of Cancer - Session Offered: Spring

The course begins with a review of the current research techniques used to examine the biology of eukaryotic cells and then covers seminal discoveries in the areas of cell cycle regulation, DNA, and RNA tumor virology, growth factors and their receptors, signal transduction and oncogenes.  For all topics, an emphasis is placed on the molecular mechanisms governing growth regulation and how alterations in these mechanisms can give rise to disease states such as cancer.  Reading of both historical and current primary literature is required as a supplement to a course textbook.

This course is designed primarily for students interested in professional careers in which a knowledge of molecular biology, as it pertains to growth control and human cancer, would be useful.  There are three scheduled guest lecturers, each of whom presents a seminar on a current cancer research topic in their laboratory.

BIOL 51700 - Molecular Biology: Proteins - Session Offered: Spring

The principles of protein three-dimensional structure are examined.  The course is divided into "theoretical" and "application" sections.  In the theoretical section, general principles of protein structure are discussed in detail.  In the application section, the structural principles learned in the first part of the course are applied to particular protein systems.  Topics covered in the theoretical section of the course include:  covalent structure of proteins; protein secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure; physical forces influencing protein structure; protein surface areas and internal packing; internal motion in protein molecules; protein folding; comparison of protein primary and prediction of tertiary structures; and structural features of integral membrane proteins.

Students use computer graphics to visualize the principles of protein architecture that are described in class, to take quizzes, and to do homework assignments.

BIOL 52900 - Bacterial Physiology - Session Offered: Spring

A detailed consideration of several of the following topics from the primary literature:  function and regulation of central metabolic routes; mechanisms controlling intercellular signaling and differentiation; transport and secretion; specialized metabolism, including photosynthesis, methanogenesis and microbial alternative energy production; evolution and interaction of regulatory systems. 

The course emphasizes metabolic features that are common for all bacteria or for large groups of organisms and is intended for students in many different departments who need an understanding of bacterial physiology.  A major section of the course revolves around genomics and high-throughput techniques such as transcriptomics, proteomics and next-generation sequencing.  As part of this section, students are taught how to use free, web-based computer software that is available for finding and analyzing such information.

BIOL 53300 - Medical Microbiology - Session Offered: Fall

We will first give a brief description of the immune system and its roles in fighting against infection followed by criteria used to determine whether a microorganism is responsible for a disease. We will then discuss pathogenic mechanisms of several groups of important infectious agents, including transmission, route of infection and means to avoid the detection by the immune system. Treatment of infectious disease and the current challenges in this aspect will also be covered. We will also discuss strategies and methods used to study bacterial pathogenesis. Finally, we will briefly describe bioterrorism and biodefense. All topics will be discussed along with reading assignments of relevant up-to-date research articles.

BIOL 53700 - Immunobiology - Session Offered: Spring

BIOL 53700 is an introductory course intended for graduate and senior undergraduate students interested to learn why we don't die from a common cold and why you can't always give a kidney to your best friend.  This course will define the role of the immune system in fighting infection, its potential to prevent cancer, and describe how through the use vaccines people can avoid these illnesses.  We will also discuss the other side of the immune system, the one causing problems, such as autoimmunity, allergy, and transplant rejection.

BIOL 53800 - Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology - Session Offered: Spring

From Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease to stroke and neurotrauma, neurological disease and injury present some of the most debilitating and intractable medical problems.  Recent progress in molecular neuroscience has begun to reveal the mechanisms of several human neurological diseases and to suggest potential therapies.  Biology 538 explores topics in basic cellular, molecular and developmental neuroscience and their connections to neural disease and injury.  Readings are derived from the current literature.

BIOL 54100 - Molecular Genetics of Bacteria - Session Offered: Fall

Advanced bacterial genetics, with emphasis on the use of genetics as a powerful and creative intellectual activity that enables us to discover biological functions and to construct new organisms by the manipulation of DNA. Major topics include mutations, genetic selections, recombination, regulatory mechanisms, genomic evolution.

BIOL 54200 - Microbial Pathogenesis - Session Offered: Spring

Successful infection by a pathogen often is mediated by the targeting of host cellular processes by virulence proteins.  The identification of host pathways modulated by the pathogen is critical in the study of the pathogenic mechanisms, thus the design of any therapeutic intervention.

One of the methods to identify these pathways is the use of yeast two-hybrid system.  In this lab module, you will learn the principles of this powerful and widely used method.  The experiments will allow you to understand the rationales of the procedures and to obtain hands-on experience in the screening process.

BIOL 54200 - Animal Cell Culture - Session Offered: Fall

In this five-week module, students will gain experience in the basic principles of mammalian cell culture and gene transfer technologies.  This is an alternate year course, offered in odd numbered years.

BIOL 54200 - Introduction to DNA Sequences - Session Offered: Fall

A survey of the major web databases for accessing DNA sequences and genomes. How to search sequences, how to make alignments, and other very basic bioinformatics.

BIOL 54200 - Bacterial Genetics Laboratory - Session Offered: Fall

Course will provide an introduction to state-of-the art bacterial molecular genetics using the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli as a model cell.

BIOL 54200 - Introduction to LabView - Session Offered: Fall

Biological Science students only except by permission of instructor. Course Content: Introduction to Programming in LabVIEW. Use of LabVIEW in data acquisition, simulation, and control.

BIOL 54200 - Lab in Neurophysiology - Session Offered: Fall

In this five-week module, students will study laboratory methods in electrophysiology by focusing on membrane potential, action potentials and their propagation, and neuromuscular transmission. Students will be introduced to the theory and use of amplifiers, electrodes, data collection and analysis.

BIOL 54200 - Exploration of Protein Structure - Session Offered: Fall

This module is a hands-on exploration of the principles of enzyme structure. Students will use computers to retrieve and inspect protein structures from publicly available databases. Through the performance and analysis of sequence and structural alignments, students will explore the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary structures and the final active form of a protein.

BIOL 54200 - DNA Sequencing Lab - Session Offered: Fall

In this lab module pairs of students prepare, run, and detect DNA sequencing ladders on miniaturized fast-running sequencing gels. Sequencing reactions are prepared from single-stranded and double-stranded DNA templates. The theory of DNA sequencing is taught, and experience is gained in manually reading the sequence from the sequencing ladders consisting of A,T,G and C lanes. Students learn how to connect to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and do BLAST sequence comparisons of the sequences that they read with DNA sequences in the national database GenBank.

BIOL 54200 - Laboratory in Anatomy and Physiology - Session Offered: Spring

This module will study various organs, and also discuss diseases associated with it.  The heart, brain, kidney, stomach, liver etc. will be studied in detail using histology, dissection, and instrumentation. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving using various case studies. The students will be required to give a presentation.

BIOL 54200 - Microscopy and Cell Biology - Session Offered: Spring

In this five-week module, students will learn how to prepare specimens for viewing by fluorescence microscopy.  Specimens include mammalian tissue culture cells and zebrafish embryos.  The emphasis will be on the staining of the cytoskeleton in these preparations, utilizing antibodies and fluorescent probes.  The specimens will be viewed by wide-field and confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy.  Images will be acquired, processed and analyzed by modern computational methods.  Students will learn the basics of cell culture, immunocytochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, digital image processing and data analysis. At the end of the course, students prepare a PowerPoint presentation of their images and data.

BIOL 54200 - Chromatin Structure - Session Offered: Spring

This five-week project will include the preparation and analysis of animal cell nuclei, the analysis of chromatin structure using nucleases, and the analysis of nuclear proteins by gel electrophoresis.  Differences between the chromatin structure of an active and an inactive gene will be examined using Southern blotting.

BIOL 54200 - Intro to LabView - Session Offered: Spring

Biological Science students only except by permission of instructor. Course Content: Introduction to Programming in LabVIEW. Use of LabVIEW in data acquisition, simulation, and control.

BIOL 54200 - Exploration of Protein Structure - Session Offered: Spring

This module is a hands-on exploration of the principles of enzyme structure. Students will use computers to retrieve and inspect protein structures from publicly available databases. Through the performance and analysis of sequence and structural alignments, students will explore the relationship between primary, secondary and tertiary structures and the final active form of a protein.

BIOL 54900 - Microbial Ecology - Session Offered: Spring

The course will cover a small number of topics in which there has been extensive recent research and emphasizes the physiological responses made by microorganisms to their environment.  The topics include the adaptations made to nutrient limitation and starvation, microbial utilization of xenobiotic compounds, techniques to measure microbial activities in natural environments, metabolic interactions between microbes and other organisms, and the interdependence of microbial, physical, and chemical factors in aquatic ecosystems. Bacteriophage and their role in the environment will also be addressed.  Reading assignments will be made from review articles and primary research articles relevant to the topics.  There will be several class projects that will use molecular methods for evaluating bacterial community structure and the use of bioluminescent organisms for in situ monitoring of microbial physiology and nutrient bioavailability.

BIOL 55000 - Plant Molecular Biology - Session Offered: Spring

This is a survey of plant molecular biology. The course includes discussion of nuclear DNA organization and expression, chloroplast and mitochondrial molecular biology, and a discussion of plant transposons, viruses and tumors. An emphasis is placed on using transgeneic plants as research tools.

BIOL 55900 - Endocrinology - Session Offered: Fall

This course is an investigation into the role of hormones in regulating physiological and biochemical processes. An experimental approach to a variety of topics is emphasized. Topics include: hormone structure and mechanism of action and the role of hormones in regulating homeostasis, growth, development, and reproduction.

BIOL 56200 - Neural Systems - Session Offered: Spring

This course will focus on questions regarding how the functions of the individual cellular components of the nervous system are integrated in the brain and nervous system to produce behavior and higher mental functions.  The course will address the structure and function of specific neural systems such as the motor systems, somatosensory systems, visual and auditory systems, learning and memory, and higher cortical function.  It will draw extensively on subject matter concerning the molecular and cellular biology of the nervous system presented in BIOL 43600, Neurobiology, while combining and integrating this material with the relevant neuroanatomy.

BIOL 57300 - Molecular Biology of Animal Cells - Session Offered: Fall

This course covers techniques and recent and current advances in the molecular biology of animal cells. The organization of the genome, human genetic disease, chromosome structure, and control of gene expression are emphasized.

BIOL 58000 - Evolution - Session Offered: Spring

The course explores evolution as a basic concept of the biological sciences and examines current methods of experimentation within the area, as well as evidences for and possible mechanisms of evolutionary change.

BIOL 58500 - Ecology - Session Offered: Fall

BIOL 58500 is a general course in population and community ecology, designed to build on the coverage of these topics provided in BIOL 12100. Beginning with a review of natural selection, topics include physiological, behavioral, and life history adaptations of animals and plants. "Life tables" provide a bridge to population dynamics: how do intra- and inter-specific competition, predation and parasitism influence population growth and limitation? In turn, how do these processes determine which and how many species can coexist? The final part of the course focuses on the determinants and consequences of biotic diversity.

Emphasis is on basic principles, but the applied consequences are not far in the background: how do life history characteristics influence species\' vulnerability to hunting or habitat loss? How can humans act as "prudent predators" to harvest, but not eliminate, biotic resources? What are the consequences of disturbance and habitat loss for species diversity? What difference does it make to the rest of the community if species are lost?

BIOL 59200 - Evolution of Behavior - Session Offered: Spring

BIOL 59200 treats animal behaviors as adaptations, driven by natural selection.  Most of the course therefore deals with the behavior, and especially the social behavior, of animals in natural settings, a field generally termed "behavioral ecology".  We spend the first few weeks reviewing mechanisms of evolution, discussing the assumption that differences in behavior can reflect differences in genes.  We then move on to discuss some examples of specialized behavioral machinery:  "escape" circuitry in invertebrates, directional hearing mechanisms in owls, echolocation by bats, electric communication by fish, specialized learning capabilities required for animal communication and orientation.  Animal communication provides the bridge to social behavior.  Topics covered in the second half of the course include territorial defense, group living, animal conflict, mating systems, social cooperation and altruism, and the processes that might lead to those behaviors.  Examples emphasize birds and mammals but are  broadly chosen to represent unfamiliar, as well as familiar, taxonomic groups.  In the final lecture, we discuss the implications of these ideas for our own behavior.

Two field exercises in observing animal behavior are required.  We attempt to familiarize students with current field research projects by Purdue faculty and graduate students; some students use this course as a springboard to participate in such projects.

BIOL 59500 - Developmental Biology - Session Offered: Fall

Principles of development will be studied in a lecture format course.  Emphasis will be on a pattern formation in model systems, such as Drosophila embryogenesis, vertebrate nervous system, and vertebrate limbs.  A strong background in cell and molecular biology is recommended.

BIOL 59500 - Teaching Evolution: Online Course for Teachers - Session Offered: Fall

This online course will help students deepen their understanding of evolutionary concepts, develop instructional strategies, and address obstacles in the teaching of evolution. Students who successfully complete this course will know: (1) The nature of scientific processes, (2) The value and limitations of scientific process, (3) The scientist's use of terms such as fact, law, theory, and hypothesis,   (4) How multiple forms of evidence are used to test theories, (5) Applications of scientific processes in different situations, and (6) Understand how and why evolution is a cornerstone of biology. The students will (a) Explore teaching methodologies, and address obstacles to teaching evolution (b) Examine how student misconceptions about evolution can be raised and addressed, (c) Understand how assessment strategies are integrated into inquiry-based science lessons, (d) Examine how questions facilitate diverse student thinking about and discussion of science, (e) Identify what it takes to develop a respectful, productive science learning environment, and (f) Understand legal and professional support for teaching evolution.  Four writing assignments, weekly online discussions, weekly quizzes, frequent online peer reviews, collaborative design of a teaching unit, and a final exam are required.

BIOL 59500 - Methods & Measurements in Physical Biochemistry - Session Offered: Fall

This course is intended as an introduction to physical methods in biochemistry and aims to provide an understanding of the techniques of spectroscopy, diffraction, magnetic resonance and other physical methods.  The purpose of the course is to expose students to the application of these techniques to specific problems in biological systems, the interpretation of the resulting data, and analysis of the strengths and limitations of each technique.  Examples from research articles will be discussed that illustrate how these methods are used in modern biochemistry.  Given the scope of the course, each topic will be treated only at the level of an introduction to the method.  Students interested in studying these techniques in-depth could then take more specialized or advanced courses such as BIOL 511 (x-ray crystallography), CHEM 631 (Magnetic resonance spectroscopy), BIOL 595R/S (Electron microscopy of macromolecules), or other special topics courses to be offered by the faculty.

Analysis of techniques used in physical measurements of biological systems.  Application of these techniques to studies of structure and dynamic behavior of biological macromolecules, composition and orientation of structural elements and cofactors, ligand binding and conformational change in biological interactions and detailed probes of local changes in structure, solvent accessibility and specific bonds formed in biological reactions.  Specific techniques to be covered are:  UV/Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, IR and Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence, neutron diffraction, light scattering, scattering from ordered materials, x-ray crystallography, NMR and ESR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, mass spectroscopy.  Comments:  Although designed for students in biochemistry and biophysics, this course is also appropriate for upper level undergraduates and graduate students in the areas of chemistry and physics who are interested in the applications of physical methods to biological problems.

BIOL 59500 - Physiology BioDesign Laboratory - Session Offered: Fall

This physiology laboratory course will provide an opportunity for undergraduates from both the College of Engineering and the College of Science (Department of Biology) to experience and learn how to operate effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team to address physiological problems in the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and in biological transport.    Specifically it will emphasize how these teams can use information, tools, techniques, and theories from their disciplines to solve problems that are beyond the scope of any single discipline. In this process, the students will develop an appreciation of both engineering design and the classic hypothesis-driven experimental science as tools to solve complex real-world problems.  This course will promote effective communication, systems thinking, laboratory skills, self-management, and professional ethics.  Students will learn to measure and quantify biological changes, analyze data (including statistical analysis) and interpret its meaning as it applies to the larger physiological question at hand.  These skills will be necessary for teams of engineering and bioscience students to efficiently function in an interdisciplinary setting both in future courses and more importantly when they enter the workforce. 

BIOL 59500 - Cell Biology of Plants - Session Offered: Fall

This lecture course, aimed at upper division undergraduates and graduate students, will cover aspects of cellular biology which are fundamental to our understanding of plant growth, differentiation and development.  The course content assumes that the student will have a strong background in the cell biology of eukaryotes, and some exposure to basic problems in plant biology.  Topics to include:  techniques of modern cell biology; cell division and cell cycle regulation; cytoplasmic streaming and intracellular motility; structure and function of peroxisomes, vacuoles, cell walls, and plastids; protein import, cell-cell communication and plasmodesmata.

BIOL 59500 - Integrated Science & Native American Culture - Session Offered: Fall

Special work, such as directed reading, independent study or research, supervised library, laboratory, or field work, or presentation of material not available in the formal courses of the department. The field in which work is offered will be indicated in the student's record.

BIOL 59500 - Sensory Ecology - Session Offered: Spring

The course covers the adaptive significance of sensory information as it relates to ecological interactions in animals.  Topics will include an overview of sensory systems, aspects of predator-prey relationships, sexual selection, communication, perception of environmental cues, and animal movement patterns.

BIOL 59500 - Bioinformatics Computing & Systems Integration - Session Offered: Fall

This is a graduate-level course for students interested in the application of computational methods and information technology in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences arena. An overall understanding of information technology and systems is assumed, as well as an in-depth knowledge of one or more areas of information technology.

BIOL 59500 - Introduction to Bioinformatics - Session Offered: Fall

This course is designed for graduate students to be taken in conjunction with the BIOL 47800 (Introduction to Bioinformatics) lecture course. It provides additional background in bioinformatics by focusing on reading and critical analysis of classic and current papers from the bioinformatics literature. While intended primarily for graduate students, this course would be appropriate for well-prepared undergraduates, especially those contemplating graduate studies in computational biology or bioinformatics. This course is not a programming course and would be beneficial for graduate students in any area of molecular or cellular biology in which computational analysis is important. This course covers the same topics as BIOL 47800, including sequence comparisons, database searching, genomics, microarrays, protein structure, etc.

BIOL 59500 - Integrated Science & Native American Culture - Session Offered: Spring

Special work, such as directed reading, independent study or research, supervised library, laboratory, or field work, or presentation of material not available in the formal courses of the department. The field in which work is offered will be indicated in the student's record.

BIOL 59500 - Lab in Crystallography - Session Offered: Spring

BIOL 59500 - Special Assignments - Session Offered: Fall Spring Summer

59500 (Seniors/Graduate). Reading, discussions, written reports, seminar presentations, and field or laboratory work provided for enrichment in special areas of the biological sciences.

BIOL 59500 - Protein Bioinformatics - Session Offered: Spring

Accumulation of biological data, such as genome sequences, protein structures and sequences, metabolic pathways, opened up a new way of research in biology - bioinformatics.  Through the survey of the various active research topics in bioinformatics, in this course we will learn bioinformatics databases, tools, and algorithms behind these tools.  Special emphasis is placed on protein sequence and structure analyses.  Covered topics will include methods for protein sequence comparison, protein structure comparison, protein structure prediction/modeling, protein docking prediction, protein function prediction, and protein network analysis.

BIOL 59500 - Practical Biocomputing - Session Offered: Spring

Electronic resources and high-throughput technologies are transforming biology; becoming a "power use" of these resources is essential for all graduate students in biology today.  Unfortunately, these resources are often incomplete (requiring various sources to be combined), massive (making it difficult to find the specific information one is seeking) or in the wrong format (making them difficult to use).  This course will teach how to use the Perl programming language to find and retrieve information, to develop user-agents to process information using new and existing programs, how to create relational databases for storing information, and how to make information available via dynamic websites.
This course is designed for beginning graduate students in the life sciences, but would be a useful addition of most biology undergraduate majors.  Prior computer programming experience is not required.

BIOL 59500 - Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory - Session Offered: Spring

Principles of Electron Optics; Instrument Design and Construction; Microscope Operation and Alignment; Image Recording and Photographic Theory; Related Techniques and Instrumentation; Biological Specimen Preparation Overview.

BIOL 59500 - Transmission Electron Microscopy Theory - Session Offered: Spring

Two focus areas.  Students can choose either one of the areas.  First area is a rudimentary introduction to high-resolution electron microscopy of macromolecules.  Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to examine negatively stained samples and to record publicaiton-quality images.  Though some training in cryo-electron microscopy will be given, students will not be sufficiently proficient in this technology without advanced training.  The second area is a practical introduction to preparation of cells and tissues for TEM evaluation of ultrastructure.  Staining, fixation, embedding and sectioning techniques will be covered.  It is expected that students enrolled in this course will need this technique for their reserach in the near future.

BIOL 59500 - 3D Reconstruction of Macromolecules - Session Offered: Spring

Introduction to the theory and practical image processing and 3-D reconstruction techniques used to solve structure of macromolecules.  Analysis of 2-D crystal, helical filament, single particle, and tomographic cryo-EM images will be covered.

BIOL 59700 - Sex and Evolution - Session Offered: Fall

Lectures cover various theoretical and empirical aspects of sexual reproduction from an evolutionary perspective.  Topics include:  Why did sexual reproduction evolve?  What different modes of reproduction exist?  How is the sex of an individual determined in different organisms?  What sex ratio should exist in different species?  What is sexual selection, and how does it influence male and female characteristics in various species?  How does sexual selection influence human social behavior?  Discussion meetings critically evaluate recent literature. This is an alternate year course, offered in odd numbered years.

http://bilbo.bio.purdue.edu/www-ecology/faculty/howard/biol597.html

BIOL 59900 - Quantitative Physiology - Session Offered: Spring

This course is designed to give upper division Biological Sciences and Biomedical Engineers the ability to quantitatively understand the physical and chemical factors that are responsible for living systems.  Normal relationships, both empirical and theoretical, will be covered primarily.  This foundation in normal physiological systems will also be complemented by subsequent topics on system pathologies.

BIOL 60000 - Bioenergetics - Session Offered: Fall

Energy transduction in biological membranes: physical chemical foundations; electron transfer, proton translocation; and active transport. Atomic structures of integral membrane protein complexes responsible for respiratory, photosynthetic generation of electrochemical potential; ATPase motor, and structure-based mechanisms.

BIOL 61100 - Crystallography of Macromolecules - Session Offered: Fall

The special techniques required in the structure determination of biological macromolecules. Symmetry of macromolecules. Data collection and processing. The isomorphous replacement technique. The molecular replacement technique. Use of anomalous dispersion. Restraint and constraint refinement. Computational techniques. Instructor approval is required

BIOL 62000 - Advanced Topics in Eukaryotic Cell Biology - Session Offered: Spring

A study of current areas of cell biological research, including the cytoskeleton, the regulation of the cell cycle, and the functions and dynamics of membrane-bound organelles.

BIOL 64700 - Membrane Proteins - Session Offered: Spring

This course will focus on the structural basis of the functions and dys-functions of diverse membrane proteins, analyzed by x-ray, electron microscopy, and spectroscopy.  The functions will include transport, biogenesis, and trans-membrane signaling.  Unique problems associated with the structure analysis of integral membrane proteins will be discussed.

BIOL 65200 - Advanced Ecology Discussion - Session Offered: Fall

Special work, such as directed reading; independent study or research; supervised library, laboratory, or field work; or presentation of material not available in the formal courses of the department. The field in which work is offered will be indicated in the student\'s record. Primarily for Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 65300 - Advanced Evolution Discussion - Session Offered: Spring

Weekly meetings to discuss and evaluate seminal papers in the fields of evolution and population biology.  Each participating member is responsible for two meetings, chooses the papers and guides discussion.  As in any graduate discussion class, students must participate rather than just attend for experience.  During the last week, students will critically evaluate a contemporary paper on a topic related to the "classic" papers discussed during the semester.  Students will have a choice among papers submitted by participating faculty members; their critique will be assessed on content, originality, rigor, and clarity.

BIOL 66200 - Seminar Methods in Professional Development I - Session Offered: Fall

Special work, such as directed reading; independent study or research; supervised library, laboratory, or field work; or presentation of material not available in the formal courses of the department. The field in which work is offered will be indicated in the student\'s record. Primarily for Ph.D. candidates

BIOL 66300 - Seminar Methods & Professional Development II - Session Offered: Spring

This course is a continuation of BIOL 66200 and expands the introduction for incoming graduate students to methods of seminar presentation and critique and to various guidelines for professional development during their graduate school experience.  Topics include seminar topic selection and 20-minute seminar design. Tutorials on electronic services at the P. U., Library and Citation Management Programs, and evaluating classmate presentations.  Using the skills learned the previous semester, each student is required to make a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation to the class based on a pre-approved topic of their choice.  The speaker is asked questions and the presentation receives written evaluations by all members of the class.  Each student practices with Prof. Levy prior to the public presentation.  The course also continues to socialize the incoming cohort of students among themselves and with more senior students in the braod range of research disciplines available.

BIOL 69100 - Biological Research Methods - Session Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Open to graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences and designed primarily for students in their first year of graduate study. The course consists of two laboratory assignments, each of which lasts about two months. Students may take one or two of these per semester. During each laboratory assignment, the student will be exposed to methods, equipment, and experimental procedures currently in use in a particular departmental research laboratory selected by the student and through arrangement with the professor in charge of that laboratory. This course may be repeated for credit.

BIOL 69500 - Fundamentals of Cellular Neurobiology - Session Offered: Fall

This course is intended as a first course in cellular neurobiology for graduate students from a wide range of disciplines. Topics will include electrical properties of neurons, the ionic basis of the action potential, ion channel structure and function, synaptic release, neurotransmitters and neurohormones, neurotransmitter receptors and transduction mechanisms, sensory receptors, neural induction, patterning of the embryonic nervous system, neural growth and trophic factors, neural stem cells, axon guidance, and synaptic plasticity during development. Course material will primarily involve lectures and assigned textbook readings, but will also include homework problems based on selected readings of the primary literature, computer-based simulations of neurophysiology, and discussions with short papers related to ethical issues in the field of neuroscience. Pre-requisites are an undergraduate major in Science or Engineering that included a college level course in Physics as well as a course in Cell Biology or Biochemistry. Students lacking this basic background may be admitted with the permission of the instructor, if they are willing to backfill some basic material with extra readings. The course is not recommended for students who have taken a previous course in cellular neurobiology at the undergraduate level.

BIOL 69500 - New Assessment Tools for Biology Classes - Session Offered: Spring

Seminar on building questions/problems with an assessment tool ideal for large enrollment biology classes. This seminar is for graduate students who are teaching assistants in our department or who have plans to teach biology classes as a faculty member at another college or university. Participants in this seminar will be paired with one of our faculty teaching a large enrollment biology class with the sole purpose of translating their "old fashioned" homework problems into LON-CAPA questions and problems. This seminar will cover the authoring of LON-CAPA questions and problems with all enrollees building a portfolio of questions/problems that will be used in a course offered by our department during the '10-'11 academic year, or later.

BIOL 69500 - Career Development - Session Offered: Spring

BIOL 69500 - Ethics: Life & Times in Research Labs - Session Offered: Spring

Reading, discussions, written reports, seminar presentations, and field or laboratory work provided for enrichment in special areas of the biological sciences.  This seminar will be a discussion of the everyday "real-life" ethical problems that arise in basic research laboratories, in the Life Sciences and elsewhere.  The discussion is not recommended for students with relatively little research experience, i.e., 1st-2nd year.

BIOL 69500 - Special Assignments - Session Offered: Fall Spring Summer

69500 (Graduate). Reading, discussions, written reports, seminar presentations, and field or laboratory work provided for enrichment in special areas of the biological sciences.

BIOL 69500 - Cell, Molecular & Developmental Study - Session Offered: Spring

Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology Qualifier Exam Course.

BIOL 69500 - Advanced Molecular Virology - Session Offered: Spring

This course is an in-depth study of viral replication strategies, viral evolution, and virus-animal host interactions.  Lectures will cover the structure of virions and viral genomes, genome replication and transcription, viral RNA processing and translation, and virion assembly.  The viral life cycle, the origins of virus-associated disease, including transformation, and the host response to viral infections will be explored.  Methods for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases, including AIDS, will be investigated.  Discussion of recent articles from the primary literature will promote the understanding of cutting-edge research in virology.

BIOL 69600 - Seminar Microbiology - Session Offered: Fall

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student's record will indicate the specific seminar(s) in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69600 - Seminar Lipids & Disease - Session Offered: Spring

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student's record will indicate the specific seminars in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69600 - Advanced Topics in Computational & Systems Biology - Session Offered: Summer Jun 15-Aug 7

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student's record will indicate the specific seminar(s) in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69600 - Seminar Crystallography - Session Offered: Fall

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student\'s record will indicate the specific seminars in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69600 - Seminar Ecology and Population Biology - Session Offered: Fall

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student\'s record will indicate the specific seminar(s) in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69600 - Seminar Cell & Development - Session Offered: Spring

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student\'s record will indicate the specific seminars in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

The topic of the CMD Seminar this year will be the role of small RNAs in homology-dependent gene silencing in animal, plant, fungal, and (perhaps) bacterial systems.  Students will present papers discussing the nature of various small RNAs (microRNAs, siRNAs, ta-siRNAs, etc.), their various modes of action (transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational silencing), the various components of the RISC, RITS, and other silencing complexes and how these complexes are generated, viral anti-silencing mechanisms, and the roles that homology-dependent gene silencing play in development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses.  The time of the seminar will be worked out among the students and instructor.

BIOL 69600 - Structural Seminar - Session Offered: Spring

Each semester there are several separate seminar offerings. They will likely be on the following topics: biochemistry, crystallography, ecology and population biology, genetics, mechanisms of development, microbiology, neurobiology, and plant physiology. The student\'s record will indicate the specific seminars in which he/she has participated. Oral presentations required. At least two credits are required of Ph.D. candidates.

BIOL 69800 - Research MS Thesis - Session Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Research MS Thesis. Permission of instructor required.

BIOL 69900 - Research PH.D. Thesis - Session Offered: Fall Spring Summer

Research PhD Thesis. Permission of instructor required.