BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES MAJOR

Biology is the science of living systems, from molecular and cellular to organismal and ecological levels. Biology is also a living science that continues to make new and exciting discoveries revealing the causes of human disease, generating new therapies, improving human health, and helping to understand ourselves. Biology majors choose an area of concentration representing one of the foundational modern biological disciplines.  Majors become experts in their area of concentration and attain a breadth of knowledge preparing them for careers in medicine, research, biotech and beyond.

The study of biology made large impacts on society historically and today. Biologists discovered evolution by natural selection to explain the origin and persistence of life on Earth. They discovered the replication and decoding of DNA information to explain inherited and sporadic diseases such as birth defects and cancer. Biologists identify the nature of infectious disease and the immune system, leading to antibiotics and vaccines. Crucially, biologists develop ways to detect and modify biomolecules, leading to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. Ongoing research in biology is essential for confronting the health challenges of today and of the future.

While Covid-19 is keeping many of us off campus, our mission continues, and our commitment to your education and well-being is unwavering. Our faculty has redesigned their courses for online delivery , and our Spring Investigative Laboratory, BIOL_SCI 222, can be taken either virtually or in a small group in-person setting. 

Announcement:

Development and Evolution of Body Plans, Biol Sci 391-0

Please note a change in the course time - BIOL_SCI 391-0 will be MWF 2-2:50pm.

Description: Animals are complex living machines, but unlike artificial machines, animals must build themselves from scratch. This course will explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the self-assembly of the embryonic body plan. The course will focus on the biological principles of embryonic pattern formation, regulation of gene expression, morphogenetic movements and signal transduction, organized over broad physical scales from single cells to complete organs, and from minutes to complete life cycles. Course material will draw from both current and historical approaches, with a strong emphasis on biological criteria for knowing, including a weekly critical discussion of original literature.

Prerequisites: BIOL_SCI 201-0 or BIOL_SCI 215-0, BIOL_SCI 202-0 or BIOL_SCI 219-0; and BIOL_SCI 301-0.