Courses in Biology (BIOL)

BIOL 001 - Principles of Biology

Principles of cellular biochemistry; cell biology; genetics and evolution. Topics: biochemistry; metabolism, cell structure/function; respiration; photosynthesis; molecular, Mendelian and population genetics; genetics of evolution. Credit not given for both BIOL 001 and BCOR 011.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 002 - Principles of Biology

Principles of organismal biology; nature of scientific inquiry, plant form and function, pollination ecology, animal phylogeny illustrated by comparative anatomy and physiology; animal behavior. Credit not given for both BIOL 002 and BCOR 012.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 003 - Human Biology

For nonscience majors. Selected biological topics relevant to humans, such as cancer, human genetics, environmental toxicants; biological concepts necessary for understanding these problems.

Credits: 3

BIOL 004 - The Human Body

Introduction to basic human anatomy and organ system physiology emphasizing normal homeostatic mechanisms and the changes that accompany common disorders and diseases. For nonscience majors.

Credits: 0 or 3

BIOL 006 - Evolutionary Biology

For nonscience majors. The process of biological evolution; evidence for evolution; mechanisms of evolutionary change; origin of adaptations; evolution of behavior; social and reproductive behavior.

Credits: 3

BIOL 009 - Science As a Way of Knowing

History of scientific method and its application to generation of knowledge. How science seeks to understand the origin and diversity of life. Lab research project.

Credits: 3

BIOL 086 - Intro to Forensic Biology

An introductory-level course covering crime scene investigation, methods of evidence collection, identifying a body, cause of death and producing DNA profiles.

Credits: 3

BIOL 095 - Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 096 - Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 106 - Cell Structure and Function

Molecules, structures, and physiology of cell membranes; energy transformations; nuclear and cytoplasmic events; extracellular matrix; cell signaling; and cell types and fates. Prerequisites: BIOL 001, BIOL 002 (or BCOR 011, BCOR 012); CHEM 141, CHEM 142 recommended.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 168 - Mathematics of Biology

Discrete biological processes: nonlinear difference equations. Continuous processes: ordinary differential equations, phase plane methods, quantitative solutions. Applications: population dynamics, epidemiology, Michaelis-Menten kinetics, autocatalysis, muscle contraction. Includes a lab. May not be taken concurrently with or after Math 268. Pre-co-requisites: Math 22 or 23, Math 124. Cross listing: Math 168.

Credits: 3

BIOL 191 - Research Apprenticeship

Participation in a faculty research project. Students must follow all departmental guidelines.

Credits: 0 to 3

BIOL 192 - Research Apprenticeship

Participation in a faculty research project. Students must follow all departmental guidelines.

Credits: 0 to 3

BIOL 193 - Internship in Biology

Professional experience, containing a substantial academic component, with an off-campus organization or campus unit other than Biology Department. Students must follow all departmental guidelines. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

Credits: 3

BIOL 194 - Internship in Biology

Professional experience, containing a substantial academic component, with an off-campus organization or campus unit other than Biology Department. Students must follow all departmental guidelines. Prerequisite: Departmental permission.

Credits: 3

BIOL 195 - Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 196 - Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 197 - Undergraduate Research

Individual research under faculty guidance. Enroll following departmental guidelines. Pre/co-requisites: Junior or senior standing, departmental permission.

Credits: 3 or 6

BIOL 198 - Undergraduate Research

Individual research under faculty guidance. Enroll following departmental guidelines. Pre/co-requisites: Junior or senior standing, departmental permission.

Credits: 3 or 6

BIOL 202 - Quantitative Biology

Topics in quantitative methods in biological research, including statistics and computer-based analysis. Prerequisite: One of BCOR 101, BCOR 102, BCOR 103; MATH 019, MATH 020.

Credits: 3

BIOL 203 - Population Ecology

Analysis of growth, regulation, and interrelations of biological populations in theoretical, laboratory, and natural systems. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 3

BIOL 204 - Adv Genetics Laboratory

Laboratory experiments to provide experience with modern genetic techniques. Bench work and data analysis emphasized. Prerequisite: BCOR 101.

Credits: 4

BIOL 205 - Adv Genetics Laboratory

Laboratory experiements to provide experience with modern genetic techniques. Bench work and data analysis emphasized. Prerequisite: BCOR 101.

Credits: 4

BIOL 208 - Morphology&Evolution Insects

Systematics, morphology, and anatomy of insect taxa, with comparisons to related arthropods. Prerequisite: BCOR 102

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 209 - Field Zoology

Collection, identification, and ecology of arthropods. Substantial field collecting. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 212 - Comparative Histology

Anatomy of tissues, chiefly vertebrate. Tissue similarities and specializations of organs among the various groups of animals in relation to function. Prerequisite: BCOR 103.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 217 - Mammalogy

Classification, identification, morphology, evolution, and distribution of mammals. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 219 - Compar/Func Vertebrate Anatomy

Structure, function, and phylogeny, with evolutionary and functional trends of all chordate groups. Prerequisites: Two courses from BCOR 101, BCOR 102, BCOR 103.

Credits: 4

BIOL 223 - Developmental Biology

An analysis of the cellular, subcellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that operate during oogenesis and embryogenesis in invertebrate and vertebrate organisms. Prerequisites: BCOR 101, BIOL 103.

Credits: 3

BIOL 225 - Physiological Ecology

Processes by which animals cope with moderate, changing, and extreme environments. Prerequisites: BCOR 102, 104.

Credits: 3

BIOL 238 - Winter Ecology

Natural history and winter adaptation of plants and animals of western Maine. Field work during winter break; oral and written report completed during spring semester. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Credits: 3

BIOL 246 - Ecological Parasitology

Parasite-host interactions examined with evolutionary perspective. Topics include the origin of parasites, evolution of virulence, and ecological consequences of parasitism. Laboratory includes original experiments. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 1 or 3

BIOL 254 - Population Genetics

Methods of detecting and investigating genetic variation, as well as its causes and consequences. Applications from medicine, forensics, and environmental biology are emphasized. Pre/co-requisites: BCOR 101

Credits: 0 to 4

BIOL 255 - Comparative Physiology

Physiology at the organ, systems, and organismal levels. Capstone course to consolidate biological concepts. Pre/co-requisites: BCOR 101, BCOR 102, BCOR 103.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 261 - Neurobiology

Focus on molecular and cellular aspects of the nervous system. Electrical signaling, synaptic transmission, signal transduction, neural development, plasticity and disease. Prerequisite: BCOR 103. Cross-listing: ANNB 261.

Credits: 3

BIOL 262 - Neurobiology Techniques

Extensive study of laboratory methods used in modern research on the function of the nervous system. Techniques from electrophysiology, cell biology, biochemistry and genetics. Pre/co-requisites: BCOR 103, BIOL 261

Credits: 4

BIOL 263 - Genetics Cell Cycle Regulation

Molecular events during the cell cycle; mutants defective in cell cycling; comparison of normal and transformed (cancer) cell cycling. Prerequisite: BCOR 101 or instructor's permission.

Credits: 3

BIOL 264 - Community Ecology

Theoretical and empirical analyses of community structure. Topics include population growth, metapopulation dynamics, competition, predation, species diversity, niches, disturbance succession, island biogeography, and conservation biology. Prerequisites: BCOR 102; at least junior standing.

Credits: 3

BIOL 265 - Developmntl Molecular Genetics

Current topics in developmental genetics explored through lectures and discussions of current literature; emphasis on molecular approaches. Prerequisites: BCOR 101.

Credits: 3

BIOL 266 - Neurodevelopment

Current topics in developmental neurobiology through lectures and discussions of primary literature. The course is designed for advanced undergraduate life science majors. Pre/co-requisites: BCOR 101, BCOR 103.

Credits: 3

BIOL 267 - Molecular Endocrinology

Study of hormone action at the cellular and molecular level. Prerequisite: BCOR 101.

Credits: 4

BIOL 268 - Medical Entomology

Examines the arthropod vectors of temperate and tropical diseases that affect human health, using an ecological and a systematics approach. Prerequisites: 102 or instructor permission.

Credits: 3 to 4

BIOL 269 - Plant-Animal Interactions

Ecological and evolutionary interactions among plants and animals. Topics include herbivory, pollination, seed predation, biocontrol, and effects of global climate change. Prerequisites: BIOL 001, BIOL 002 or BCOR 011, BCOR 012; BCOR 102 recommended.

Credits: 3

BIOL 270 - Speciation and Phylogeny

Contribution of modern research in such fields as genetics, systematics, distribution, and serology to problems of evolutionary change. Prerequisite: BCOR 101 (BCOR 102 recommended).

Credits: 3

BIOL 271 - Evolution

Basic concepts in evolution will be covered, including the causes of evolutionary change, speciation, phylogenetics, and the history of life. Pre/co-requisites: BCOR 102 or permission of Instructor

Credits: 3

BIOL 275 - Human Genetics

Application of genetic techniques to the study of human biology. Topics include pedigree analysis, linkage analysis, and complex genetic disorders of medical importance. Prerequisite: BCOR 101.

Credits: 3

BIOL 276 - Behavioral Ecology

Adaptive significance of behavior in natural environments. Evolutionary theory applied to behavior and tested with field data. Prerequisites: BCOR 102 or instructor permission.

Credits: 3

BIOL 277 - Sociobiology

The evolutionary biology of social behavior in animals. Topics include the evolution of sociality, social interactions, and the functional organization of social groups. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 3

BIOL 280 - Molecular Ecology

Molecular genetic tools and analytical methods used to investigate ecological processes in natural populations of plants and animals. Prerequisite: BCOR 102.

Credits: 0 or 4

BIOL 286 - Forensic DNA Analysis

Theory and techniques of modern genetics used to produce and analyze a DNA profile in forensic science. Emphasis on degraded or contaminated DNA samples. Prerequisite: BCOR 101.

Credits: 3

BIOL 288 - Seminar in Forensic Biology

Capstone course in seminar format for undergraduates concentrating in Forensic Biology in the Biology major; discussions, readings, guest speakers. Pre/corequisites: CHEM 141, CHEM 142; BCOR 101.

Credits: 1

BIOL 295 - Advanced Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 296 - Advanced Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 18

BIOL 297 - Advanced Undergraduate Rsrch

Research under faculty guidance. Enroll following departmental guidelines. May not be used toward advanced course requirements for BA students in Biology or Zoology. Pre/co-requisites: Junior or Senior Standing; Department permission.

Credits: 3 or 6

BIOL 298 - Advanced Undergraduate Rsrch

Research under faculty guidance. Enroll following departmental guidelines. May not be used toward advanced course requirements for BA students in Biology or Zoology. Pre/co-requisites: Junior or Senior Standing; Department permission.

Credits: 3 or 6

BIOL 299 - Advanced Special Topics

See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.

Credits: 1 to 6

BIOL 301 - Cell Biology

Advanced survey of cell organelles, their composition, origin, and the relationship between their structure and function. Emphasis on recent literature and current controversies. Prerequisites: CHEM 142, graduate standing in biology or permission. Cross-listing: CLBI 301.

Credits: 3

BIOL 302 - Specialized Cells & Cell Proc

Current issues and research in the field of plant, invertebrate, mammalian cell, and molecular biology. Prerequisites: BIOL 301. Cross-listing: CLBI 302.

Credits: 3

BIOL 352 - Evolutionary Computation

Theory and practice of biologically-inspired search strategies, including genetic algorithms, genetic programming, and evolution strategies. Applications include optimization, parameter estimation, and model identification. Significant project. Students from multiple disciplines encouraged. Pre/co-requisites: Familiarity with programming, probability, and statistics. Corss-listings: CS 352, CSYS 352.

Credits: 3

BIOL 371 - Graduate Colloquium

Topics of current faculty and graduate student interest presented in a seminar-discussion format. Specific titles for colloquia will be listed in the course schedule.

Credits: 1

BIOL 381 - Special Topics

Readings with conferences, small seminar groups, or laboratories intended to contribute to the programs of graduate students in phases of zoology for which formal courses are not available. Prerequisite: An undergraduate major in life science.

Credits: 0 to 4

BIOL 382 - Eco Lunch

Review and discussion of current research. Attendance of BIOL 382 or BIOL 384 required of Biology graduate students. Pre/co-requisites: Graduate standing and instructor permission.

Credits: 0 to 1

BIOL 383 - Ecology-Evolution Journal Club

Review and discussion of current research.

Credits: 0 to 1

BIOL 384 - Cell Lunch

Review and discussion of current research. Attendance of BIOL 382 or BIOL 384 required of Biology graduate students. Pre/co-requisites: Graduate standing.

Credits: 0 to 1

BIOL 385 - Biology Seminar

Review and discussion of current biological research. Attendance required of Biology graduate students. Pre/co-requisites: Graduate standing and instructor permission.

Credits: 0 to 1

BIOL 391 - Master's Thesis Rsch

Credit as arranged.

Credits: 1 to 10

BIOL 491 - Doctoral Dissertation Rsch

Credits: 1 to 10