Biological Sciences

Department of Biological Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
109 Cooke Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-1300
(716) 645-2363
Fax: (716) 645-2975
Web: Biological Sciences
Mary Bisson, Chair
Grayson Snyder, Director of Undergraduate Studies

The Programs
The Department of Biological Sciences offers three degree programs designed to meet the needs of students intending to pursue a career in the biological sciences. The bachelor of arts (B.A.) program offers a course of study that provides a broad-based education in the biological sciences, and is appropriate for students who wish to teach in secondary schools or pursue postbaccalaureate education in professional schools. The bachelor of science (B.S.) program is designed for students who plan to continue professionally in the field after graduation-graduate school, industry, or biomedical research. The bachelor of arts/master of science (B.A./M.S.) combined degree program provides an accelerated path to the master of science degree in biological sciences. An M.S. degree is awarded at the end of five years of study, as opposed to the normal six years (four years for the B.A. and two additional years for the M.S. degree). The goal of this program is to train students to satisfy an increasing demand for biological sciences graduates capable of not only performing biological research, but of also both initiating and overseeing the progress of a line of investigation.

Acceptance Criteria
Students desiring to major in one of the biological sciences programs should bring a copy of their UB DARS report directly to the Department of Biological Sciences. Application for acceptance to a B.A. or B.S. program will be considered after the student has completed two of the required biology lecture or lab courses, one year of chemistry, and one year of calculus, provided that the student has earned an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 in these courses. This acceptance is irrespective of the origin of those courses, but they must be college-level courses equivalent to the introductory majors' courses at the University at Buffalo. Furthermore, the overall GPA of these prospective majors must be at least 2.0. The student will be assigned an advisor at the time of acceptance.

Students enter the B.A./M.S. combined degree program by first being accepted as undergraduate biology majors (B.A or B.S.). They may apply to the combined degree program at the end of their sophomore year or the beginning of their junior year. Applicants to the B.A./M.S. program must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in both science and general education courses, and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty. The students will not receive separate B.A. and M.S. degrees; instead the combined degree will be awarded at the completion of the fifth year of the program. For registration, classification, and tuition purposes, the student is considered an undergraduate until the 102 credits of required undergraduate coursework outlined in the B.A./M.S. program have been completed (details available in the department office).

Transfer Policy
Students transferring to UB from another institution must obtain approval from the Department of Biological Sciences to apply a biological science course taken elsewhere toward the requirements for the B.A., B.S., or B.A./M.S. program of the department. For example, if a transfer student completed a 4-credit course in cell biology at another university, then that course may satisfy the department's requirement for a cell biology course. However, the requirement will not be considered fulfilled until after approval has been granted by the Undergraduate Affairs Committee of the department.

Approval may be obtained via petition. Petition forms are available in the departmental office, 109 Cooke Hall, North Campus. The purpose of the petition must be stated clearly by the student, and supporting documents, such as a catalog description and syllabus of the previously taken course, must be included.

Transfer students are reminded that in order to earn one of the de grees offered in the Department of Biological Sciences, they are required to complete at least 16 credit hours of coursework in the department with a minimum GPA of 2.0.

Honors
Students enrolled in the B.A. or B.S. program may participate in the departmental honors program during their senior year. Acceptance into the program may be achieved through invitation by the department, nomination by a sponsoring faculty member, or self-nomination by the student. Nomination forms for the honors program are available in the departmental office, 109 Cooke Hall, North Campus.

Honors students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all biological science and basic science (chemistry, physics, math) coursework. Requirements for honors also include 6 credits of honors research (BIO498) supervised by a member of the faculty and participation in the honors symposium to be held at the end of the senior year. Three credit hours of honors research may be used as electives to fulfill requirements for the B.S. degree program. The 6 credit hours of honors research are in addition to the 33-credit-hour requirement for the B.A. degree. Honors are noted on transcripts as highest distinction (GPA of 3.75 to 4.0), high distinction (3.5 to 3.74), or distinction (3.2 to 3.49).

Biological Sciences (BIO)

101 Licit and Illicit Drugs (3) (F)
Note: Cannot be taken for biology department major credit.
Biological significance of commonly used medicinal and special drugs. Influence of such drugs as aspirin, tranquilizers, alcohol, marijuana. For nonmajors. LEC

102 Plants and Their Uses (3) (F)
Note: Cannot be taken for biology department major credit.
Lectures for nonscience students. Current environmental problems involving plants, soil erosion, deforestation, agricultural pollution, and chemical contaminants in the food chain. For nonmajors. LEC

129-130 Perspectives in Human Biology (3.5-3.5) (F; Sp)
Note: Cannot be taken for biology department major credit.
Lectures and laboratory for nonscience majors who need to fulfill one year of science plus one semester of lab, and general education requirement. Structural and functional characteristics of living things emphasizing human biology and genetics; the significance of these characteristics with respect to the future of man. LEC/LAB

200 Evolutionary Biology (4) (F)
Evidence for evolution; principle of genetics; population genetics; selection natural, sexual, kin; evolution of major groups of organisms; speciation; adaptation; coevolution; and sociobiology. LEC/LAB

201 Cell Biology (4) (Sp)
Lectures emphasize experimental foundations of our understanding of the structure of cells and cell organelles, and the mechanisms underlying cell reproduction and cell motility. Laboratories provide practice in quantitative analysis using colorimetric assays, spectrophotometry, and light microscopy. LEC/LAB

205 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: CHE201
A basic course in the fundamentals of biological chemistry for students majoring in biological science and nonmajors with an interest in the subject. LEC

215 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory (2) (Sp)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO205 or BCH403
Introductory laboratory course in biological chemistry. Experiments deal with the basic methods of isolation, measurements, and characterization of macromolecules. LAB/LEC

302 Introduction to Molecular Biology (3) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO201
Structure and function of molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids. Enzymes and energetics. Nucleic acid synthesis, replication, transcription, protein synthesis, the genetic code. LEC

309 Ecology (3) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO200
Processes that control the abundance and distribution of organisms in their natural environments. Community and evolutionary ecology and community energetics. LEC

310 Ecology Methods (2) (F)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO309
Field exercises to illustrate major concepts of modern ecology, and the techniques and procedures used in ecological research. LAB/LEC

311 Membrane Biology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Organization and dynamics of membrane proteins, lipid fluidity, properties of membrane-bound enzymes, membrane transport proteins, cell surface receptors, secretory processes. LEC

312 Experimental Plant Science (4) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO201, BIO205 or permission of instructor
Role of plants in advancing areas in biology, such as genetics and cytology. Discussion of many specialized topics, including cell-to-cell interactions. LEC/REC

317 Invertebrate Zoology (4) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO200
Anatomy; evolution; ecology; taxonomy of the major groups of nonvertebrate animals. LEC/LAB

318 Morphology of Plants and Fungi (4) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO200, BIO201, BIO205, or permission of instructor
Structure and reproduction of members of the plant kingdom and fungi: algae, liverworts, mosses, ferns, and seed plants. LEC/LAB

319 Genetics (3) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Basic principles of genetics emphasizing the molecular basis of heredity. Structure, replication, and function of the genetic material, regulation of gene expression, and genetic recombination. LEC

328 General Physiology (4) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Covers general principles of physiology, using cells, plants, and animals as models to illustrate mechanisms by which living organisms maintain internal function and adapt to their external environment. LEC

329 Genetics Laboratory (2) (F)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO319
Exercises illustrate the principles of genetic analysis, isolation of mutants, and isolation and characterization of nucleic acids using
E. coli, yeast, and bacteriophage. LAB/LEC

338 General Physiology Laboratory (2) (Sp)
Corequisite: BIO328
Hands-on opportunity to learn technical skills with a variety of physiological instrumentation and to observe model systems discussed in BIO328. LAB/LEC

367 Developmental Biology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO319
Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in growth and
differentiation in animal development. LEC

369 Fungi and Their Medical Importance (4) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO200, BIO201
Structure, nutritional requirements, ecology, and economic importance of fungi. Examination of the biology of fungi causing major diseases in man. LEC/LAB

370 Developmental Biology Laboratory (2) (Sp)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO367
Morphological aspects of development of frog, chick, and pig embryos based upon the study of living material and prepared slides. LAB

400 Bioinformatics / Genome Analysis (4) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO319 or permission of instructor
Computerized analysis of genetic information from a biological perspective. Lectures focus on assumptions, limitations, and strategies of bioinformatics algorithms and statistics. Labs use computers to address biological questions. LEC

401 Advanced Molecular Biology I (4) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO205
Structure and function of biological macromolecules: proteins, nucleic acids; mechanisms of enzyme catalysis, energy transduction, and metabolic regulation. LEC

402 Advanced Cell Biology (4) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Structural and functional aspects of the cell explored in depth, emphasizing the cell as a dynamic system. LEC

404 Advanced Molecular Biology II (4) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO319. Note: BIO401 is not a prerequisite for BIO404.
Biological information flow, replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation and gene expression. LEC

405 Advanced Developmental Biology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO367
A continuation of BIO402 covering cellular aspects of developmental biology. An advanced course focusing on the process of cell differentiation. LEC

406 Membrane Receptors (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO401
Structure and function of membrane receptors. In the first part of the course, general aspects of receptors, such as kinetics of ligand bonding, techniques of their isolation and characterization, and receptor function are discussed. The second part involves the discussion of some well-characterized receptor systems. LEC

407 Advanced Ecology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO309
Advanced course in the foundations of ecology emphasizing population and community ecology. Lectures on basic ecological principles and models are supplemented with discussions of both current and historically important issues. LEC

408 Plants in the Environment (3) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO309, BIO328
Integrates information from previous courses on physiology, biochemical cell biology, and ecology; considers the plant as a whole; how it functions in its environment; its response to environmental stresses and constraints at all levels, from the molecule to the community. LEC

410 Biophysical Aspects of Macromolecules (4) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO205 or BCH403
Applications of spectroscopic techniques to determinations of kinetic, thermodynamic, and equilibrium constants characterizing interactions between biological macromolecules. Microtubule assembly, hormone/receptor interactions, and lac repressor binding to DNA. LEC

411 Tropical Marine Ecology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO309
Surveys tropical marine ecosystems with special emphasis on reef communities. Processes controlling abundance and distribution of marine taxa are examined using primary literature. LEC

412 Field Course in Tropical Marine Ecology (3) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO411
Includes an intensive two week field course that focuses on coral reef communities. Combining lectures, field work, and laboratory analyses, students conduct in depth studies of Caribbean marine habitats. LEC/LAB

413 Advanced General Physiology (3) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO328
In-depth consideration of the physiology of animals, plants, and protista, with cellular and integrative approaches. LEC

415 Virology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO404
Bacterial, plant, animal viruses, emphasizing viral strategies for existence as simple life forms. Medical importance of viruses. Mechanisms leading to virulence and pathogenicity. LEC

416 Intermediate Cell Biology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Builds upon the principles of cell biology provided in BIO201. Advanced treatment of cell biology at the textbook level, with supplementary readings. LEC

417 Neurobiology (3) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205, or permission of instructor
Lectures and class discussions concerning nervous systems and neural functions of humans and other organisms. Emphasis is on the physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of motor functions, learning, and memory. LEC

427 Seminar in Radiobiology (1) (F; Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO461, and BIO463 or BIO465
Current problems and literature in radiobiology, radiation protection, and radiation science. May be taken more than once for credit. SEM

435 Plant Physiology (3) (F)
Prerequisite: BIO200, BIO201
Physiology and biochemistry of nutrition, water relations, respiration, growth, and photosynthesis of higher plants. LEC

440 Experimental Endocrinology (2) (F)
Prerequisites: junior standing in biology or other life sciences, or permission of instructor
Molecular mechanisms mediating cellular integration of peptide hormone influences: role of hormones in cellular function, surface membrane receptor-transduction mechanisms, and nonmembrane receptor-transduction mechanisms. LEC

444 Animal Behavior (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO309
Examines the biological bases of behavior, concentrating primarily on the behavior of organisms in the wild. Lectures focus primarily on behavioral ecology, but the proximate mechanisms underlying important behaviors are also examined. LEC

448 Endocrinology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO328
Structure and function of the ductless glands as they coordinate physiological activities and influence animal behavior. LEC

452 Limnology (4) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO200, CHE101-102, one year of calculus or physics; BIO317 recommended
Physical, chemical, and biological investigations of freshwater lakes and streams. LEC/LAB

456 Evolutionary Genetics (3) (Sp)
Prerequisite: BIO319 or permission of instructor
The genetic and population-level processes that underlie evolutionary change; topics include population genetics, the effects of population size and selection, population structure, molecular evolution, intragenomic conflict, molecular phylogenetics, and ecological genetics. LEC

458 Molecular Ecology (4) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO309, BIO319
The use of molecular genetic markers is becoming a widespread and important approach to studying ecological phenomena, such as population structure, migration, mating systems, and natural selection. Students learn to isolate and use molecular markers for ecological and evolutionary studies. LEC

460 Senior Seminar (1) (Sp)
Prerequisite: senior standing or permission of instructor
Emphasizes current topics in biology taken from research journals, as well as learning how to make research presentations in a public setting. SEM

461 Basic Radiation Science (4) (F)
Production, properties, interactions, dosimetry, detection, and instrumentation of radiation from radioisotopes, radiation-producing equipment and nuclear reactors, safe-handling procedures, and survey methods. LEC/LAB

463 Radiation Protection (4) (F; Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO461, BIO465 (can be taken as a corequisite)
Theory and practice of radiation science, emphasizing translation of guides and regulations into working procedures for facility design and survey. LEC/LAB

465 Radiation Biology (3) (Sp)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205
Effects of ultraviolet and ionizing radiations on biological systems. Physiological, genetic, and lethal responses are considered at the molecular, cellular, organ, and organismic levels. LEC

466 Microbial Radiation Laboratory (1) (Sp)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO465 or permission of instructor
Calibration and use of radiation sources for the study of microbial physiology, genetics, and disease-producing mechanisms; the use of radioisotopes of carbon and tritium. LAB/LEC

467 Techniques in Immunology (2) (Sp)
Pre- or corequisite: BIO468 or permission of instructor
Studies of antigen-antibody interactions; agglutination; precipitation using Oudin and Ouchterlony reactions, immunoelectrophoresis, antibody purification. LAB

468 Molecular Basis of Immunology (3) (F)
Prerequisites: BIO201, BIO205; BIO319 recommended
Immunological phenomena; properties of antigens and antibodies; antigen-antibody interactions and detection, genetic basis of immunoglobulin biosynthesis, involvement of T and B cells in the humoral response. LEC

497 Undergraduate Supervised Teaching (1-4) (F; Sp)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
Teaching experience as undergraduate teaching assistants in departmentally approved courses. TUT

498 Honors Research (V)
Prerequisite: senior standing in departmental honors program
Independent research. Students must be sponsored by a member of the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences. Six credit hours of honors research are required and 3 of these may be taken as electives for the B.S. degree. For students pursuing the B.A. degree, honors credits are in addition to the required 33 credit hours for that degree. TUT

499 Independent Study (V)
A program arranged by a student and a sponsor who must be a faculty member in the Department of Biological Sciences. The Program must include laboratory, library, or tutorial study. Only 3 credit hours of Independent Study are acceptable as electives to fulfill requirements for the B.S. program in the Department of Biological Sciences. Independent Study credit hours may be taken in addition to the 33 credit hours required for the B.A. degree. TUT

Biological Sciences - B.A.

Acceptance Criteria
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in BIO200-201, CHE101-102, and MTH121-122 (or their equivalent)

Advising Note
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in biology courses and minimum GPA of 2.0 in supplemental required courses to graduate

Required Courses
BIO200 Evolutionary Biology
BIO201 Cell Biology
BIO205 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry
BIO309 Ecology
BIO319 Genetics
BIO328 General Physiology
BIO367 Developmental Biology
CHE101 General Chemistry
CHE102 General Chemistry
CHE201 Organic Chemistry
CHE202 Organic Chemistry
MTH121 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications I or MTH141 College Calculus I
MTH122 Survey of Calculus and Its Applications II or MTH142 College Calculus II
PHY101/151 College Physics I (including PHY151 lab) or PHY107 General Physics I
PHY102/152 College Physics II/Lab or PHY108/158 General Physics II/Lab
One BIO elective

Three of the following five labs:

1. BIO215 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory
2. BIO310 Ecology Methods
3. BIO329 Genetics Laboratory
4. BIO338 General Physiology Laboratory
5. BIO370 Developmental Biology Laboratory

1. BIO215 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory
2. BIO310 Ecology Methods
3. BIO338 General Physiology Laboratory
4. BIO329 Genetics Laboratory
5. BIO370 Developmental Biology Laboratory

1. BIO215 Fundamentals of Biological Chemistry Laboratory
2. BIO310 Ecology Methods
3. BIO329 Genetics Laboratory
4. BIO338 General Physiology Laboratory
5. BIO370 Developmental Biology Laboratory

Academic Affairs

Phone: (716) 645-6003

Fax: (716) 645-2549

Last updated: Thursday, 09-Dec-2004 15:21:16 EST