The important physiological functions in higher plants are the focus of this course. In the laboratory an emphasis is placed on both theoretical and practical aspects of cell and tissue culture as tools in modern biology. Students have an opportunity to design laboratory projects using tissue culture techniques. Topics covered in the laboratory include initiating primary cell cultures, isolation and culture of single cells, cloning methods, gene transfer techniques, and regenerating plants from cell culture by micropropagation. A survey of phyla containing parasitic species.
Emphasis is placed on structure, life cycle, physiology, and immunity.
A study of the interactions between organisms and their environment that determine their distributions and abundances in nature. Attention is given to topics pertaining to evolutionary adaptations of species, population dynamics, community structure and function, and ecosystems analysis. Laboratory emphasizes both qualitative and quantitative field investigations. An advanced genetics course emphasizing current knowledge and research in fundamental molecular aspects of genetics, primarily in eucaryotes. Topics include genome struture, transcriptional control, genetic regulatory pathways, and recombinant DNA technology.