Physiological topics include water relations, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, carbohydrate translocation and metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, plant hormones, and development. Laboratory sessions include studies of algae, fungi, plant anatomy, and photosynthetic pigments. The half semester devoted to zoology surveys selected groups of animal-like protists and invertebrate animals. The emphasis of the subject matter varies from group to group and may involve comparative morphology and physiology, life history, ecology or behavior. A few special topics are included.
Labs emphasize taxonomy and morphology of major groups.
This course is required of all biology majors. The genetics course is designed to provide an understanding of mechanisms of heredity and genetic analysis. It covers the transmission of genetic characteristics between generations, the cellular basis of heredity, the molecular basis of heredity, and the behavior of genes in populations. Interrelationships among these broad areas are emphasized in the treatment of such topics as genetic mapping, physiological genetics, mutation, applied molecular genetics, quantitative inheritance, immunogenetics, and genetic regulation. Examples that illustrate genetic principles are selected from organisms that range from bacteria and viruses to humans.