Texas Wesleyan University Biology Department

These are brief descriptions of the courses offered by the Wesleyan Biology Department. Each course is associated with a three-hour laboratory that must be taken along with the course. The courses are listed in the order in which most students will take them. The descriptions below are similar to those to be found in the current university catalog.

The Biology Core Curriculum consists of the four courses that follow below. Biology majors will concurrently complete the first two years of chemistry

BIO 1321. Introduction to Cell Biology
Prerequisites: completion of or concurrent enrollment in Che 1315, Eng 1301 and Math 1302.
This is the first course of the Biology Core Curriculum. This course provides and introduction to the scientific study of biology and focuses on basic biochemistry and the organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. This course must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory course Biology 1121.

BIO 1322. Introduction to Genetics
Prerequisites: completion of Biology 1321 and Chemistry 1315.
This course is an introduction to the structure and operation of genes as they are expressed in cells, organisms and populations. It must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory course Biology 1122.

BIO 2341: Microbiology
Prerequisites: completion of BIO 1321 and 1322, and Chemistry 1315 and 1316.
This course offers an in-depth study of the microbial world, with emphasis on bacteria, fungi and viruses. It addresses classification, structure and function, metabolism, genetics and the role of these organisms in the environment and in medicine. This course must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory Biology 2141.

BIO 2324: Evolution and Ecology
Prerequisites: completion of BIO 1321 and 1322.
This course offers the study of the interactions of populations with their environment, including natural selection, population genetics, speciation, ecosystems and behavior. It must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory Biology 2124.

The following courses are recommended for Allied Health students, and for students majoring in Kinesiology, but may be taken by any student to meet the Wesleyan General Education science requirement.

BIO 1340: Anatomy and Physiology I
This course will be dedicated to the construction of the human organism, beginning with the basic building block of the body, the cell. Subsequently other systems vital to the construction process will be examined, including, but not limited to, the skeletal, muscular, nervous, gastrointestinal and integuimentary systems. This course must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory course Biology 1140.

BIO 1341: Anatomy and Physiology II
This course is dedicated to the integrative systems of the human body that facilitate nutrient delivery, waster removal and the proliferation of life. Topics that will be examined include, but are not limited to, the respiratory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, endocrine, renal and reproductive systems. This course must be taken concurrently with the associated laboratory course Biology 1141.

BIO 3431. Advanced Genetics
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core and two years of chemistry.
This course concentrates on factors that modify Mendelian inheritance patterns, gene mapping, gene regulation, the analysis and nature of the human and other eukaryotic genomes, the genomes of organelles, and various human genetic disorders. The course includes a three-hour laboratory.

BIO 4412. Techniques of Molecular Biology
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core and two years of chemistry; Bio 3431 is strongly recommended.
This is a laboratory-based course designed to familiarize students with the techniques of molecular biology including restriction enzyme analysis, southern blots, DNA sequencing, the polymerase chain reaction, and cloning. Data interpretation is a strong component of this course.

BIO 4470. Conservation Biology
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core; Statistics (PSY 3420) or Calculus (MAT 1324) and any Bio 3000-level course in a related area are strongly recommended.
This course examines the biological diversity crisis and the social implications of human's domination of the earth's ecosystems. Three hours of laboratory each week and field data collection and analysis are required.

BIO 4426. Infection and Immunity
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core;
This course provides students with a basic understanding of infectious disease and host responses. Students will study the microorganisms involved in infection and in immune related disease, current treatments, and research directions. The course has three hours of laboratory per week.

BIO 3352. Research Methods in Biology.
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core, two years of chemistry, and any 3000- or 4000-level biology course.
Under supervision of Biology faculty mentors, students will select a research project, write a literature review and research proposal, conduct preliminary experiments and write and present a research report. Research methods and experimental design will be emphasized. In addition to a two-hour class each week, students must schedule time to meet with advisors and to perform their experiments.

4351. Senior Research in Biology
Prerequisites: Completion of BIO 3352. PSY 2420 or MAT 3391 are strongly recommended.
Under supervision of Biology faculty mentors, students will extend the research project begun in Bio 3352, and write and present a formal professional research paper. Data analysis and professional writing will be emphasized. Students will also attend research presentations by area professionals. In addition to a two-hour class each week, students must schedule time to meet with advisors and to perform their experiments.

BIO 3202. Field Biology
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core
This course offers practical experience in the techniques of sampling and identifying life in natural habitats. The class will travel to a specific habitat or region and spend an extended time intensively studying the local flora or fauna. This course is usually offered in summer or an interterm and may be repeated once.

BIO 3401. Developmental Biology
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core and two years of chemistry; Biology 3431 is strongly recommended.
This course offers the study of model systems that illustrate the control mechanisms governing plant and animal development. The course includes a three-hour laboratory.

BIO 3405. Introduction to Human Physiology
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core and two years of chemistry.
This course offers a study of normal human physiological processes with emphasis on their regulation. It includes a three-hour laboratory.

BIO 3420: Assays and Experiments in Medical Botany
Prerequisites: Completion of the Biology Core and two years of chemistry.
This course focuses on the experimental testing of pharmacologically active principles from a diversity of vascular plants. The course surveys extant plant diversity, examining phylogenetic relationships based on the bioactive constituents of natural taxonomic groups. In the associated three-hour laboratory, students will design experiments to test hypotheses about the bioactivity of plant extracts.

Prerequisite: Completion of the Biology Core and any Biology 3000 level course in a related area.
A study of the biomedical and ultrastructural organization of the eukaryotic cell, focussing on advanced topics in the field of cell biology. Potential topics will include cancer biology, immunology, neurobiology, mechanisms of cell differentiation, and prokaryotic cell biology. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary research in cell biology as presented in primary journal articles. Three hours of laboratory per week.

4393. Internship I
Prerequisite: Completion of 45 hours or dean's approval; 2.0 GPA
Graded academic experiences that provide students with an opportunity to put classroom learning into practice. Internships provide supervised work experience directly related to one's major field of study.

4394. Internship II
Prerequisite: Completion of 45 hours or dean's approval; 2.0 GPA
Graded academic experiences that provide students with an opportunity to put classroom learning into practice. Internships provide supervised work experience directly related to one's major field of study.