Biological Sciences (BIO)

This Lab is a one credit non-majors course which supplements and complements BIO 129 Lecture which is focused on human biology. This is an remote life lab which is designed to aid students in developing skills for researching, obtaining, and evaluating information on topics relevant to human health and disease. Enrollment in BIO 129 LAB does not assure enrollment in BIO 129 LEC. BIO 129 cannot be used as credit toward a Biological Sciences major

This is a non-majors course focusing on human biology. The course consists of a three credit lecture. The course will provide fundamental information on how the body works at a level appropriate to non-scientists. Emphasis will be placed on human disease/drug treatments. The role of stress in health and disease will be emphasized. The effects of recreational drugs will also be discussed. At completion of the course, students should have assimilated a general understanding of how various organ systems of the body function together to maintain health. In addition, they should have a basic understanding of how malfunctions in various organ systems cause disease, as well as possible medical interventions to treat diseases. Enrollment in BIO 129 LEC does not assure enrollment in BIO 129 LAB. Please note that credits for BIO 129 do not fulfill requirements toward a Biological Sciences major.

This course is designated as a laboratory because it emphasizes scientific method/hypothesis testing, evaluation of quantitative data and interactive learning in small groups. It uses a case study approach in which the laboratory methods in the cases are demonstrated and/or explained. The overall aim is to strengthen both awareness and understanding of the importance of scientific literacy among students not majoring in the sciences. Topics covered will be in the fields of genetics and biotechnology, and they may vary from semester to semester, in order to keep topics current and relevant. Enrollment in BIO 130 LAB does not assure enrollment in BIO 130 LEC. Please note that credits for BIO 130 do not fulfill requirements toward a Biological Sciences major.

A course that covers the chromosomal basis of human heredity. It introduces principles of Mendelian genetics, DNA as genetic material, expression of genes, genetic mutation, and transmission of genes from generation to generation. Enrollment in BIO 130 LEC does not assure enrollment in BIO 130 LAB. Please note that credits for BIO 130 do not fulfill requirements toward a Biological Sciences major.

The one credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps transition to UB through an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 198 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

The three credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps students with common learning outcomes focused on fundamental expectations for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and oral communication, and learning at a university, all within topic focused subject matter. The Seminars provide students with an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 199 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

This course is designed as a general introduction to organismal biology: what happens at the level of the organism and above. Students will learn how evolution works, what organisms evolution has created, and how those organisms interact with the environment and each other. These three topics comprise the three sections of the course material: evolution, diversity, and ecology. Students will gain a general facility with the major topics of each of these fields to prepare them for future courses in the biology department and related fields. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade other than W may repeat the course in the summer or winter; or only in the fall or spring semester with a petition to the College of Arts and Sciences Deans' Office.

Lectures emphasize experimental foundations of our understanding of cells and cell organelles and cover the mechanisms underlying cell reproduction, cell motility, and cell energetics. Laboratories provide practice in quantitative analysis emphasizing pipetting, pH, spectrophotometry, and centrifugation. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade other than W may repeat the course in the summer or winter; or only in the fall or spring semester with a petition to the College of Arts and Sciences Deans' Office.

This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade other than W may repeat the course in the summer or winter; or only in the fall or spring semester with a petition to the College of Arts and Sciences Deans' Office.

This course is designed for students who want to extend their knowledge of cell biology beyond introductory cell biology (Bio 201). A wide range of topics will be covered with emphasis on the basic concepts and the experimental approaches that support these concepts.

Structure and function of molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Enzymes and energetics. Nucleic acid synthesis, replication, transcription, protein synthesis, and the genetic code.

Covers general physiology principles, using cells, plants, and animals as models to illustrate mechanisms by which living organisms maintain internal function and adapt to their external environment. Previously BIO 203LEC.

Basic course in the fundamentals of biological chemistry for students majoring in biological science and non-majors with an interest in the subject. Previously BIO 205LEC.

Processes that control the abundance and distribution of organisms in their natural environments; emphasizing population, community and evolutionary ecology. This course is the same as GLY 309, and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Computer lab experience to familiarize students with the types of experiments used to demonstrate physiological principles developed in BIO 303. Previously BIO 213LBR.

Introductory laboratory course in biological chemistry. Experiments deal with the basic methods of isolation, measurements, and characterization of macromolecules. Previously BIO 215LLB.

The course will cover the key concepts related to parasitology and medical entomology including transmission routes, pathology, epidemiology, ecology and evolution. We will also take a taxonomic approach to survey the main groups of parasites, with a particular focus on species of medical and/or veterinary importance. Emphasis will be placed throughout the course on the application of concepts and taxonomy to diagnosis and treatment. The course is especially suited for students planning a career in medical, veterinary or epidemiological fields.

This course focuses on land plants and algae. Topics include photosynthesis, water relations, plant nutrition, reproduction, development, ecology, economic botany, and others, depending on student interest. Topics will be covered from molecular to organismal levels.

Basic genetic principles emphasizing the molecular basis of heredity. Structure, replication, and function of the genetic material, regulation of gene expression, and genetic recombination.

Cytogenetics is the study of the chromosomal basis of heredity. This course puts emphasis on chromosome organization and the behavior of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. In addition, importance of the mitotic/meiotic spindle and the microtubules that comprise it is stressed throughout the course as themes of the field of cell biology intertwine with those of genetics. Student participation in the course requires completion of fourteen short written assignments on a variety of topics that are presented in the course.

A semester-long series of experiments planned to simulate an actual research project. Students generate a mutation and isolate the normal gene to complement it. The normal and mutant genes are analyzed using techniques from molecular biology and bioinformatics.

Topics vary by semester.

Topics vary by semester.

Hands-on experience with cellular and molecular techniques used in today's research environment. These techniques include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and recombinant protein purification.

Hands-on experience with cellular and molecular techniques used in today's research environment. These techniques include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and recombinant protein purification.

Neuroethology is the evolutionary and comparative approach to the study of animal behavior and its underlying mechanistic control by the nervous system.

Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in growth and differentiation in animal development.

This course gives an overview of the cell biology, genetics, development, physiology, ecology, and pathology of a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes. The course also includes information about the immune system and its interactions with microbes.

Upper division laboratory course that allows students to learn advanced laboratory methods used to study development in a variety of eukaryotic organisms, including plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. Techniques covered include RNAi in invertebrates, microinjection of morpholinos for transient inactivation of gene expression in zebrafish embryos, viral effects on RNAi, use of reporter genes, production of transgenic plants, and immunolocalization with Laser Scanning Confocal microscopy.

This course is designed to introduce students to the ways that biologists communicate, both with each other and with the broader public. The focus will be threefold: 1) describing data, 2) describing process & product, and 3) presenting biology. Assignments in each sections are designed to improve skills with scientific styles and modes of expression. The aim is to foster confidence in a scientific style of communication - which is often quite different from that taught in the humanities. Conciseness, clarity, and exactness are the hallmarks of successful written and oral in this course. By completing Communicating in Biological Sciences students will develop these traits in their written and oral expression.

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.

Structure and function of biological macromolecules: proteins, nucleic acids; mechanisms of enzyme catalysis, energy transduction, and metabolic regulation.

Covers major topics in cell and developmental biology at the advanced textbook level. Emphasizes the experimental basis underpinning our current knowledge.

Biological information flow, replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation and gene expression.

This course discusses how cells respond to stimuli, which encompasses the mechanisms that transmit signals, "crosstalk" between signaling pathways within a cell, and how these signaling pathways generate the multitude of output responses by the cells.

Advanced course in the foundations of ecology emphasizing population and community ecology. Supplements lectures on basic ecological principles and models with discussions of both current and historically important issues. This course is the same as GLY 409 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Surveys tropical marine ecosystems, with an emphasis on coral reef communities. Examines processes controlling abundance and distribution of marine taxa using primary literature. This course is the same as GLY 411, and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

An intensive two week field course in the Bahamas focusing on coral reef communities. Combining lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory analyses, students conduct in depth studies of Caribbean marine habitats.

An intensive two week field course in the Bahamas focusing on coral reef communities. Combining lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory analyses, students conduct in depth studies of Caribbean marine habitats. This course is the same as GLY 412 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Lectures and class discussions concerning nervous systems and neural functions of humans and other organisms. Emphasizes the physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of motor functions, learning, and memory.

A continuation of BIO 417; examines the major functions of the nervous system, perception and motor control, at molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Covers the neural basis of behavior and the cellular and molecular basis of neural diseases.

Cytogenetics is the study of the chromosomal basis of heredity. Emphasizes chromosome organization and the segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. Hands-on experience in the laboratory through the study of a variety of model systems.

This course is designed to provide students an understanding of the interplay between tumors and the immune system, as well as current therapies that use the immune system in the setting of oncology. This course is dual listed with BIO 524.

This is a lecture course based on cutting edge publications in the field of microbiology. While it will be advantageous for students already familiar with the microbial world, it can be taken by any undergraduate (or graduate) student in CAS and/or the medical and affiliated fields. In recent years, biological sciences (and microbiology) have been transformed by the ever increasing complete genome sequences and entire microbial community sequences (metagenomes). Thus, current molecular biology research is being driven more by genome sequencing and functional analysis than by research of individual genes. Because much of genomics depends on comparative sequence analysis, an understanding of evolutionary processes is also essential. BIO 432/532 deals with the basic findings and approaches in the field of microbial genomics and metagenomics using bacteria and viruses as examples. We will cover conceptual aspects as well as methodology and technical advances that are central to obtaining and exploring genome sequences. Specific areas and topics that will be discussed include bacterial and viral genome structure and evolution, genomic variation, impact of horizontal gene transfer on genome evolution, and other issues in comparative genomics. We will also examine the relatively new field of the microbiomes of humans and other animals, as well as environmental metagenomics

The aim of this class is to help students gain a sufficient understanding of human genetics so that they can appreciate the genetic basis of human disease, and the importance of genetic considerations in the prevention and treatment of diseases. This course will use a literature-based approach to cover the fundamentals, from the chromosomal basis for hereditary to the molecular and biochemical basis of genetic diseases as well as the current molecular diagnostic and treatment methods available for genetic diseases. A combination of classic and current papers, together with case studies will be used. The course is aimed at students in biology and related fields with a keen interest in human disease. This course is dual listed with BIO 533.

The goal of the course is to understand the biology that underlies cancer and the scientific basis for studying and treating cancers. The course is topic-driven and discussion oriented. Every student in the class will present one topic in the field of cancer research.

This course is designed to explore the major theoretical underpinnings of evolution as a scientific field. The course will be divided into sections that focus on microevolution, macroevolution, and the evolution of intra and interspecific behavior. Both theoretical and mathematical aspects of the topics will be explored, bringing a more advanced approach to topics that were introduced in Biology 200 as well as novel areas of study.

This course will explore the theoretical and practical interaction between the fields of ecology and evolution through the lens of optimality theory. Separate sections of the course will examine population and community processes, using both theoretical and mathematical perspectives. The course aims to concretely connect evolution and ecology, allowing students to understand that little ecology is done without reference to evolution and vice versa. All topics will be explored through the lens of current research.

A course in current experimental research in endocrinology intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students. An area of focus is chosen each year, with three recent examples being endocrinology of stress, endocrine responses to starvation, and relationships between endocrine and immune systems.

Structure and function of the ductless glands as they coordinate physiological activities and influence animal behavior.

This course will examine the structure and dynamics of the genome from a comparative perspective. Architectural relationships among genomes can be studied in the context of an organismal family tree. Many other themes in genome science, such gene duplication, intron-exon structure, transposable elements, and regulatory DNA, will be discussed with reference to the evolution of genome complexity.

This lecture/discussion course conveys genomics approaches to tackle the questions:What makes us human? and Why are we different from each other? Specifically, this course will introduce the state-of-the-art concepts and methodologies in human evolutionary genomics exploring topics such as `human genomic variation', `ancient admixture, `gene-phenotype-environment', interactions, `adaptive developmental evolution', `nature vs. nurture', `genetic bases of disease', and `experimental and statistical approaches to associate genotype to phenotype'. The course is aimed at students in biological sciences and related fields with a strong interest in evolutionary genetics and human genomic variation. Also, this course is of relevance to advanced students in a number of disciplines, including biomedical sciences and anthropology. After taking this course, each student will have the knowledge regarding the contemporary theoretical and methodological state of human evolutionary genomics.

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 evolutionary development.

Studies basic radiation physics, including atomic structure, radioactivity, properties of ionizing radiation, interaction with matter, and principles of basic radiation detection devices. This course is the same as NMD 421 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

While much of research is learning techniques specific to your own individual project, all lab students need to understand how to comprehend and communicate effectively (and with confidence!) about the primary literature. This course, thus, has three sections: understanding research, critiquing research, and presenting research. Through assignments in each section, students should gain confidence working with the primary literature that will allow them to better integrate their own novel research into a scientific context. In addition to gaining facility with reading and writing about primary research, students should become comfortable critiquing published work, as well as the efforts of themselves and their peers. Bio 487 aims to cover these goals through a mixture of lecture, in-class assignments, and peer-review of work. In a weekly guest lecture series (during class) students will have access to working scientists who will help them understand the breadth of new biological research being done here at UB, as well as the paths these scientists have taken to get to different points in their careers. In all, the course should help students immerse themselves fully in the world of laboratory research so that they come out ready to be confident members of a laboratory team.

Senior capstone project; students demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge and skills they have acquired through course work and research experiences in the program. Provides students with the opportunity to create knowledge, not merely absorb it. Students will present or display their work to their peers and faculty.

Enrollees participate as undergraduate teaching assistants under the supervision of faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences.

This course provides students an opportunity to gain practical hands-on training, skill development and experience in a professional setting outside of the university and under the guidance of professionals in a work environment related to biology.

Research experience during the senior year. Enrollees are sponsored by a member of the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences. Upon completion of the requirements of an honors research project, recognition is noted on the student's transcript.

Students collaborate with faculty research mentors on an ongoing faculty research project or conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty member.

A program that may include laboratory experience, library research, or tutorial study arranged with a faculty sponsor in the Department of Biological Sciences.