courses of instruction - Lafayette College

terns and ecological analysis. Laboratory
and lecture are tightly integrated. Stu
dents develop a small-scale experimental
model of a freshwater ecosystem, plus do
individualized field-based investigations.
Both oral and written presentation of find
ings are required. Examples of some top
ics include temporal change in biotic com
munities, nutrient cycling and biota, and
predator impacts on ecosystem dynamics.
Strong emphasis on ecological design/
analysis, identifying experimental varia
tion, and self-directed learning. Prerequi
site: Biology 231. Knowledge of statistics
is highly recommended. Lecture/semi
nar/laboratory. Offered in fall or spring
semester. [S] Ms. Waters
336. Evolutionary Genetics. This course
addresses the genetic structure of species
and populations (population genetics) and
the evolution of genes at the molecular
level (molecular evolution). Topics in
clude: biochemical and molecular quanti-
tation of genetic variation, molecular sys-
tematics, and the molecular evolution of
structural and regulatory genes. In addi
tion to lecture, students participate in the
critical reading, presentation, and discus
sion of recent primary literature in the
field. Prerequisite: Biology 241 or 235.
Lecture/seminar. Offered in fall or spring
semester. [S] Mr. Label
362. Investigative Molecular Biology.
Structure, function, and regulation of eu-
karyotic mitochondrial and chloroplast
genomes are investigated. This research-
intensive course utilizes phylogenetically
diverse protists (unicellular algae) to an
swer questions concerning organellar ge
nome architecture. Emphasis is on student
projects that involve either 1) genome size
determination, library construction, and
physical/genetic mapping of a mitochon
drial or chloroplast genome, or 2) identifi
cation, PCR amplification and/or cloning,
and sequence analysis of a functional or
ganellar gene. Prerequisite: Biology 261.
Lecture/laboratory. Offered in fall semes
ter. Staff
BIOLOGY
351-380. Special Topics. Dependent upon
student and staff interests, one or more spe
cialized areas of biology are examined each
year. Prerequisite: Biology 101-102, and
other courses as specified by instructor.
Offered in fall and spring semesters. Staff
390. Botanical Measurements. Employ
ing techniques commonly used with bo
tanical materials, this course surveys the
algae, lichens, and bryophytes in the areas
of anatomy, morphology, physiology, and
ecology. Laboratory includes field collec
tions, specimen identification, practice in
aseptic techniques, physiological measure
ments, and assessment of morphogenic
changes. Prerequisites: Biology 101-102,
and permission of instructor. Limited to
12 students. Ms. Mineo
401-404. Independent Research. A limit
ed number of juniors and seniors may
conduct an in-depth investigation of a
particular topic in biology under the su
pervision of a faculty mentor. Prerequisite:
permission of faculty mentor and depart
ment head. Hours by arrangement. Of
fered in fall and spring semesters. Staff
410. Senior Seminar in Animal Physiolo
gy. A seminar on selected topics in animal/
cellular physiology. A different area of cur
rent research in physiology is con-sidered
each semester. Prerequisites: Biology 251,
and permission of instructor. Seminar/film.
Offered in fall semester. [S] Mr. Holliday
412. Senior Seminar in Vertebrate Biolo
gy. Exploration of current topics in verte
brate biology, particularly the relationship
between morphology and behavioral ecol
ogy. Emphasis is on primary literature.
Prerequisites: Biology 213 or 218 or 314 or
251, and permission of instructor. Offered
fall or spring semesters. Mr. Young.
414. Senior Seminar in Developmental
Neurobiology. Discussion of current top
ics in developmental neurobiology at cel
lular, molecular, and genetic levels,
through reading, discussion, and oral and
written analysis of the primary literature.
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