Undergraduate Studies > Special Topic Descriptions

Spring 2008

BIOU409, Vertebrate Paleontology

Fall 2007

BIOU409, Scientific, social and moral issues of the human genome project; Restricted to: First year Biology/Biochemistry students AP Biology (4 or 5 on AP exam)

Summer II 2007

BIOU409, Environmental Physiology of Animals

BIOU964, Research - with Gail Begley

Spring 2007

BIOU409, The Biology and Conservation of Fishes

Spring 2008 — Sequence D
BIOU409, Current Topics in Biology (4 semester hours)

Vertebrate Paleontology

Topic Description:  Examines evolution of vertebrates, including humans, as revealed through the fossil record.

Meets: Spring semester: T, F 9:50 AM - 11:30 AM (Sequence D)

Key # 21324

Text: Yet to be determined

Questions? Contact instructor: Prof. Charles Meszoely,

617-373-2852

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Fall 2007 — Sequence 4
BIOU409, Current Topics in Biology (4 credit hours)
Scientific, social and moral issues of the human genome projectimals

Restricted to: First year Biology/Biochemistry students AP Biology (4 or 5 on APexam)

Topic Description: This course will consider the scientific advances that made the human genome project possible. We will also examine the social and moral issues that knowing the DNA sequence of an individual have for the individual and for society. This course is part of a Learning Community with ENGU111.

Meets: Fall semester: M, W, Th 1:35 PM - 2:40 PM (Sequence 4)

Key # 73250

Text: Yet to be determined

Questions? Contact instructor: Prof. Phyllis Strauss , 617-373-3492; p.strauss@neu.edu

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Summer II 2007 — Sequence 4
BIOU409, Current Topics in Biology (4 credit hours)
Environmental Physiology of Animals

Topic Description: This course will consider the environmental challenges faced by animals and the physiological systems that are adapted to meet these challenges. The course will be organized around basic environmental factors relevant to physiology and challenging environments that animals face. Topics may include effects of temperature, water availability, ionic composition, oxygen availability, hydrodynamic factors, and pressure. Consideration will be given to correlations of physiological stress with habitats. The course will be taught without a formal laboratory component, but will likely include some practical field exercises.

Meets: Summer II semester: M, T, W, Th 3:20 PM - 5 PM (Sequence 4)

Key # 05897

Text: Yet to be determined

Questions? Contact instructor: Prof. Richard Marsh, 617-373-3495; r.marsh@neu.edu

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Summer II 2007
BIOU964, Research (4 credit hours)
with Prof. Gail Begley

Topic Description: Students will work independently and collaboratively on a real research problem as part of an ongoing study of the microbial community at a local hazardous waste site undergoing bioremediation (i.e., the use of naturally occurring microbes to remove/detoxify chemical contaminants).  Goals of the course include not only attaining mastery of technical skills, but also improving general research skills such as critical review of the literature, experimental design and revision, record-keeping, data analysis, initiative, collaboration, and communication. It is expected that students may generate data that could be presented at scientific meetings after the summer.

Note: There is no lecture component or textbook for the course.  Students will need a laboratory notebook with duplicate pages and a lab coat.

Prerequisites: Instructor permission is required.  In general, students should have successfully completed Organic Chemistry and Genetics at a minimum.  Additional coursework in Microbiology, Biochemistry, or Ecology would be an advantage, but is not specifically required. 

Meets: Summer II semester

Key #: Use the Directed Study Form to register for this course.

Text: NONE

Questions? Contact instructor: Dr. Gail Begley, 617-373-3491; g.begley@neu.edu

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Spring 2007 — Sequence 5
BIOU409, Current Topics in Biology (4 credit hours)
The Biology and Conservation of Fishes

Topic Description: This course will combine aspects of a traditional biology-of-fishes class with an applied approach tackling the potentially lethal consequences of natural and human-induced stressors on various species. We will first focus on general anatomy and physiology of fishes as well as systematics and diversity. Later, we will apply these lessons to case studies involving the impacts of fishing-capture, thermal/climate change and pollution (as well as other stressors) on physiology, behavior and ecology. Conservation-oriented challenges such as overfishing and potential counter-measures such as aquaculture will also be covered. Although primarily lecture-based, the course will dedicate extensive class-time to local field trips, paper discussions, expert guest lectures, dissections/labs, student presentations and additional activities. There is no formal lab component to this course.

Note: the majority of the case studies will focus on marine species.

Prerequisites: this course is intended for Juniors/Seniors in Biology and related disciplines. Although no prerequisites are required for enrollment, previous classes in conservation biology, basic anatomy and physiology, vertebrate zoology, and/or animal/systems physiology will be helpful. Interested students with a science background, but without any of described coursework, should contact the instructor. Graduate students with interest are encouraged to do the same.

Meets: Spring semester: M, W, Th 4:35 PM-5:40 PM (Sequence 5)

Key #: 01471

Enrollment: Limited to 20 undergraduates

Text: Visit the Northeastern Bookstore

Questions? Contact instructor: Dr. John Mandelman, 617-226-2168; jmandelman@neaq.org

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