Subject	Course Number	Long Course Title	Description
BIOL	100	The Biology of Human Reproduction	An introductory lecture course focusing on human reproduction to demonstrate some basic biological principles. Discussion of aspects of molecular, cellular, and organismic phenomena related to the development of human biological complexity and consideration of current research and its impact on the individual and on society. Lecture only. Primarily for non-science majors; credit not applicable to the biology major.
BIOL	103	Biotechnology and Society	An examination of basic biological principles underlying current biotechnology in the fields of human genetics and genetic engineering. Discussion of methods of basic scientific research, the impact of technology on society, and ethical problems in human and agricultural genetics. Credit not applicable to biology major. Lecture only.
BIOL	110	Integrative Biology: Principles	An introduction to the unified science of life. Emphasis on the experimental approach, to show the interrelationships of living things by examining their metabolism, growth and development, genetics, behavior, ecology, and evolution. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	120	Integrative Biology: Autotrophs	An introduction to the development, physiology, and evolution of plants, drawing illustrations from organisms throughout the taxon. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	140	Integrative Biology: Heterotrophs	An introduction to the biology of animals and arotrophic microbes and protists, including studies of the phylogeny, morphology, physiology, development, behavior, and ecology of representatives of the major phyla. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	190	Tutorial Studies in Biology	Individual investigations of problems in biology.
BIOL	199	Independent Study in Biology	Individual, in-depth investigation of a specific biological problem. Students contemplating an honors project should register for this course.
BIOL	200	Animal Behavior	A lecture and field-study course examining the principles and problems of animal behavior. Subjects include orientation, feeding, locomotion, communication, escape in time and space, biological rhythms, mate choice, and aspects of social behavior, examined from evolutionary, ontogenetic, physiological, ecological, and ethological perspectives. Lecture and laboratory. May be taken separately or as part of the Marine Biology Term.
BIOL	203	Biotechnology and Society	An examination of the basic biological principles underlying current biotechnology in the fields of human genetics and genetic engineering. Discussion of methods of basic scientific research, the impact of technology on society, and ethical problems in human and agricultural genetics. Offered at the London Centre.
BIOL	210	Biodiversity	The influence of climate on global habitats is considered. Selected terrestrial life zones, including neotropic, paleotropic, montane, desert, cold temperate, and warm temperate, are analyzed and stresses produced by climate and habitat evaluated. Adaptive responses at the morphological and physiological levels are investigated and scientific principles are applied to contemporary ethical issues, including restoration and conservation ecology. Lecture only.
BIOL	220	Invertebrate Zoology	A comprehensive introduction to 95 percent of the million or so animal species, those without backbones. Emphasis on the evolution, behavior, and ecology of the major phyla and the role of invertebrates in contemporary research programs. Lecture only.
BIOL	221	Entomology	Topics covered will include a survey of all of the clades of insects with information on the systematics, diversity, ecology, life history, behavior and unique characteristics of each lineage. Lecture material will be augmented with required field trips to collect local species (terrestrial and aquatic) and the creation of a personal collection of species following the format as is customary for museum collections.
BIOL	222	Parasitology	Students will examine and compare the complex life cycles of a variety of parasites, including those of medical and veterinary importance. Specific topics covered within the course will include: parasite biochemistry, ecology, parasite evasion of the host immune system, host immune responses, how parasites may alter host behavior. The laboratory component of the course will include both live and preserved specimens.
BIOL	230	General Ecology	An introduction to the interactions between organisms and the environment. Lectures and discussions will explore the role of physical, chemical, and biotic processes, including human activities, in determining the structure and function of populations, communities, and ecosystems. Topics will include resource availability, competition, predation, symbiosis, and natural and anthropogenic disturbances such as disease, biological invasions, pollution, and climate change. Lecture only.
BIOL	231	Physiological Ecology	Biological stresses induced by environmental variables are described. Physiological and molecular responses associated with temperature extremes, drought, and nutrient and energy competition are discussed and investigated, using both field and laboratory experience. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	235	Evolutionary Biology	A study of biological evolution, including natural selection, adaptation, the evolution of sex, speciation, extinction, and constraints on evolutionary change. Readings include classic and current literature. Two lectures and one discussion per week.
BIOL	237	General Endocrinology	An examination of the endocrine system, a major regulator of an animal’s development, physiology, and behavior. Attention to both classic techniques and recent developments involving hormones and other chemical mediators such as neurohormones, neurotransmittors, pheromones, and chemical inductors. Lecture only.
BIOL	240	Morphogenesis of the Vertebrates	A modified “programmed self-instruction” course providing the materials and guidance necessary to gain an integrated concept of ontogenetic and evolutionary organogenesis. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	241	Cell Physiology	The structure and organization of the eukaryotic cell are described and employed to understand functional interrelationships at the organelle and molecular levels. Major processes considered include external environmental control mechanisms, developmental events, the regulation of energy exchange, and membrane function. Lecture only.
BIOL	242	Comparative Physiology	A comparative study of the variety of solutions and adaptations diverse animals can make to similar problems — obtaining and transporting oxygen, maintaining water and salt balance, utilizing food, movement, and nervous and hormonal integration. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	245	Conservation Biology	This course explores the scientific concepts related to the conservation and restoration of the Earth’s biological diversity. Topics include patterns of species and ecosystem diversity, the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, causes of extinction, assessing extinction risk, behavioral indicators, in-situ and ex-situ management strategies for endangered species, and ecosystem restoration. Lecture only.
BIOL	250	The Vegetation of Wisconsin	The principles of plant-environment interrelationships are developed through extensive field study of Wisconsin vegetation. Emphasis is placed on the manner in which physical and biological factors influence competition, adaptation, and structure in major local habitats. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	260	Genetics	A lecture and laboratory study of the principles of inheritance to sex determination and the concepts of historical and modern eugenics and genetic engineering.
BIOL	280	Experimental Design and Analysis	An introduction to the design of sampling programs and experiments in biological studies, as well as methods of data analysis and interpretation. Course highlights the importance of considering possible statistical analyses when planning studies, including the role of descriptive, exploratory, and confirmatory statistics in data analysis and interpretation. Lecture only.
BIOL	300	Immunology	This course will cover the basic concepts of immunology, including differentiation of immune cells, antibody structure and diversity, antigen-antibody reactions, the major-histocompatibility complex, the complement system, immune responses to pathogens, allergies and auto-immune diseases, and comparative immunology. The course will also examine recent advances in the field through current peer-reviewed publications.
BIOL	301	Molecular Systematics	An introduction to the current practices used to estimate evolutionary relationships among organisms using molecular information. Students will learn methods of constructing phylogenetic trees through the reading and in-class discussion of research articles, and practice with data sets and computer software.
BIOL	302	Biology of Mammals	Taxonomy, zoogeography, life history, ecology, anatomy of modern mammals, and their evolution from early pre-mammalian forms. Course format is three lectures per week; lectures will incorporate demonstrations, small group work, and discussions. Optional field trips will be organized throughout the term.
BIOL	326	Microbiology	A study of microbial life with an emphasis on prokaryotes. Microbial physiology is examined in the context of how unique characteristics allow microbes to exploit a vast diversity of environments, including the human body. Laboratory exercises introduce students to techniques used to safely study microorganisms.
BIOL	330	Aquatic Ecology	The principles of the ecology of fresh waters, developed through discussions, laboratory, and field investigations of the functional relationships and productivity of biotic communities as they are affected by the dynamics of physical, chemical, and biotic parameters. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	340	Topics in Neuroscience	A study of the nervous system from the perspectives of psychology, biology, and/or biological anthropology. Topics vary year to year and may include glial cells, neural development, and the evolution of nervous systems and neurotransmitter systems. Lecture only. May be repeated with consent of instructor. Topic for Spring 2009: The Emerging Importance of Glial Cells in the Nervous System An examination of the anatomy, physiology and neurochemistry of these cell types and their important, often critical, roles in behavior, development, injury repair, drug effects and higher cognitive phenomena. The class will be in a seminar format with a few weeks of introductory lectures, periodic group review of current relevant research papers, and individual student presentations.
BIOL	345	Terrestrial Field Ecology	A hands-on course intended to demonstrate basic ecological principles using local terrestrial ecosystems. Field research projects will introduce students to methods in hypothesis development, experimental design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. Research topics will include estimating population size, community structure, plant-animal interactions, and foraging behavior. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	350	Islands and Isolation	This course examines islands and the situation of isolation across the fields of geology, evolutionary biology, and human geography. Topics include island formation, dynamics of isolated natural and human populations, and the historical importance of islands in the study of natural history. The course includes laboratories and field trips.
BIOL	354	Molecular Biology	An interdisciplinary examination of regulatory mechanisms leading to differential gene expression. Main topics include transcription, translation, gene and protein structure, and modern genomics. The application of current molecular techniques is emphasized throughout the course. Laboratory work is experimental in approach. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	356	Genomics	An overview of the recently emerged field of bioinformatics. Classes will include lectures and computer practicals. Topics covered will include: genome projects, DNA and protein sequence analysis, multiple sequence alignments, searching biological databases, protein structure prediction, transcriptomes and proteomes, and microarrays.
BIOL	380	Ecological Modeling	An introduction to the process of developing mathematical descriptions of the interactions between components of a population, community, or ecosystem, and the use of computer simulation as a tool for understanding ecology and natural resource management. Topics include population growth, predator-prey and competitor interactions, and mass balance in ecosystems.
BIOL	390	Tutorial Studies in Biology	Individual investigations of problems in biology.
BIOL	399	Independent Study in Biology	Individual, in-depth investigation of a specific biological problem. Students contemplating an honors project should register for this course.
BIOL	434	Ecological Energetics	Field and laboratory experimental investigations of the transfer and transformation of energy or energy-containing materials between and within organisms and populations of aquatic ecosystems. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	444	Biochemistry I	An introduction to the study of biological processes at the molecular level with emphases on protein struction and function, enzyme mechanism and kinetics, fundamentals of physical biochemistry, and the chemistry of biological molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.
BIOL	450	Special Topics in Biology	A course designed to offer students an opportunity to study important issues in biology not covered in other regularly offered classes. Activities may include reading and analysis of material from primary literature, consideration of interdisciplinary connections, and field and laboratory activities. Topic for Spring 2009: Science at the Interface--The Biocomplexity of Lake Winnebago In this course, we will engage in the process of tackling environmental issues from a multidisciplinary approach. Specifically, we will span from the algal cell to the watershed ecosystem in Lake Winnebago as we explore the interactions between different fields, including biology, chemistry, geology, physics, sociology, government, and economics.
BIOL	453	Developmental Biology	An experimental approach to animal development with laboratory and lecture emphasis on the molecular and cellular level. Includes discussions of pattern formation, differentiation, cell interactions, gametogenesis, fertilization, and early embryogenesis. The course will conclude with an integration of these topics into the context of current ideas of the developmental mechanisms of evolutionary change. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	455	Biochemistry II	A continuation of Biochemistry I. A study of biological processes at the molecular level with an emphasis on metabolic pathways, recent advances in biochemical medicine, and biochemical aspects of gene replication, protein synthesis, molecular motors, and sensing. The course is divided between lecture and discussion and will rely heavily on current biochemical literature.
BIOL	460	Advanced Research in Biomolecular Chemistry	A formal introduction to advanced research and techniques in biochemistry. Students will go through the process of developing and independent research project from analyzing scientific literature to conducting experiments. Results and data analysis will be disseminated in the form of oral or written reports.
BIOL	505	Coral Reef Environments	Examines the ecology of coral reef environments. Lecture, laboratory, and field components. Part of the Marine Biology Term. Lecture and laboratory.
BIOL	510	Modern Concepts of Embryogenesis	A broad-based study of recent advances in the field of developmental biology. Critical review of current literature on genetic, molecular, and functional studies elucidating the underlying mechanisms of embryogenesis.
BIOL	520	Cancer Biology	An advanced seminar covering key areas of cancer biology, including epidemiology, molecular diagnostics, mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and current treatments. Students will undertake critical review of current literature in these fields and will have input into course content.
BIOL	590	Tutorial Studies in Biology	Individual investigations of problems in biology.
BIOL	599	Independent Study in Biology	Individual, in-depth investigation of a specific biological problem. Students contemplating an honors project should register for this course.
BIOL	600	Recent Advances in Biology Seminar	A multidisciplinary lecture series on modern biological theory and research. Students attend seminars and prepare short summaries or “reaction papers” on topics covered. Biology faculty members and visiting scientists in biological and allied fields present seminars relating their research to the broader aspects of their disciplines. Topics discussed within any academic year provide a comprehensive exposure to the current frontiers of biological research. May be repeated for a maximum of three units.
BIOL	690	Tutorial Studies in Biology	Individual investigations of problems in biology.
BIOL	699	Independent Study in Biology	Individual, in-depth investigation of a specific biological problem. Students contemplating an honors project should register for this course.