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Program Requirements
This program will train students in the fundamentals of biology - with a focus on molecular biology - and will give them computational and mathematical skills needed to manage, analyze, and model large biological datasets. Two integrative features of the program are a three-credit joint independent studies course, and a one-credit seminar.
Students may complete this program with a maximum of 73 credits or a minimum of 69 credits. This depends upon the student's choice of required courses and whether or not the student is exempt from taking COMP 202.
Advising notes for U0 students:
It is highly recommended that Freshman BIOL, CHEM, MATH, and PHYS courses be selected with an adviser to ensure they meet the core requirements of the COMP-BIO program.
Required Courses (49 credits)
Required Mathematics and Statistics Courses
6 credits from the following:
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MATH 222 Calculus 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Taylor series, Taylor's theorem in one and several variables. Review of vector geometry. Partial differentiation, directional derivative. Extreme of functions of 2 or 3 variables. Parametric curves and arc length. Polar and spherical coordinates. Multiple integrals.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Brandenbursky, Michael; Xu, Jian-Jun (Fall) Tsogtgerel, Gantumur (Winter) Eswarathasan, Suresh (Summer)
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MATH 223 Linear Algebra (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Review of matrix algebra, determinants and systems of linear equations. Vector spaces, linear operators and their matrix representations, orthogonality. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, diagonalization of Hermitian matrices. Applications.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Ehlen, Stephan (Fall) Saldanha Salvador, Tiago Miguel (Winter)
Required Computer Science Courses
12-16 credits from:
* Students who have sufficient knowledge in a programming language are not required to take COMP 202.
** Students take either COMP 462 or COMP 561.
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COMP 202 Foundations of Programming (3 credits) *
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to programming in a modern high-level language, modular software design and debugging. Programming concepts are illustrated using a variety of application areas.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Lyman-Abramovitch, Melanie; Gamboa Higuera, Juan Camilo; Tremblay, Jonathan (Fall) Tremblay, Jonathan; Cheung, Jackie; Oakes, Bentley (Winter) Manjanna, Sandeep (Summer)
3 hours
Prerequisite: a CEGEP level mathematics course
Restrictions: COMP 202 and COMP 208 cannot both be taken for credit. COMP 202 is intended as a general introductory course, while COMP 208 is intended for students interested in scientific computation. COMP 202 cannot be taken for credit with or after COMP 250
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COMP 206 Introduction to Software Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Comprehensive overview of programming in C, use of system calls and libraries, debugging and testing of code; use of developmental tools like make, version control systems.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Vybihal, Joseph P (Fall) Vybihal, Joseph P (Winter)
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COMP 250 Introduction to Computer Science (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : An introduction to the design of computer algorithms, including basic data structures, analysis of algorithms, and establishing correctness of programs. Overview of topics in computer science.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Blanchette, Mathieu; Waldispuhl, Jérôme; Hatami, Hamed (Fall) Robillard, Martin; Smaoui, Mohamed (Winter)
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COMP 251 Algorithms and Data Structures (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to algorithm design and analysis. Graph algorithms, greedy algorithms, data structures, dynamic programming, maximum flows.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Crepeau, Claude (Fall) Waldispuhl, Jérôme (Winter)
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COMP 462 Computational Biology Methods (3 credits) **
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Application of computer science techniques to problems arising in biology and medicine, techniques for modeling evolution, aligning molecular sequences, predicting structure of a molecule and other problems from computational biology.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Blanchette, Mathieu (Fall)
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COMP 561 Computational Biology Methods and Research (4 credits) **
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Application of computer science techniques to problems arising in biology and medicine, techniques for modeling evolution, aligning molecular sequences, predicting structure of a molecule and other problems from computational biology. An in-depth exploration of key research areas.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Blanchette, Mathieu (Fall)
4 hours
Prerequisites: COMP 251, and MATH 323 or MATH 203 or BIOL 309
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken COMP 562. Not open to students who are taking or have taken COMP 462.
Note: Additional work will consist of assignments and of a substantial final project that will require to put in practice the concepts covered in the course.
Required Biology Courses
20 credits from:
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BIOL 200 Molecular Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The physical and chemical properties of the cell and its components in relation to their structure and function. Topics include: protein structure, enzymes and enzyme kinetics; nucleic acid replication, transcription and translation; the genetic code, mutation, recombination, and regulation of gene expression.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Bureau, Thomas E; Roy, Richard D W; Fagotto, Francesco; Zetka, Monique (Fall)
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BIOL 201 Cell Biology and Metabolism (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : This course introduces the student to our modern understanding of cells and how they work. Major topics to be covered include: photosynthesis, energy metabolism and metabolic integration; plasma membrane including secretion, endocytosis and contact mediated interactions between cells; cytoskeleton including cell and organelle movement; the nervous system; hormone signaling; the cell cycle.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Brown, Gregory G; Zetka, Monique (Winter)
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BIOL 202 Basic Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Introduction to basic principles, and to modern advances, problems and applications in the genetics of higher and lower organisms with examples representative of the biological sciences.
Terms: Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Schoen, Daniel J; Moon, Nam Sung; Hendricks, Shelton (Winter) Dankort, David; Hipfner, David (Summer)
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BIOL 215 Introduction to Ecology and Evolution (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to the fundamental processes of ecology and evolution that bear on the nature and diversity of organisms and the processes that govern their assembly into ecological communities and their roles in ecosystem function.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Price, Neil; De Martino, Gemma (Fall)
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BIOL 301 Cell and Molecular Laboratory (4 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : An introduction to laboratory techniques with a focus on methods used to investigate fundamental questions in modern cell and molecular biology. Techniques including gene cloning, DNA and protein isolation and manipulation are covered, along with functional analysis of genes and proteins, basic bioinformatics, and computer-based experimental design and data analysis.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Zheng, Huanquan; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Fall) Zheng, Huanquan; Harrison, Paul; Reyes Lamothe, Rodrigo (Winter)
Fall or Winter
1 hour lecture and one 6-hour laboratory
Prerequisites: PHYS 102 or PHYS 142, BIOL 200, BIOL 201 or ANAT/BIOC 212, and BIOL 202. BIOL 206 recommended.
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking BIOC 300. Requires departmental approval.
For approval email anne-marie.sdicu [at] mcgill.ca. Specify your ID number as well as the term and two lab day preferences.
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CHEM 212 Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 (4 credits)
Overview
Chemistry : A survey of reactions of aliphatic and aromatic compounds including modern concepts of bonding, mechanisms, conformational analysis, and stereochemistry.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Daoust, Michel; Huot, Mitchell; Pavelka, Laura; Tsantrizos, Youla S (Fall) Daoust, Michel; Huot, Mitchell; Pavelka, Laura; Lumb, Jean-Philip; Gauthier, Jean-Marc (Winter) Pavelka, Laura; Daoust, Michel (Summer)
Fall, Winter, Summer
Prerequisite: CHEM 110 or equivalent.
Corequisite: CHEM 120 or equivalent.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken CHEM 211 or equivalent
Each lab section is limited enrolment
Note: Some CEGEP programs provide equivalency for this course. For more information, please see the Department of Chemistry's Web page ().
Required Joint Courses
4 credits from:
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COMP 401 Project in Biology and Computer Science (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : A research project applying computational approaches to a biological problem. The project is (co)-supervised by a professor in Computer Science and/or Biology. A program advisor from each department has to approve the project.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Ruths, Derek (Fall) Ruths, Derek (Winter) Waldispuhl, Jérôme (Summer)
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COMP 499 Undergraduate Bioinformatics Seminar (1 credit)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Introduction to current research topics in bioinformatics through a series of seminars by invited researchers.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Blanchette, Mathieu (Fall)
Complementary Courses (27 credits)
6 credits, ONE of the following pairs of courses as follows:
MATH 203 and MATH 204 or MATH 323 and MATH 324 or BIOL 309 and BIOL 373.
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BIOL 309 Mathematical Models in Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Glass, Leon (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: one year of calculus. An additional course in calculus is recommended
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BIOL 373 Biometry (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Elementary statistical methods in biology. Introduction to the analysis of biological data with emphasis on the assumptions behind statistical tests and models. Use of statistical techniques typically available on computer packages.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Leung, Brian (Fall)
Fall
2 hours lecture and 2 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: MATH 112 or equivalent
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
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MATH 203 Principles of Statistics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Examples of statistical data and the use of graphical means to summarize the data. Basic distributions arising in the natural and behavioural sciences. The logical meaning of a test of significance and a confidence interval. Tests of significance and confidence intervals in the one and two sample setting (means, variances and proportions).
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Best, Ana; Wolfson, David B (Fall) Correa, Jose Andres (Winter) Correa, Jose Andres (Summer)
No calculus prerequisites
Restriction: This course is intended for students in all disciplines. For extensive course restrictions covering statistics courses see Section 3.6.1 of the Arts and of the Science sections of the calendar regarding course overlaps.
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar. Students should consult for information regarding transfer credits for this course.
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MATH 204 Principles of Statistics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : The concept of degrees of freedom and the analysis of variability. Planning of experiments. Experimental designs. Polynomial and multiple regressions. Statistical computer packages (no previous computing experience is needed). General statistical procedures requiring few assumptions about the probability model.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Wallace, Michael (Winter)
Winter
Prerequisite: MATH 203 or equivalent. No calculus prerequisites
Restriction: This course is intended for students in all disciplines. For extensive course restrictions covering statistics courses see Section 3.6.1 of the Arts and of the Science sections of the calendar regarding course overlaps.
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
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MATH 323 Probability (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sample space, events, conditional probability, independence of events, Bayes' Theorem. Basic combinatorial probability, random variables, discrete and continuous univariate and multivariate distributions. Independence of random variables. Inequalities, weak law of large numbers, central limit theorem.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015, Summer 2015
Instructors: Anderson, William J (Fall) Kelome, Djivede (Winter) Kelome, Djivede (Summer)
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MATH 324 Statistics (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, contingency tables, nonparametric inference, regression, Bayesian inference.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Genest, Christian (Fall) Steele, Russell (Winter)
Fall and Winter
Prerequisite: MATH 323 or equivalent
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 357
You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
At least 21 credits selected from the following blocks, with the following requirements:
- at least 9 credits from each of the following two blocks
- at least 9 credits at the 400 level or above
- at least 3 credits at the 400 level or above from each block
Computer Science Block
Note: All COMP courses at the 400 level or above (except COMP 400).
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COMP 273 Introduction to Computer Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Number representations, combinational and sequential digital circuits, MIPS instructions and architecture datapath and control, caches, virtual memory, interrupts and exceptions, pipelining.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Vybihal, Joseph P (Fall) Vybihal, Joseph P (Winter)
3 hours
Corequisite: COMP 206.
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COMP 302 Programming Languages and Paradigms (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Programming language design issues and programming paradigms. Binding and scoping, parameter passing, lambda abstraction, data abstraction, type checking. Functional and logic programming.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Pientka, Brigitte (Fall) Friedman, Nathan (Winter)
3 hours
Prerequisite: COMP 250
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COMP 303 Software Development (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Principles, mechanisms, techniques, and tools for object-oriented software development: encapsulation, design patterns, unit testing, etc.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Robillard, Martin (Fall)
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COMP 310 Operating Systems (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Control and scheduling of large information processing systems. Operating system software - resource allocation, dispatching, processors, access methods, job control languages, main storage management. Batch processing, multiprogramming, multiprocessing, time sharing.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Maheswaran, Muthucumaru (Fall) Maheswaran, Muthucumaru (Winter)
3 hours
Prerequisite: COMP 273
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COMP 330 Theory of Computation (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Mathematical models of computers, finite automata, Turing machines, counter machines, push-down machines, computational complexity.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Panangaden, Prakash (Fall)
3 hours
Prerequisite: COMP 251.
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COMP 350 Numerical Computing (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Computer representation of numbers, IEEE Standard for Floating Point Representation, computer arithmetic and rounding errors. Numerical stability. Matrix computations and software systems. Polynomial interpolation. Least-squares approximation. Iterative methods for solving a nonlinear equation. Discretization methods for integration and differential equations.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Chang, Xiao-Wen (Fall)
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COMP 360 Algorithm Design (3 credits)
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Advanced algorithm design and analysis. Linear programming, complexity and NP-completeness, advanced algorithmic techniques.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Vetta, Adrian Roshan (Fall) Cai, Yang (Winter)
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COMP 361D1 Software Engineering Project (3 credits) *
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : Software development process in practice: requirement elicitation and analysis, software design, implementation, integration, test planning, and maintenance. Application of the core concepts and techniques through the realization of a large software system.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Kienzle, Jorg Andreas (Fall)
Corequisite: COMP 303
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken the 3 credit version of COMP 361.
Students must register for both COMP 361D1 and COMP 361D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both COMP 361D1 and COMP 361D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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COMP 361D2 Software Engineering Project (3 credits) *
Overview
Computer Science (Sci) : See COMP 361D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Kienzle, Jorg Andreas (Winter)
Prerequisite: COMP 361D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both COMP 361D1 and COMP 361D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MATH 240 Discrete Structures 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Mathematics & Statistics (Sci) : Mathematical foundations of logical thinking and reasoning. Mathematical language and proof techniques. Quantifiers. Induction. Elementary number theory. Modular arithmetic. Recurrence relations and asymptotics. Combinatorial enumeration. Functions and relations. Partially ordered sets and lattices. Introduction to graphs, digraphs and rooted trees.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Vetta, Adrian Roshan (Fall)
* Students must take both COMP 361D1 and COMP 361D2.
Biology Block
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BIOL 300 Molecular Biology of the Gene (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Schöck, Frieder; Moon, Nam Sung (Fall)
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BIOL 309 Mathematical Models in Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Glass, Leon (Fall)
Fall
3 hours lecture
Prerequisite: one year of calculus. An additional course in calculus is recommended
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BIOL 310 Biodiversity and Ecosystems (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Ecological bases of the natural causes and consequences of current global environmental changes, including how biodiversity and ecosystem processes are defined and measured, how they vary in space and time, how they are affected by physical and biological factors, and how they affect each other and human societies.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Davies, Thomas (Winter)
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BIOL 313 Eukaryotic Cell Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Cell biology of eukaryotes focusing on the assembly and function of cellular structures, the regulation of transcription; the dynamics of the cytoskeleton and its motors; mechanics of cell division; cell cycle and checkpoints; nuclear dynamics; chromosome structure and behaviour and experimental techniques.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Zetka, Monique; Fagotto, Francesco; Kaitna, Susanne (Winter)
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BIOL 395 Quantitative Biology Seminar 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Overview of concepts and current research in quantitative biology; theoretical ecology and evolution, computational biology, and physical biology.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Vogel, Jacalyn; Guichard, Frederic (Fall)
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BIOL 435 Natural Selection (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Explains how the selection of undirected variation accounts for some of the leading features of the natural world. Its main focus is evolutionary change and adaptation, but it will also include material from ecological, economic, biochemical and computer systems. It emphasizes experimental studies of evolution.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Fall
3 hours of lecture
Prerequisite: BIOL 304 or permission of instructor.
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BIOL 495 Quantitative Biology Seminar 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Overview of concepts and current research in quantitative biology; theoretical ecology and evolution, computational biology, and physical biology.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Vogel, Jacalyn; Guichard, Frederic (Fall)
Fall
1 hour seminar
Prerequisite: BIOL 395
Restriction: Registration is restricted to U3 students in the Quantitative Biology program, joint COMP-BIOL, BIOL-MATH, PHGY-MATH and PHGY-PHYS programs.
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BIOL 518 Advanced Topics in Cell Biology (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Concepts and mechanisms in advanced cell biology, based on genetic, cell biological, biophysical, and computational studies. Emphasis is placed on processes that are evolutionarily conserved, with examples from model organisms and cell-free (in vitro) approaches.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Brouhard, Gary; Vogel, Jacalyn (Winter)
Winter
3 hours seminar
Prerequisite: BIOL 313 or permission
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BIOL 551 Principles of Cellular Control (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Fundamental principles of cellular control, with cell cycle control as a major theme. Biological and physical concepts are brought to bear on control in healthy cells..
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Vogel, Jacalyn; Francois, Paul (Winter)
- BIOL 568 Topics on the Human Genome (3 credits)
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BIOL 569 Developmental Evolution (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : The influence of developmental mechanisms on evolution. This course draws on recent examples from plants and invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Topics include homology, modularity, dissociation, co-option, evolutionary novelty, evolution of cis-regulation and gene regulatory networks, developmental constraint and evolvability, heterochrony, phenotypic plasticity, and canalization.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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BIOL 583 Advanced Biometry (3 credits)
Overview
Biology (Sci) : Advanced techniques in biometry surveying a broad number of statistical tools including: philosophy of scientific inference, experimental design and advanced linear models, generalized linear models (esp. logistic regression), modern regression techniques (quantile, local, etc), temporal and spatial statistics, and multivariate techniques.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Winter
Prerequisite: BIOL 373 or permission of instructor.
Note: You may not be able to receive credit for this course and other statistic courses. Be sure to check the Course Overlap section under Faculty Degree Requirements in the Arts or Science section of the Calendar.
Faculty of Science—2014-2015 (last updated Feb. 18, 2014) (disclaimer)