Biological Sciences (BISC)

The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.

100Lxg Cells and Organisms (4, FaSm) Introduction to morphology and physiology of cells, organs and organ systems. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 2 hours. Not available for major credit.

101xg Human Biology (4, FaSpSm) Introduction to recent developments in molecular genetics and biochemistry with emphasis on their impacts on the individual and society. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Not available for major credit.

102xg Humans and Their Environment (4, FaSp) Biological impacts of people on the environment and the environment on people: chemistry of life, evolution, ecology, genetics; population biology; resources and exploitation; pollution. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Not available for major credit.

108L Special Laboratory I (1) Laboratory component for BISC 112L for entering freshmen or transfer students with advanced placement or equivalent lecture credit from another institution. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

109L Special Laboratory II (1) Laboratory component for BISC 110L for entering freshmen or transfer students with advanced placement or equivalent lecture credit from another institution. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

110Lg Introduction to Biology I (4, FaSm) The chemical basis of biological structure; structure and metabolism of cells; mechanisms of inheritance and gene action; evolution; development. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 107L.) Corequisite: CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL.

112L Introduction to Biology II (4, SpSm) Origin of life; prokaryotes; introduction to plant and animal structure; diversity of life; plant and animal physiology; ecology. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 106L.) Prerequisite: BISC 110L; recommended preparation: CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL.

113L Advanced Introduction to Biology II (4, SpSm) Equivalent to 112L, but will have separate laboratory sections for exceptionally well-prepared students who have completed BISC 110L. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 116L.) Prerequisite: BISC 110L; recommended preparation: CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL.

150xg The Nature of Human Health and Diseases: From Mental Illness to AIDS (4, Sp) The human organism; the nature of inherited and acquired diseases; the biological and societal basis for the AIDS epidemic; therapy, drug design and the future. Not available for major credit.

193 Freshman Colloquium I (1, Fa) A series of lectures and discussions at which faculty of the department introduce their research activities to students entering biology and related majors. Graded CR/NC. Corequisite: concurrent registration in BISC 110L or departmental approval.

194 Freshman Colloquium II (1, Sp) A series of lectures and discussions at which faculty of the department introduce their research activities to students entering biology and related majors. Graded CR/NC. Corequisite: concurrent registration in BISC 112L or 113L.

210 Molecular Biology (4, FaSpSm) Structure and synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins; molecular biology of prokaryotes and eukaryotes; principles of genetics and cell biology. Prerequisite: BISC 110L; CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL; recommended preparation: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

213 Evolution and Population Genetics (4, Sp) History of evolutionary thought; molecular basis for evolution; dynamics of genes in populations; speciation and macroevolution; patterns of evolution. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 313.) Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L; BISC 210.

230g Man, Mind, and Machines: Introduction to Neuroscience (4, Fa) Survey of the mind-body relationship from early Greeks to modern computers; historical, philosophical, scientific, and technological perspectives tied together with integrative lectures and readings.

290L Introduction to Biological Research (2 or 4, max 4, FaSpSm) Experience in basic techniques through supervised research in the research laboratory of a departmental faculty member. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L, CHEM 105aLbL or CHEM 115abL; and departmental approval.

300L Introduction to Microbiology (4, Fa) Comparative approach to bacteria, rickettsiae, and viruses; their structure, life cycles, geochemical activity, and nutrition. Fundamentals of metabolism and microbial genetics. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

306Lx Introductory Physiology (4, Fa) Functioning of the human body considered chiefly at the organ and system level. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Not available for major credit to biological sciences majors. Prerequisite: high school biology; recommended preparation: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

307L General Physiology (4, Sp) Physiological functions of the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, and urogenital systems of animals. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

310Lx Principles of Human Microbiology (4, Sp) Microbial agents and their relationships to human diseases; pathogenesis, virulence, immunity; epidemiology; control in hospital and community; sterilization, disinfection; introduction to laboratory identification. Not available for credit to biological science majors. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite: high school biology; recommended preparation: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

312Lx Human Anatomy (4, Sp) Systemic human anatomy; morphological and embryological conditions contributing to the structures of the adult. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Not available for major credit to biological sciences majors. Prerequisite: high school biology; recommended preparation: BISC 112L or BISC 113L . 315L Introduction to Ecology (4, Fa) Organism-environment interactions; dynamics of populations, communities, and ecosystems; evolutionary forces. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

316L Biochemistry and Cell Biology (4, FaSpSm) Protein structure and function; cellular structure and metabolism; cell cycle; protein synthesis; hormone action. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 216L.) Prerequisite: BISC 210; CHEM 322aL or CHEM 325aL; recommended preparation: BISC 213.

340x Renaissance to Recombinant DNA: A Modern History of Biology (4) Conceptual approaches, crucial experiments, significant discoveries which led to present understanding of living systems considered in the context of philosophical, cultural, economic, and political environments. Not available for major credit to biological sciences majors. Prerequisite: high school biology and chemistry.

369L Natural History of California (4, Sp) Marine, freshwater, and terrestrial communities of California. Life histories, morphology, special evolutionary adaptations. Relationships between organisms and their biological-physical-chemical environment. Emphasis on field biology. Prerequisite: BISC 112L.

390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.

402 Advanced Molecular Biology Lecture: Prokaryotes (3, Fa) Modern topics in prokaryotic molecular genetics; extrachromosomal elements; cloning, replication, gene expression; transposable elements. Concurrent registration in 408x required of undergraduate students; 508 for graduates. Prerequisite: BISC 210.

403 Advanced Molecular Biology (4, Fa) Molecular mechanisms and control of DNA replication, DNA repair, recombination, gene expression, cell growth, and development in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, from bacteria to humans. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

405L General Embryology (4, Fa) Vertebrate and human development: cellular differentiation; germ cell development and growth; hormonal regulation of reproductive cycles; cleavage through neurulation and subsequent development of primary organs. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L; recommended preparation: BISC 445L.

406L Molecular Biology Laboratory (4, Fa) Techniques in genetics and biochemistry applied to prokaryotic model systems; control of gene expression, chromosomal transfer, and maintenance of genetic code integrity. Prerequisite: BISC 210.

408x Advanced Molecular Biology Discussion: Prokaryotes (1, Fa) Discussion accompanying BISC 402. Concurrent registration in BISC 402 required of undergraduates. Discussion, 2 hours. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: BISC 210.

410 Applications of Molecular Biology to Medicine (4, Fa) Advances and trends in the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

411 Cell Physiology (4, Sp) Regulation of animal and plant function; principles of nerve, muscle, and receptor physiology; movement of materials in plants. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L, and BISC 316L.

419 Environmental Microbiology (4, Sp) Qualitative and quantitative appraisal of microbial activities in pure and contaminated environments; microbial community and its development; interspecific relationships; effects of microorganisms on their surroundings. Lecture, 4 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 300L.

421 Neurobiology (4, Fa) Structure, function, and development of nervous systems; neural integration and mechanisms of behavior; organization and operation of brains; neurogenetics. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 316L, CHEM 322bL or CHEM 325bL; MATH 125.

422L Neurobiology Laboratory (4, Sp) Experimentation on excitable cells, synapses, and neural circuits; intracellular and extracellular techniques for recording, stimulation, and identification of nerve and muscle cells. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite: departmental approval; corequisite: BISC 421.

425 History of Discovery in Biology (4, Sp) Exploration of intellectual and experimental revolutions that produced fundamental discoveries in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and evolution; social, institutional, and artistic factors will also be considered. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L; HIST 103 or HIST 104.

435 Advanced Biochemistry (4, Sp) Macromolecular structure and function; enzymology; metabolic regulation. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

436 Hormonal Regulation of Metabolism (4, Irregular) Physiological and biochemical examination of the mechanisms of hormonal action on metabolism at the subcellular, cellular, and interorgan levels of biological organization. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

437L Comparative Physiology of Animals (4, Sp) Control of the internal environment of animals in relation to their external environment. Thermal regulation, osmoregulation, excretion, and ion balance. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 307L; recommended preparation: BISC 411L.

438 Nutritional Biochemistry (4, Fa) Digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients; metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fats; biochemistry of vitamins, minerals, trace elements; nutritional needs; medical aspects of nutrition. Prerequisite: BISC 316L, CHEM 322b, PHYS 135a; recommended preparation: BISC 307L . 445L Fundamentals of Vertebrate Biology (4, Sp) Evolution and comparative anatomy of vertebrates. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

450L Principles of Immunology (4, Sp) Immune processes, humoral and cellular; immunoglobulins; antibody formation; antigen-antibody interactions; immune dyscrasias; transplantation and tumor immunology; basic hematology and immuno-hematology. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 316L.

467L Histology (4, FaSm) Descriptive and comparative survey of cells, tissues, and organ systems, with emphasis upon the correlation of structure and function. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

469L Marine Biology (4, Fa) Oceanography and marine biology, sampling techniques, evolutionary adaptations, morphology, systematics. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Field trip and field research projects required. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

471L Marine Invertebrate Zoology (4, Sp) Functional morphology, life histories, and systematics of marine invertebrates of all major and minor taxa; emphasis on the living animal and its habitat. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

473L Biological Oceanography (4, Sp) Biological, physical, chemical dynamics and analyses of the ocean; primary production of phytoplankton, secondary production by zooplankton, bacterial remineralization; physiology, ecology of fishes, marine mammals. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

474L Systems Ecology (4, Irregular) General principles of ecosystem function through case studies of energy flow and material cycling. Practical experience with standard field, laboratory methods; introduction to ecological modeling. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory and discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 315L; recommended preparation: MATH 125.

480 Developmental Biology (4, Sp) Regulation of mammalian development at the molecular, cellular and genomic levels; development of the brain and reproductive organs emphasized. Lecture, 3 hours; discussion, 2 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 210.

481L Developmental Biology of Marine Animals (4, Irregular) Patterns of sexual reproduction in marine animals; developmental mechanisms and controls; structure and significance of developmental stages; larval biology and metamorphosis. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8, FaSpSm) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: departmental approval.

493x Honors Seminar (1, max 4, FaSp) Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: third or fourth year standing in Honors Program.

494x Honors Thesis (2, FaSp) Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: fourth year standing in Honors Program.

499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, FaSp) Lecture and discussion in specialized areas of the biological sciences. Students cannot register more than twice for this course. Prerequisite: BISC 112L or BISC 113L.

502ab Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry (4-4, FaSp) Current genetic and biochemical analysis of replication, recombination, mutagenesis, and repair. Fundamentals of transcription and regulation of gene expression. Recent applications of genetic engineering and genome analysis.

504L Laboratory Techniques in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1- 4, max 8, FaSp) Rotation of graduate students through Molecular Biology research laboratories to learn the major technological skills required in the field. Graded CR/NC.

505 Genomics and Molecular Genetics (4, Sp) Molecular genetics (mutagenesis, repair, recombination, and gene regulation) from quantitative and mechanistic approaches. Simple and complex genome analysis using recombinant DNA, physical, and computational techniques. Recommended preparation: BISC 502b.

506 Physical Chemical Principles of Cellular and Molecular Biology (4, Fa) Equilibrium and steady-state systems in biology. Debye-Huckel theory; diffusion, viscous flow, electrophoresis, sedimentation; optical refraction, absorption, scattering, diffraction, rotation by biopolymers. Prerequisite: general biochemistry; mathematics through calculus. 509L Advanced Invertebrate Zoology (4) Study of selected organ systems of marine invertebrates with emphasis on comparative anatomy and functional morphology with reference to behavior and ecology. Lecture, 3 hours; laboratory, 3 hours.

518 Recent Advances in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2 or 4, max 12, FaSp) Lectures on cellular and molecular biology. Registration restricted to three semesters.

520 Recent Advances in Neurobiology (2 or 4, max 12, Fa) Lectures on selected topics in neurobiology. Registration restricted to three semesters. Prerequisite: graduate status in departmental program or departmental approval.

524 Advanced Neurosciences I (4, Fa) Nervous system anatomy, electrophysiology, molecular biology, pharmacology. Prerequisite: BISC 421. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 525a.)

525 Advanced Neurosciences II (4, Sp) Development, plasticity, sensorimotor integration, neuroendocrinology, and computational neurobiology. Prerequisite: BISC 421. (Duplicates credit in former BISC 525b.)

527 Mammalian Neuroanatomy (4) Major functional systems of the mammalian nervous system are reviewed; overview of development, histology, and research techniques. Prerequisite: BISC 524 and BISC 525 or departmental approval.

529 Seminar in Marine Biology (1, max 4, FaSp) Graded CR/NC.

530 Seminar (2, max 8, FaSp)

531 Seminar in Marine Invertebrate Zoology (2, max 8, FaSp)

532 Seminar in Ecology (2, max 8, FaSp)

535 Seminar in Physiology (2, max 8, FaSp)

537 Seminar in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2, max 8, FaSp)

539 Seminar in Neurobiology (1, max 4, FaSp)

540 Seminar in Biogeography (2, max 8)

542 Seminar in Molecular Biology (1, max 6, FaSp) Graded CR/NC.

545 Seminar in Developmental Biology (2, max 8, FaSp) A seminar format will be used to discuss recent publications in developmental biology. Current concepts and techniques will be emphasized.

549L Bioelectronics (4, Irregular) Theory of measuring electrical signals from biological tissues; analysis and design of circuits commonly used in physiological studies; analogue and digital electronics; integrated circuits. Lecture, 2 hours; discussion, 2 hours; laboratory, 3 hours.

551 Biosystematics (4) Philosophies of classification of organisms; their use in biological theory and practice.

553 Biogeography (4, Irregular) Geographic distribution of plants and animals; patterns of vicariance, radiation and dispersal; major biotic regions, ecological and historical causal factors; construction of biogeography theory.

554 Models in Ecological Research (4, Irregular) Lectures and seminars on the utility of conceptual, analog, mechanistic modeling; the use of microcosms in ecological research. Independent project required. Basic computer experience recommended.

568 Functional Morphology of Marine Organisms (4, Irregular) Advanced functional analyses of specific organ systems and life processes in selected major taxonomic groups of marine animals.

573L Marine Ecology (4, Irregular) Interrelationships between marine populations and communities and their environments. Lecture, 2 hours; laboratory, 6 hours. Recommended preparation: elementary course in statistics.

581L Current Problems in Marine Sciences (4, max 16, Irregular) In-depth studies on selected problems of current interest in the marine sciences. Lecture and laboratory.

582 Advanced Biological Oceanography (4, Fa) Aspects of physics and chemistry of the oceans. Qualitative and quantitative considerations of the ecology of pelagic and benthic communities.

583 Biochemistry and Physiology of Marine Organisms (4, Fa) Biochemical and physiological adaptations of marine bacteria, plants, and animals to the wide range of environments that exists in the ocean.

586L Developmental Biology of Marine Organisms (4, Sp) Descriptive and experimental studies of developmental stages of marine plants and animals; patterns of reproductive biology; larval biology; metamorphosis.

590 Directed Research (1-12, FaSpSm) Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

599 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, Irregular)

790 Research (1-12, FaSpSm) Research leading to the doctorate. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation (2-2-2-2-0, FaSpSm) Credit on acceptance of dissertation. Graded IP/CR/NC.

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