This course investigates epigenetic phenomena: heritable alternate states of gene activity that do not result from an alteration in nucleotide composition (mutations). Epigenetic mechanisms regulate genome accessibility and cell differentiation. They play a key role in normal development and in oncogenesis. For example both mammalian X-chromosome inactivation and nuclear transfer (cloning) are subject to epigenetic regulation. Amongst the epigenetic mechanisms we will discuss in this course are chromatin organization, histone modification, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs. The course is geared toward advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students and is a combination of lectures, student presentations and research presentations by guest speakers. Students will work with the current scientific literature.

General principles of biology focusing on the basic chemistry of life, cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics in all types of living organisms. Particular emphasis will be given to links between the fundamental processes covered and current challenges of humankind in the areas of energy, food, and health. (3 hrs. lec., 3 hrs. lab, 1.5 c.u.) Biology majors and pre-medical students should take either BIOL 101 or 121. BIOL 101 is the companion course to BIOL 102 and should be taken before BIOL 102.

The goal of this course is to convey a basic understanding of human genome science and in so doing, to learn of its impact on treatment of human disease and discernment of aspects of human identity. Our current understanding of the structure and function of genes will allow a personalized treatment for many diseases, but just how such advances are applied will involve ethical as well as scientific considerations. We will discuss how the field of genetics has been changed dramatically by the ability to clone and sequence genes, and then to be further transformed by massive sequencing of whole genomes. A major part of the course will be devoted to how these advances have led to understanding and treatment of genetic disease and cancer. We will also discuss the tremendous potential (and dangers) of gene editing advances. Finally, we will explore how genomics has allowed an understanding of deep human history, as well as the ability to decipher one's more immediate ancestry. Readings will be from a number of books written for an informed general audience rather than from a textbook. The seminar should be of interest to those who would like to fulfill their Living World General Education requirement, and particularly also to those who eventually might be interested in taking courses in the Life Sciences but initially would like an introductory seminar-type approach within a focused area.

Integrative seminar on current biological research for first-year PhD students.

Introductory computational biology course designed for both biology students and computer science, engineering students. The course will cover fundamentals of algorithms, statistics, and mathematics as applied to biological problems. In particular, emphasis will be given to biological problem modeling and understanding the algorithms and mathematical procedures at the "pencil and paper" level. That is, practical implementation of the algorithms is not taught but principles of the algorithms are covered using small sized examples. Topics to be covered are: genome annotation and string algorithms, pattern search and statistical learning, molecular evolution and phylogenetics, functional genomics and systems level analysis. Prerequisite: College level introductory biology required; undergraduate or graduate level statistics taken previously or concurrently required; molecular biology and/or genetics encouraged; programming experience encouraged