BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES: COURSES
BIOM-1003. Biology of Organisms
Properties of living organisms from the level of the cell through tissues, organs and organ systems, genetics, to the functioning, integrated organism. This course is offered on-campus and as a distance course. (Intended for non-majors and students requiring preparation for BIOL-1111 and BIOL-1101) (Not counted for credit in any Faculty of Science program.) (2 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-1073. Introductory Medical Microbiology
This introductory course provides a foundation in microbiology relating to Nursing. Key concepts in the biology of infectious agents, human-microbe interactions, mechanisms of microbial diseases, control of microbial growth, immunology, epidemiology, and public health. (Open only to Nursing students. May not be used for credit in any Science program.) (Co-requisite: Registration in all courses required for 1st year fall semester.) (Antirequisites: BIOL-2070, BIOL-2071, BIOM-3070, BIOM-3071.)
BIOM-2021. Human Anatomy
Systemic analysis of the structure of the human body, including gross and microscopic morphology. Topics include anatomical terminology and structures of cells, tissues and the major organ systems. Practical laboratory work will complement lectures with emphasis on gross dissection. (Prerequisites: any two first year biology courses.) (3 lecture, 2 laboratory hours a week.)
BIOM-2033. Introductory Molecular Biology
Basic introduction to the molecular biology of the cell with emphasis on basic life processes in animals. The major topics covered include: Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, genome structure, chromosomal structure, fundamental aspects of recombinant DNA technology, DNA cloning, microarrays, and protein structure and function. (Antirequisite: BIOM-2131; Prerequisite: BIOL-1111 and BIOL-1101) (3 lecture hours or equivalent a week.) (A distance course restricted to graduates of programs in Medical Technology from a College of Applied Arts and Technology with more than 100 hours of certified laboratory experience; or by consent of the instructor.)
BIOM-2093. Genetics
The course reviews transmission genetics and principles of inheritance. The material also includes non-nuclear inheritance and gene linkage, gene expression and regulation, mechanisms and phenotypic effects of DNA mutation and repair, and the principles and applications of population and quantitative genetics. Students will be exposed to molecular genetic techniques such as PCR and DNA sequencing. This is a distance course designed primarily for graduates of programs in Medical Technology from a College of Applied Arts and Technology. This course may not count as a major requirement for Biology Majors. (Antirequisite: BIOL-2111; prerequisites: BIOL-1111 and BIOL-1101, or the equivalent.) (3 lecture hours or equivalent a week.)
BIOM-2131. Introductory Molecular Biology
Basic introduction to the molecular biology of the cell with emphasis on basic life processes in both plants and animals, including metabolism, energy transformations, transport mechanisms, signal transduction, and other general functions. The major topics covered include: Regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, fundamental aspects of recombinant DNA technology, DNA cloning, hybridization analysis, microarrays, and protein structure and function. Practical laboratory work will complement the lectures. (Antirequisite: BIOM-2033; Prerequisite: BIOL-1111, BIOL-1101, and BIOL-2111.) (Suggested Corequisite: BIOC-2010.) (3 lecture, 3 laboratory hours or equivalent a week.)
BIOM-3070 Medical Microbiology
Viral and bacterial pathogenesis, including the processes and genetic control of human diseases. This course is offered on-campus and as a distance course. (Antirequisite: BIOM-3071; Prerequisite: BIOL-2070 or BIOL-2071.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-3071. Medical Microbiology and Techniques
Viral and bacterial pathogenesis, including the processes and genetic control of human diseases. (Antirequisite: BIOM-3070; prerequisite: BIOL-2071.) (3 lecture, 3 laboratory hours a week including follow-up visits outside scheduled lab times.)
BIOM-3400. Neurobiology of the Synapse
Synapses are specialized structures where nerve cells communicate with each other through a process called synaptic transmission. Synapses are the functional units of the brain and are targets of many diseases and drugs. The ability of synapses to transmit information from one neuron to another, changes with experience (synaptic plasticity) in processes such as learning and memory. This course will help students understand aspects of synapses from a cellular and molecular perspective. Topics such as synaptic vesicle cycling, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and neurological diseases originating at the synapse will be covered. Synapses from both the peripheral and central nervous systems of invertebrates and vertebrates will be discussed. (Prerequisite: BIOL-2480.) (Recommended for 3000/4000 level student.) (3 lecture hours/week.)
BIOM-3500. Molecular Cell Biology
An integration of recent findings in molecular and cell biology with those in genomics. The course emphasizes the general behaviour of biological macromolecules and energy transfer mechanisms, leading to in-depth review of the regulation of genome replication and recombination, gene transcription, protein translation, and epigenetic mechanisms governing gene regulation. This course is offered on-campus and as a distance course. (Prerequisites: BIOL-2111 and BIOM-2131, or BIOM-2093, and BIOM-2033 with appropriate laboratory experience and signature of instructor.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-3530. Advanced Cell Biology
This course will examine, at the molecular level, the basic working of a cell; dealing with several aspects of eukaryotic cell biology including intracellular transport, cell-to-cell communication and signal transduction, the cytoskeleton, cell growth and division, apoptosis, cell adhesion and cell migration. In addition to exploring the current state of the field, lecture material will highlight some of the critical experiments in diverse areas of molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and cell imaging that have contributed to our current understanding. (Prerequisites: BIOL-2111 and BIOM-2131, or BIOM-2093 and BIOM-2033 with appropriate laboratory experience and permission of instructor.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-3540. Immunology
This course is an introduction to cellular and molecular immunology. Students will be introduced to topics, such as cells and organs of the immune system, development and differentiation of immune cells, innate and adaptive immune responses, structure and function of immune receptors, antigen processing and presentation, immune cell activation, and immune system in health and disease. (Prerequisite: BIOL-2111 and BIOM-2131.) (Recommended for 3rd year students.) (3 lecture hours/week.)
BIOM-3550. Embryology
Cellular, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms of gametogenesis, fertilization, cleavage, and organogenesis in a variety of animal systems. A major paper is required. (Prerequisites: BIOL-2111, and BBIOM-2131.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-3560. Homeostasis in Human Physiology
This course will explore the amazing variety of signals in the animal body, and how they are sent and received by cells in different tissues to maintain homeostasis. Particular attention will be paid to the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying blood pressure, thermoregulation, circadian rhythms and sleep, metabolism, inflammation and stress, and adult tissue stem cells. This course will focus on how signals are propagated between and within cells of different tissues, and how they relate to animal biology, health and disease. (Prerequisite: BIOM-2131) (3 lecture hours a week)
BIOM-3581. Biotechnology Laboratory
This intensive laboratory course will primarily simulate the discovery and rapid protein characterization of genes and gene products. Laboratory experiments will include cutting edge biotechnology techniques and traditional biochemical and molecular biology methodology. For example, DNA/plasmid isolation, cloning, DNA sequencing and analysis, introduction to bioinformatics and microarray technology, characterization of cloned products, protein isolation and characterization, and determination of enzymatic catalysis and regulation will be used to study this enzyme on a genetic and protein level. Other topics include forensic genetics and plant biotechnology. (Prerequisite: BIOM-2131 and BIOC-2010.) (1 tutorial/lecture hour and 6 laboratory hours per week over two terms, 6 credit course.) (Registration priority will be given to students for which this course is a program requirement.)
BIOM-3750. Cancer Undergraduate Research Education (CURE).
CURE will engage students in learning about the science of cancer and directions in cancer research. Students will interact with scientists conducting a spectrum of multidisciplinary research and will work in collaborative teams to design and implement tools to communicate cancer research to the public, to patients, to other students and to the government. Students will discuss ethical fundraising and marketing of research and will compose ideas to support cancer research. This course will be hands on learning where your ideas will directly contribute to moving cancer research forward in Windsor-Essex. (Prerequisites: BIOL-1101 and registration in third year of a program.) (Previously offered as SCIE-3750, this course does not count towards a major course credit in Biological Sciences or BCN degrees but can be used as an additional Science course or any area of study credit.) (3 hours a week lecture/ experiential learning).
BIOM-4440. Neurophysiology
This course examines functions of the brain and physiological processes that are responsible for these functions at the system, cellular,and molecular levels. Topics include the generation, transmission, and integration of neural signals. They also include neural signaling related to the processing of sensory information, controlling of movement, and generation of complex mental activity Modern research methods that are used in the study of brain functions and underlying physiological processes are also discussed. (Prerequisite: BIOL-2480 or permission from the instructor.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-4510. Stem Cells
Stem cells are populations of cells present in the body that divide to make all the cells that compose specific tissues and organs. What we know about stem cells is the result of rapidly evolving, and sometimes controversial, research. This seminar course deals with current research topics in stem cell biology. Topics will include: stem cell potency, embryonic precursors vs adult tissue stem cells, symmetry of division versus clonal drift, regeneration and healing, and whether stem cells contribute to ageing. The purpose of this course is to develop a knowledge of core concepts that guide research in this area. (Prerequisites: BIOL-2111 and BIOM-2131.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-4530. Biology of Cell Transformation
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of cell transformation and tumor development with emphasis on the role of oncogenes and environmental factors in cell transformation, and on the cellular and molecular biology of malignantly transformed (cancerous) cells, experimental analysis and applications. A major paper and/or seminar is required. (Prerequisites: BIOM-3500 or BIOM-3530, CHEM-2300, BIOC-2010, and consent of instructor.) (3 lecture hours).
BIOM-4540. Regenerative Biology and Disease
With the explosion of knowledge from molecular biology and the burgeoning interest in generating or regenerating tissues or organs through various bioengineering or stem cell approaches, this course will explore the phenomenon of regeneration and continual post-natal development from a broad biological perspective. This will involve analysing molecular pathways regulating stem cell differentiation, how specialized cells proliferate and undergo programmed cell death and how the architecture of tissues is preserved despite the constant replacement of old cells by new. We will also discuss how abrogation of these programs underlie a large number of disease states. (Prerequisites: Any 1 course chosen from BIOM-3500, BIOM-3530 or BIOM-3550.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-4550. Developmental Signaling and Developmental Genetics
Analysis at the molecular level of the activation and control of genes and proteins during oogenesis and early development in lower and higher eukaryotes. (Prerequisite: Any 2 courses chosen from BIOM-3500, BIOM-3530 or BIOM-3550.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-4560. Molecular Biotechnology
Introduction to the techniques and applications of recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering. Topics include the generation of transgenic organisms (microbes, plants, and animals) and their impact on agriculture and medicine. The social ramifications of these technologies will be discussed. (Prerequisites: BIOM-3500 or BIOM-3530.) (3 lecture hours a week.)
BIOM-4590. Epigenetics
This course will examine our current understanding of “Epigenetics”, the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without a change in DNA sequence. Epigenetics is an area under intensive scientific investigation. The goal of the course is to provide an introduction to the fundamentals of epigenetic control along with an understanding of the interplay between epigenetics and disease, health, behaviour, and the environment. (Prerequisite: BIOM-3500 or BIOM-3530)