Biological Science

A survey of microorganisms, their structures, physiology, and identification, with the various medical and non-medical implications in our daily lives. Topics include prokaryotic cell structure and function, biochemical processes, physical and chemical factors that affect cell growth, classification and identification, and physical and chemical methods of control. A major portion of the course deals with the pathogenic properties of microorganisms and the body's defense mechanisms including the functions of the immune systems. Laboratory topics include bacterial culture and staining, metabolism and biochemical reactions, physiological characteristics, patient specimen collection and processing as done in a microbiology laboratory and pathogen identification and antibiotic sensitivity determination.

A study of heredity and the gene from the perspective of the individual, the cell, and the population. The human species will be emphasized along with recent advances in biotechnology. Laboratory work includes Drosophila breeding, polymerase chain reaction, and DNA electrophoresis.

Chemistry 4524 is the second semester of a 2-semester sequence in organic chemistry starting with Chemistry 3514. Unlike the first semester, the chief goal will be to provide students a wide sampling of the varieties of chemistries associated with key functionalities. Lecture topics include: synthetic routes to and from unsaturated aliphatics, notably: alkenes, alkynes, allylic and alkadienes with emphasis on accompanying mechanistic pictures notably: radical and carbocation additions, concerted additions, radical substitutions: synthetic routes to and from substituted aromatic compounds with emphasis on the electrophilic substitution mechanism; synthetic routes to and from carbonyl compounds including: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives with particular focus on the special role played by the beta hydrogen; a brief survey of reactions and properties of amines, ester enolates, and a survey of carbohydrate structure and chemistry. A thorough introduction to stereochemical language not covered in the first semester is also carried out. Lab topics include mastery of organic techniques not covered in the first semester, e.g. NMR and polarimetry, mass spectroscopy and, hands-on experience with the various reactions discussed in lecture, notably: ring substitution, cycloaddition, stereo addition, carbonyl condensations, and esterification.