35 graduate courses in the Winter 2012 Graduate Calendar, from Waterloo’s archived copy.
The literature and methods of Fisheries Biology. Examination and discussion of selected topics of interest to the class. Emphasis will be primarily, but not exclusively on the ecology, habitats, and management issues related to temperature freshwater fish.
LEC · Course ID 000158Archived pageBIOL 602 today
The theoretical and technological aspects of growing cells from multicellular organisms in vitro and the use of these cell cultures in cell biology, biotechnology, cancer research, developmental biology, immunology and toxicology. Specific topics will include tissue dissociation, media, contamination, microscopic examination, cell storage, cell fusion, heterokaryons, reconstituted cells, hybrids, hybridomas, and the introduction of macromolecules into cells. The stress on specific topics might change from year to year.
LEC · Course ID 000161Archived pageBIOL 604 today
An advanced study of the physiological processes used by animals to respond to changes in environmental conditions. The study will focus on adaptation strategies used by animals to changes in temperature and other rate controlling environmental factors.
LEC · Course ID 000162Archived pageBIOL 605 today
Team taught by faculty of the Aquatic Ecology Group, fundamental and emerging topics will be examined through literature review, seminar discussions and summary papers.
LEC · Course ID 000163Archived pageBIOL 606 today
Genetic aspects of the control of gene expression in bacteria, bacteriophages and (or) eukaryotes will be stressed. Recently published works will serve as the focal points for discussion. The specific content of any one set of topics to be analyzed in a particular term will be determined in consultation with the participants.
LEC · Course ID 000165Archived pageBIOL 608 today
The processes of organic evolution are examined in detail under the following topics: the nature and origin of variation; the transmission of variation from one population to another (gene flow); breeding systems and isolation; hybridization and introgression; modes of speciation and the species concept. Although plants will be emphasized, examples will be taken from the other major groups of organisms. (Offered in Winter Term, concurrently with BIOL 459) (previously BIOL 473).
LEC · Course ID 000166Archived pageBIOL 610 today
Critical analysis of the chemistry functions, modes of action and interactions of auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, ethylene, abscisic acid and other growth substances (including phenolics and synthetic growth regulators) at the molecular, cellular and organismic levels.
LEC · Course ID 000167Archived pageBIOL 611 today
An examination of the theory and tools used in the reconstruction of phylogenies. This includes sequence retrieval, alignment and analysis as well as character and distance based phylogenetic applications. Emphasis will be placed on the application of these elements to real data sets.
LEC · Course ID 000168Archived pageBIOL 612 today
The thoretical basis of various bioinformation tools will be presented and discussed, and applied to research tasks within the laboratory component of the course. Topics may include advanced BLAST searching, multiple sequence alignments, sequence logos, expression databases, functional annotation of proteins, structural visualization, and comparative structural modeling.
LEC · Course ID 000170Archived pageBIOL 614 today
A critical evaluation of current research topics in environmental toxicology will be undertaken. Emphasis will be placed on the ecosystem approach to toxicology including cycling of toxicants, routes by which toxicants are removed from the environment and the impact of toxicants on species interaction within communities. Consideration will also be given to new methods for toxic hazard prediction and evaluation, as well as to biotic and abiotic factors that modify toxicant impact.
LEC · Course ID 000173Archived pageBIOL 617 today
Discussion of current advances in selected topics in physiology of prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic microorganisms. Recently published research results will be the central points for the discussion. The topics might include but are not limited to microbiol growth behaviour under extreme conditions, microbial roles in the cycles of specific elements, processes of energy conservation, and properties and functions of key enzymes in microbial metabolic pathways.
Instructor Consent Required
LEC · Course ID 000174Archived pageBIOL 618 today
Critical review of current concepts in the water relations, ion uptake and transport processes of higher plants. Structure and function will be emphasized and appropriate consideration given to the biophysical and biochemical principles involved in each physiological process.
LEC · Course ID 000177Archived pageBIOL 621 today
Discussions of selected topics not covered in other courses. These may include juvenility, dormancy, senescence, plant response to environmental stress, morphogenesis, photosynthesis and biochemistry.
LEC · Course ID 000178Archived pageBIOL 622 today
An advanced study of floral structure in which the following topics are dealt with: the diversity of floral structure and how this relates to modes of pollination, systems of classification and the identification of flowering plants, nomenclature, and the origin and evolution of flowering plants.
LEC · Course ID 000179Archived pageBIOL 623 today
The influence of physical, chemical and microbiological processes on groundwater geochemistry are examined. Background concepts in microbial ecology and organic geochemistry are developed and related to subsurface environments. Treatment is given to biodegradation of organic pollutants, microbially-mediated redox reactions and organic-metal interactions. EARTH 439 is strongly recommended.
(Cross-listed with EARTH 624)
LEC · Course ID 000180Archived pageBIOL 624 today
Management and restoration of lakes and reservoirs. Diagnosis and evaluation of environmental problems, economics, method selection. Analysis of physical and chemical remediation methods including advanced sewage treatment, phosphorus precipitation, hypolimnetic withdrawal and aeration, sediment treatment. Discussion of procedures to control algal and macrophyte biomass including artificial circulation, water level drawdown, mechanical harvesting, biomanipulation and biological controls. Restoration and management of stream habitats and the riparian zone. Recommended: undergraduate course in limnology or water pollution biology.
LEC · Course ID 000181Archived pageBIOL 625 today
One or more topics will be addressed in detail through review of literature, including patents, and current practices in industrial microbiology. The topics might include but are not limited to Bacillus subtilis: a workhorse in industrial fermentations; production of microbiol lipids; Aspergillus fermentations. Each student will present a seminar on an assigned topic and the class will work as a group to prepare an up-to-date review of publication quality.
SEM, TUT · Course ID 000183Archived pageBIOL 627 today
Aspects of genetic and developmental processes that underlie morphogenetic phenomena in diverse eukaryotes will be discussed. Topics may include limb morphogenesis and regeneration, transcriptional response to hormonal action, erythropoiesis, morphogenetic-dependent cell and tissue interactions, differentiation and organization of germ-line tissue, use of developmental mutants to study developing systems, etc. Areas of concentration will be determined at the beginning of each term.
LEC · Course ID 000184Archived pageBIOL 628 today
Discussion and evaluation of recent studies relating to the cell cycle and cell differentiation. The cell cycle: mechanisms and regulation of cell growth, DNA replication, mitosis and differential gene expression. The role of cell interactions, hormones and growth factors in the control of proliferation. Cell-cycle models. Cell differentiation: cell interactions and experimental control of differentiation in vitro.
LEC · Course ID 000185Archived pageBIOL 629 today
This course introduces multivariate statistical methods commonly used in ecology. Topics covered will include clustering, ordination, discriminant functions analysis, canonical variates, multiple regression, and some multivariate analyses of variance.
LEC · Course ID 000187Archived pageBIOL 631 today
Discussion of current advances in selected topics in immunology. The areas to be covered will include cell-mediated immunity, humoral immunity, comparative immunology, and other topics of current interest.
LEC · Course ID 000192Archived pageBIOL 636 today
Recent developments in biotechnology, both applied and basic, will be emphasized. The course will cover such topics as the development of vectors for the stable transformation of plant cells, the isolation, characterization and manipulation of plant, animal and microbial genes, and the use of microorganisms to develop new products and processes.
LEC · Course ID 000197Archived pageBIOL 642 today
Recent advances in selected topics of microbial ecology will be examined. Topics will be selected from soil, fresh water or other ecosystems with an important microbial component.
LEC · Course ID 000198Archived pageBIOL 645 today
This course examines the use of stratigraphic records from lakes to reconstruct environmental change. Topics include sediment coring techniques, radiometric dating methods, analysis of physical, geochemical and biological indicators, and case studies demonstrating applications to address scientific and management questions. Practical experience is gained from a lake sediment coring field trip and subsequent laboratory analyses. *eligible for MES.
LEC · Course ID 012794Archived pageBIOL 646 today
The ability to detect, isolate and manipulate bio molecules such as DNA and RNA has created powerful tools that have been instrumental in advancing science and medicine. In BIOL 650 we will investigate the current state of the art biological tools. This course will be prefaced by a historic overview of RNA and DNA as will as other bio-molecules detailing their discovery, chemistry and the relationships between them. Subsequent lectures will then concentrate on how these molecules are manipulated and used in modern biology with a particular emphasis on methods that integrate bio molecules into systems for diagnostics, high-throughput genomics and proteomics, and imaging.
LEC · Course ID 000204Archived pageBIOL 650 today
This course examines the interaction in both space and time between hydrological processes and lacustrine environments. Applications to freshwater ecosystem management are explored.
(Cross-listed with GEOG 651)
SEM · Course ID 013757Archived pageBIOL 651 today
Discussion of the major concepts in ecology, and current advances in selected topics. A broad overview of important ideas in population, community and ecosystem ecology will be provided, and following this, recently published research results on a subset of topics will become the central focus of the course. Topics might include but are not limited to: spatial-temporal dynamics of populations, meta- and hierarchical community structure, and species-specific influences on ecosystem function.
Department Consent Required
LEC, RDG, SEM · Course ID 014059Archived pageBIOL 652 today
Selected topics in molecular biology will be presented at an advanced level with the aim of evaluating recent contributions and developments. Basic concepts and organismic interrelationships will be emphasized. The topics will concentrate on mechanisms of replication, transcription and (or) translation. Specific themes for discussion will be arranged each time the course is presented.
LEC · Course ID 000206Archived pageBIOL 667 today
Critical discussion of current developments in plant biology. The course will cover such topics as the structure, organization, replication and expression of plant and algal genetic material. Emphasis will be placed on understanding basic molecular mechanisms and processes.
LEC · Course ID 000207Archived pageBIOL 669 today
The involvement of light in biological processes. The first half of the course involves detailed discussions on the physical properties of light, the interactions of light with matter, and photochemical and photobiological methods. The second half of the course deals with the current literature in photobiology. Topics include photomorphogenesis, photoinduced toxicity, photodynamic therapy, photodamage, DNA repair, vision, and transduction of light signals.
LEC · Course ID 000208Archived pageBIOL 670 today
This course will deal intensively with a subject area in the field of animal behaviour. The particular topic for a given term will be determined by the interests of the participating members of the class. Suggested topics include: mating systems in the animal kingdom; patterns of parental care; cost/benefit analyses of social living. Recommended: a basic knowledge of animal behaviour and a devoted interest.
LEC · Course ID 000209Archived pageBIOL 675 today
Principles and applications for the study of membrane proteins in physiological processes will be covered, with particular emphasis on voltage-, receptop- and second messenger-operated channels. Discussions will focus on modern techniques employed in electrophysiology, pharmacology, imaging and biochemistry.
Instructor Consent Required
LEC · Course ID 012711Archived pageBIOL 678 today
Critical evaluation and discussion of topics and procedures in biology that are not covered in existing graduate courses. The course must be specially arranged with a faculty member. Students may take only one BIOL 680 course for credit. (Offered to Master's students only.)
Department Consent Required
RDG · Course ID 000210Archived pageBIOL 680 today
Critical evaluation and discussion of topics and procedures in biology that are not covered in existing courses. The course must be specially arranged with a faculty member. Students may take only one BIOL 681 course for credit. (Offered to PhD students only.)
Department Consent Required
RDG · Course ID 000224Archived pageBIOL 681 today
The goal of the course is to introduce new graduate students in the department of Biology to the basic skills that will be necessary for them to acquire and organize information as well as present it effectively. The course will be given in two sections, in different terms; Topic 1: Life Science Research Skills (fall of a student's first year) and Topic 2: Scientific presentation (winter of a student's second or third year). The participants are expected to also attend and participate in the weekly "Biology Brown Bag Gathering" which is a forum for students and post doctoral fellows to present their research results or lead discussions on current topics of general interest. This series will start each fall with a presentation on "How to give a talk".
Department Consent Required
SEM · Course ID 013049Archived pageBIOL 690 today