BI220: Cellular and Molecular Biology Fundamentals
Second course in a 3-semester introductory sequence (3 hours of lecture/week) with lab (3 hours/week). Material covers basic review of chemistry/biochemistry, cell biodiversity and organelles, bioenergetics, respiration and photosynthesis, central dogma, control of gene expression, protein modification and secretion, and cellular reproduction. Lab involves a series of multi-week experiments, culminating in an experiment testing the effect of black tea, other natural extracts, or more recently, microplastics on human cancer cells (HeLa cells).
BI270: Biology Indianapolis Outreach
One-credit course that fulfills the Indianapolis Community Requirement (ICR). Students spend 20 hours working with community partners such as teachers at nearby Shortridge High School, Indiana State Museum, or The STEM Connection.
BI370: Basics of Microscopy
Upper-level biology elective course (3 hours of lecture/week) with lab (3 hours/week) that introduces students to the fundamental principles of light and electron microscopy, how to use different types of microscopes, and how to analyze and present microscopy data. Students work in small groups to develop and write a proposal to test the effect of microplastics exposure on optically tractable model organisms (fruit flies or elegans), which guides their research projects for the semester, culminating in a poster presentation. Students also participate in a semester-long partnership with students in an IB Biology class at nearby Shortridge High School. They develop and implement a set of hands-on microscopy modules, which fulfill multiple IB Biology standards. They provide regular research updates to the Shortridge students, and their final research poster presentations are evaluated by the Shortridge High School students in a Flipped Science Fair. This course was designed by L. Lewellyn and J. Kowalski.
BI430: Animal Development
Upper-level biology elective course (3 hours of lecture/week) with lab (3 hours/week). Students are introduced to key processes involved in the development of invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms. Topics include germ cells and fertilization, patterning, cell-cell interactions and morphogenesis, cell differentiation and stem cells. In the lab, students work with multiple model organisms in both directed and student-designed experiments. Students write grant proposals and present posters based on their research. This course was designed by L. Lewellyn.
BI433: Advanced Cell Biology
Upper-level biology elective course (3 hours of lecture/week) with lab (3 hours/week). This course involves extensive reading and analysis of primary literature in addition to lecture. In the lab, students conduct research projects (initially directed, but later student-led) to test the effect of natural compounds on different fruit fly models of cancer. Students present posters based on their research at the end of the semester. This course was designed by L. Lewellyn.