Course Description
The essential elements of biology necessary for a scientist with a background in the quantitative sciences to begin working in the biological sciences. Core biological concepts will be presented with the goal of getting computer scientists, physicists, and mathematicians started in understanding biology and finding productive areas of research inquiry.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be expected to develop research proposals
on biological topics related to this course, demonstrating that
they can apply their quantitative skills to an appropriate
biological problem.
Athena Title
BIOL FOR QUANT SCI
Undergraduate Prerequisite
CHEM 1211 or CHEM 1411 or CHEM 1311H or permission of department
Graduate Prerequisite
CHEM 1211 or CHEM 1411 or CHEM 1311H or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is designed for students with strong backgrounds in the traditionally quantitative sciences (computer science, mathematics, physics, statistics) but who lack the knowledge of biology necessary to appreciate and work in the current areas of bioinformatics, and computational and quantitative biology, disciplines that require collaboration between biologists and quantitative scientists. The students will learn some of the key concepts in cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, evolution and biological diversity. Upon completion of the course, the students should be able to readily learn additional biological concepts as needed from appropriate reading, and they will be ready to specifically learn about current topics and research in computational and quantitative biology.
Topical Outline
Difficulties that Biology poses for Quantitative Scientists Biological Macromolecules Central Dogma and its Modifications Cellular Organization and Chromosome Structure Gene Regulation Bioinformatics Databases Cell Cycle and Cell Division Genetics Genomic Technologies Bioinformatics Sequence Identification and Properties Microevolution Phylogeny and Systematics Quantitative Genetics Biological Diversity and Ecology Opportunities for Research and Collaborations