MCDB General Elective Courses

[Choose 2 for either the BA, BS, or BS Intensive degree.]

NOTE: BIOL 101, 102, 103 and 104, or equivalent performance on the corresponding biological sciences placement examinations are prerequisites for MCDB courses numbered 200 and above. Any of the Core Courses above may also be considered general electives once the Core requirements are met.

MCDB 250b. Biology of Reproduction.
     Hugh Taylor, Seth Guller
     MWF 10.30-11.20
Introduction to reproductive biology, with emphasis on human reproduction. Development and hormonal regulation of reproductive systems; sexuality, fertilization, and pregnancy; modern diagnosis and treatment of reproductive and developmental disorders; social and ethical issues. Prerequisite: BIOL 101, 102, and 103, or equivalent performance on the corresponding biological sciences placement examinations.

MCDB 310aG/BENG 350aG. Physiological Systems.
     Mark Saltzman, Stuart Campbell
     MWF 9.25-10.15
Regulation and control in biological systems, emphasizing human physiology and principles of feedback. Biomechanical properties of tissues emphasizing the structural basis of physiological control. Conversion of chemical energy into work in light of metabolic control and temperature regulation. Prerequisites: CHEM 165 or 167, or PHYS 180a and 181b, or BIOL 101 and 102.

MCDB 315b/PATH 670b. Pathobiology.
     S. David Hudnall, Jon Morrow, Jeffrey Sklar, Gilbert Moeckel, Anita Huttner
     TTh 11.35-12.50 Meets RP
Human biology and disease as a manifestation of reaction to injury. Organ structure and function, cell injury, circulatory and inflammatory responses, disordered physiology, and neoplasia. Enrollment limited; preference given to junior and senior majors in MCDB or MB&B. Prerequisite: MCDB 205 or 300 or 310.

MCDB 320aG. Neurobiology.
     Haig Keshishian, Paul Forscher
     MWF 11.35-12.25
The excitability of the nerve cell membrane as a starting point for the study of molecular, cellular, and systems-level mechanisms underlying the generation and control of behavior. Prerequisites: After a year of chemistry and Foundational Biology sequence BIOL 101-104. A course in physics is strongly recommended.

MCDB 330aG.  Modeling Biological Systems I.
     Thierry Emonet, Kathryn Miller-Jensen
     TTh 2.30-3.45 (KBT 1214)
Biological systems make sophisticated decisions at many levels. This course explores the molecular and computational underpinnings of how these decisions are made, with a focus on modeling static and dynamic processes in example biological systems. We emphasize analytical and numerical models to explore the relationship between molecular mechanisms and behavior. Topics include molecular switches, regulatory networks, feedback, and signal transduction. The course contains significant instruction in Matlab, while students also read papers from the primary literature. The course aims to turn ball-and-arrow diagrams into quantitative models with testable predictions. This class is intended as an introduction to the higher level course MCDB 361. Prerequisite: PHYS 170 or equivalent or with permission of instructor. [This course was previously MCDB 261].