Biological Sciences

Chair

Master of Science Program

Administrative Assistants

Caroline Barrow

905-688-5550, extension 3388

Beulah Lewis-Alexander

905-688-5550, extension 3115

Mackenzie Chown, F234

aqueous.labs.brock.ca/etc/biologymasters.html

The department offers a selection of studies leading to the master's degree in the life sciences. Emphasized are cellular biology (biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology, ultrastructural studies, genetics) and environmental biology (limnology, behavioural ecology, terrestrial ecology, environmental physiology, population dynamics).

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the MSc program, on either a full-time or a part-time basis, will be accepted from students holding the BSc (honours) degree or its equivalent from a recognized college or university, with not less than 70 percent or second-class honours standing and having adequate concentration in the life or physical sciences or mathematics. Those holding the three- or four-year BS or BSc degrees and meeting the above academic standards but lacking sufficient concentration will be considered for admission to the qualifying year program.

Program Requirements

Every MSc candidate must prepare and defend a thesis which demonstrates a capacity for independent work of acceptable scientific calibre. The student will be guided in all aspects of his or her graduate program by a supervisory committee. The candidate must also complete a minimum of one and one-half credits at not less than 70 percent. At least one credit must be drawn from the 5(alpha)00 level courses listed below, one-half credit of which must be BIOL 5P95.Additional credits may be required of candidates with insufficient preparation in the area of research specialization. Language, statistical and computer proficiency examinations are not normally required but the department may require demonstration of proficiency in these areas in particular cases.

Facilities

The department is well equipped with state of the art laboratory equipment for molecular, microbiological, physiological and biochemical research. A greenhouse, plant growth chamber and facilities for terrestrial and aquatic animals are available to students. The department now runs the Wildlife Research Station in Algonquin Provincial Park, a multi-use facility where graduate students from several Universities conduct ecological research. The department's specialized equipment holdings include the following: A walk-in plant tissue culture room and associated tissue culture facility; An aquatic animal research facility including laminar flow tanks; Zeiss fluorescence microscopes and state of the art computer imaging systems; A confocal microscope; A two-photon laser scanning microscope; Computer controlled electrophysiological research stations for stimulation and recording of muscle, nerve and whole animal electrical activity; Microplate readers, fluorescence imagers and a real-time PCR facility; Biophysical spectrometers for high sensitivity absorbance, linear dichroism, circular dichroism, photoacoustic and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence; A parallel computing PC cluster for mathematical modeling of biological systems.

Associated with the Department of Biological Sciences, is the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). CCOVI contains: a pilot winery; laboratories for the genetic manipulation of yeasts and grapes; laboratories for the analysis of grape berries, musts, and wines; and a state of the art sensory evaluation laboratory.

Undergraduate Courses

In addition to graduate courses, courses numbered 4(alpha)00 to 4(alpha)89 may, on decision of the candidate's Supervisory Committee, be accepted towards fulfilment of the formal course requirements. If a fourth-year course is offered jointly with a corresponding fifth-year course, students may not use both courses towards fulfilment of formal course requirements.

Course Descriptions

A selection of the following courses, determined in part by student interest, will be offered each year. Further information about the courses to be offered in any year may be obtained from the Chair of the department.

BIOL 5F40

Selected Topics in Biophysics

A course offered using the combined biophysical resources of Brock, McMaster, Guelph and Waterloo universities. Participation in four symposia. Information concerning the course and the selection of individual symposia can be obtained from the departmental course co-ordinator.

BIOL 5F90

MSc Thesis

The preparation and public defence of a thesis which will demonstrate the candidate's capacity for independent study.

BIOL5P03

Advanced Topics in Photobiology

A graduate seminar/lecture course covering topics in photobiology. A series of lectures designed to introduce some of the major research areas in photobiology will be followed by student seminars on selected topics (usually two or three papers on one subject).

BIOL 5P06

Bioinformatics

(also offered as BTEC 5P06)

Genome sequencing projects. Gene discovery. Analysis of gene expression. Analysis of DNA/RNA/Protein sequence data, including mutagenic processes, molecular evolution and systematics, codon usage, reconstruction of ancient molecules and prediction of higher level structure.

BIOL 5P09

Advanced topics in animal and plant signal transduction pathways

(also offered as BTEC 5P09)

Perception of stimuli to effects on gene expression. Emphasis on the molecular/biochemical tools used to study these pathways.

BIOL 5P28

Advanced Developmental Neurobiology

(also offered as PSYC 5P28)

A seminar course on the principles of neural development. Topics include cell lineage and early determinative events, trophic functions, growth and plasticity, synaptogenesis and gene expression in the establishment of the nervous system.

BIOL 5P34

Advanced Systems Neurophysiology

Neuronal networks and integrative mechanisms in the nervous system. Selected topics incloude the visual system, rhythm generators and motor function, and learning and memory.

BIOL 5P41

Selected Topics in Biophysics

A course offered using the combined biophysical resources of Brock, McMaster, Guelph and Waterloo universities. Participation in two symposia. Information concerning the course and the selection of individual symposia can be obtained from the departmental course co-ordinator.

BIOL 5P50

Advanced Mutagenesis in Disease and Biotechnology

(also offered as BTEC 5P50)

This seminar course will explore the various mechanisms of mutagenesis of the genetic material, how they contribute to disease, and how they can be adapted to produce new biomolecules.

BIOL 5P51

Advanced Molecular Virology

A seminar course on virus-host interaction, productive cycle, effect of virus on host cell and organism, interferon, DNA and RNA tumor viruses, viral vectors, gene therapy and recombinant viral vaccines.

BIOL 5P53

Immunology

A seminar course on humoral and cellular immunity; structure and synthesis of immunoglobulins; origin of antibody diversity; transplantation immunity and the importance of the major histocompatibility complex; autoimmunity and allergic reactions.

BIOL 5P57

Advanced Recombinant DNA Techniques

The purpose of this course will be to acquaint students with recent technical developments in the methodology and application of various recombinant DNA techniques at an advanced level.

BIOL 5P58

Fungal Genetics

An examination of transmission and molecular genetics of fungi. Recent advances in gene manipulation and the contribution of studies on these organisms to general genetics principles will be covered.

BIOL 5P59

Bacterial Genetics

(also offered as BTEC 5P59)

Molecular and transmission genetics of bacteria. Bacterial genetics from early description of transformation and transduction to current developments in molecular genetics.

BIOL 5P60

Advanced Seminar in Population and Behavioural Ecology

A seminar course dealing with fundamental concepts of population and behavioural ecology. The topics selected vary from year to year partly in response to student interests.

BIOL 5P61

Advanced Natural Selection and Adaptation

A seminar course with an emphasis on reading and discussion of current literature encompassing empirical studies of natural selection and adaptation. The course will also include an examination of both the theoretical and empirical foundations underlying current research in the field.

BIOL 5P62

Sociobiology

Advanced examination of how natural selection shapes social behaviour, with particular emphasis on the evolution of cooperation and altruism. The interplay among social interactions between individuals, physical interactions and intrinsic factors defining societies.

BIOL 5P64

Advanced Insect Behaviour

Exploration of selected topics in the field of insect behaviour. Topics include programming and integration of behaviour, orientation and dispersal, feeding behaviour, chemical, visual and acoustical communication, defensive behaviour, reproductive behaviour and the eusocial insects.

BIOL 5P66

Advanced Seminar in Insect Biology

Current topics in the field of insect biology. Possible course themes include: behavioural ecology of insects, insect systematics, coevolution of plants and insects, speciation processes, evolution of insect mating systems, insect metamorphosis.

BIOL 5P67

Biophysical Techniques

(also offered as BTEC 5P67)

An advanced seminar/lecture course on experimental techniques in biochemistry. The focus is on understanding the theory, applications and limitations of a variety of techniques students will encounter during their graduate studies. Techniques will range from advanced spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, NMR, X-ray diffraction) to molecular biochemistry (DNA and protein sequencing, gel electrophoresis, radioisotope labelling).

BIOL 5P80

Selected Topics in Contemporary Biology

An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary biology. Candidates for graduate degrees may present one such special topic course toward the completion of the formal course requirements for the MSc degree. Approval of the departmental Graduate Studies committee is required prior to registration.

BIOL 5P81

Selected Topics in Contemporary Biochemistry

An investigation of a specific area or group of related topics in contemporary biochemistry. Candidates for graduate degrees may present one such special topic course. Approval of the departmental graduate studies committee is required prior to registration.

BIOL 5P84

Advanced Physiology of Excitable Cells

In-depth study of neurons, muscle and/or neurosecretory cells at the cellular and subcellular levels. Topics will deal with ion channel activity, patch-clamp recording, intracellular messenger systems, mechanisms of neurosecretion and neural plasticity.

BIOL 5P95

Graduate Seminar

An obligatory graduate course in biological sciences. Students will present seminars on one or two topics approved by the graduate co-ordinator and supervisory committee and unrelated to their thesis topic. Attendance throughout the academic year, September-April, is required.

Prerequisite: admission to the graduate program in Biological Sciences.