Courses in 2023 Spring/Summer Terms

Spring term: May 8 - Jun 16 

  • BIOL 201 - Eukaryotic Cellular Biology 
  • GENET 270 - Foundations of Molecular Genetics

Summer term: Jul 10 - Aug 18 

  • BIOL 395 - Field Botany  
  • BIOL 395 - Field Entomology

Here are more details and the instructor's email addresses if you want more information about prerequisites, lecture format, assessment, etc. 

 

BIOL 201 - Eukaryotic Cellular Biology - Spring term 

If BIOL 107 is about what cells are, the goal of this course is to teach students how cells work and how they are studied. We will be covering: 

  • Techniques such as microscopy and western blotting 
  • How cells move, communicate, and reproduce 
  • Comprehensive topics include neurons, apoptosis, cancer cells, and stem cells.

The course will be taught with pre-recorded standard lectures, in-person mini-lectures twice a week (typically Mondays and Thursdays), take-home group assignments, and in-person midterm and final exams. 

Instructor: Dr. Mike Harrington mjh@ualberta.ca 


GENET 270 - Foundations of Molecular Genetics - Spring term


This course will introduce you to basic concepts about the organization, plasticity and regulation of genetic material from bacteria and bacteriophages. The seminars are integrated to provide an overview of microbial genetics by examining historical and current genetic techniques and experiments in research papers. We will be covering:

  • Principles and key elements of molecular genetics
  • Principles of the genetics central dogma and demonstrate functional competency in gene expression
  • The role of horizontal gene transfer in the movement of genes between bacterial cells
  • Demonstrate competency in processes relating to bacterial genetics that inform and improve our understanding of the genetics of all living organisms on our planet

Instructor: Dr. Jaclyn McCutcheon jgmccutc@ualberta.ca


BIOL 395 - Field Botany(B3 H3) - Summer term 


This course provides an overview of the flora and vegetation of central Alberta and offers an introduction to field and lab methods for students interested in botany. 


  • Through lectures and field trips in Edmonton and the surrounding region, course participants will learn to recognize common vegetation types and their characteristic plants and environmental features. 
  • In addition, students will learn traditional and modern hands-on botanical skills in the field and in the lab, including the usage of taxonomic keys to identify plants to the family, genus, and species level, sampling of forest and non-forested vegetation, techniques to record and share plant occurrence data, preparing vascular plant collections and working in a herbarium, extracting information from taxonomic databases, and analyzing vegetation data. 
  • The course will finish with an independent research project by small student groups based on field surveys in Edmonton, including a data analysis and a short presentation

Instructor: Dr. Viktoria Wagner viktoria.wagner@ualberta.ca 


BIOL 395 - Field Entomology (B2 H2)- Summer term


This course will help students gain an understanding of basic insect ecology, experimentation, and research methods. Students will:

  • Learn about different arthropod sampling techniques in natural and managed ecosystems.
  • Develop research skills through hands-on experimentation, hypothesis testing using statistical analyses, and investigation of the primary literature.
  • Experience current local arthropod control methods, research, and monitoring programs. 
  • Develop communication skills through the presentation of scientific data in oral and written formats.

Instructors: Dr. Ronald Batallas  batallas@ualberta.ca 

                      Dr. Victor Shegelski shegelsk@ualberta.ca