Lower-Division

BIO 101 (4) HUMAN BIOLOGY AND BIOETHICS–GE

An exploration of assorted topics in human biology as they intersect with bioethical and
sustainability issues of current interest in society. Topics include human physiology, health,
reproduction, genetics, and ecology. Course examines the underlying scientific basis of
specific examples and how they relate to everyday life. Course approach emphasizes the process of science, critical thinking, active learning, social relevancy, and building connections between case studies and general concepts of biology. Lecture and inquiry-based lab. Offered every year.

BIO 102 (4) ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE–GE

A systematic overview of major topics in global ecology as they relate to environmental science and human use of natural resources. Includes such topics as sustainable development, population growth, food, agriculture, land degradation, urbanization, pollution, poverty, sanitation, health care, biodiversity, and war. The implications for wise resource management, bioethics, economics, and governmental policy. Course approach emphasizes the process of science, critical thinking, active learning, social relevancy, and building connections between case studies and general concepts. Lecture. Offered every year.

BIO 103 (4) INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY–GE

Designed to meet the requirements for the California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
for teaching grades K-8 (but open to all students). The subject areas include zoology, botany,
physiology, cell structure, ecology, genetics, and evolution. Course explores major themes in these subject areas as they relate to everyday life, ethical concerns, conservation issues, and common misunderstandings. Course approach emphasizes the process of science, critical thinking, active learning, social relevancy, and building connections between case studies and general concepts of biology. Lecture and inquiry-based lab. Offered every year.

BIO 104 (4) BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY–GE

An examination of current topics in biotechnology as they impact society, bioethics, and sustainable living. Course addresses the questions “What is biotechnology?”, “How does it
work?”, and “How does it affect our lives?”. Topics may include genetic engineering, gene
amplification, genome projects, gene therapy, DNA fingerprinting, cloning, assisted
reproductive technology, genetic screening, recombinant DNA, knock-outs, AIDS research,
and GM foods. Course approach emphasizes the process of science, critical thinking, active
learning, social relevancy, and building connections between case studies and general
concepts of biology. Lecture. Offered every year.

BIO 105 (4) ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION–GE

A wide-ranging exploration of major topics in ecological science relating to current issues in
conservation biology. Drawing from academic and applied fields, the course examines major concepts in conservation biology and how they impact society, public policy, wise management of natural resources, and ethical choices encountered in everyday life.
Focus topics include biodiversity, habitat destruction, exotic species introductions, human harvesting, protected areas, and future prospects. Course approach emphasizes the process of science, critical thinking, active learning, social relevancy, and building connections between case studies and general concepts. Lecture and inquiry-based lab. Offered every year.

BIO 130 (4) HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I–GE

The first course of a two-semester sequence which examines the human body from an integrated perspective. Topics include an introduction to chemistry and cell function, tissue types, skeletal system, muscular system, and nervous system. Does not count for credit in a Biology major. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: Chemistry 103 or Chemistry 152.

BIO 140 (4) HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II

The second semester of a sequence which examines the human body from an integrated
perspective emphasizing the interrelationship of structure and function. Topics include endocrine system and reproduction, cardiovascular system, immune system, respiratory system, digestive system, and urinary system. Does not count for credit toward a Biology major. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 130.

BIO 210 (4) CELL BIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY–GE

An introduction to the principles of cell biology and biochemistry. Topics to be discussed include the chemical basis of life, the structure and function of cellular organelles, basic metabolic pathways, the expression of the genetic material, recombinant DNA technology and models for the origin of cells. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Must have a previous course in high school or university-level chemistry.

BIO 215 (4) ANIMAL BIOLOGY-GE

Principles of animal structure, function, and diversity. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.

BIO 220 (5) MICROBIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

A study of microbial physiology, the diseases associated with infections by certain pathogenic
microbes and the vertebrate response to microbial infections. Does not apply toward the Biology major. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 140 and Chemistry 103.

Upper-Division

BIO 300 (2) BIOINFORMATICS

This course provides students with the background and exposure to a "toolkit" of web-based servers running user-friendly applications appropriate to handling the mass of complex biological data being generated in the field of modern biology. It emphasizes techniques for searching sequence databases, pairwise and multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic methods, and methods for pattern recognition and functional inference from sequence data. Lecture and laboratory.Offered as a Quad course.
Prerequisites: Mathematics 362 or instructor consent.

BIO 310 (3) GENERAL BOTANY

Principles of plant structure, function and diversity. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 210(Biology and Chemistry majors) or Biology 105 ( Environmental Biology minors). Or consent of instructor.

BIO 315 (3) MICROBIOLOGY

An in-depth exploration of the world of microscopic organisms, including their diversity, physiology, biochemistry and ecology. Emphasis will be on prokaryotes, but will also include some discussion of microscopic eukaryotes. Lecture and laboratory. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 210.

BIO 320 (3) MARINE ZOOLOGY

A study of marine animals and their habitats, with an emphasis on marine vertebrates. Lecture, lab, and field work. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 215.

BIO 325 (3) INSECT BIOLOGY

An integrative approach to the diversity, structure, physiology, development, behavior, social dynamics, and ecology of insects, the most abundant and successful group of land animals.
Also covered is the impact of insects on human health and agriculture. Lecture, lab, and
fieldwork. Offered Fall 2008.
Prerequisites: Biology 215.

BIO 330 (2) MARINE INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY

A study of invertebrate adaptive biology, including anatomy, locomotion, nutrition, respiration,
excretion, reproduction, and behavior. An emphasis on marine invertebrates and other
invertebrate representatives of importance to the Southern California ecosystems. Includes lecture and lab. Offered spring 2010.
Prerequisite: Biology 215.

BIO 340 (2) FIELD BIOLOGY

A field oriented course that explains a particular topic relevant to the field sciences in Southern California. Topics rotate from year to year based on current trends and opportunities. Examples could include topics such as ornithology, herpetology, conservation biology, endangered species management, and experimental ecology. Offered spring 2010.
Prerequisite: Biology 215.

BIO 345 (4) GENETICS

The study of the inheritance, organization, expression and variability of genes. Lecture and
lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 210. A grade of “C” or better in Biology 210 or instructor consent.

BIO 350 (3) ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY

A study of the structure and function of eukaryotic cells. Topics include various aspects of
subcellular structure, the extracellular matrix, cellular signal transduction mechanisms,
regulation of cell division and cancer. The laboratory provides exposure to important current methodologies. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 210 and 345.

BIO 360 (3) ECOLOGY

A study of current ecological theory with environmental applications. Lecture, lab, and field work. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 215.

BIO 370 (2) MARINE PLANT AND MICROBIAL LIFE

An analysis of shoreline, tidal and floating marine plants, and associated microbial life of the
Southern California coastline. Ecological and habitat characteristics are studied. Lecture, lab,
and field work. Offered spring 2010.
Prerequisites: Biology 215 or 210 and consent of instructor.

BIO 380 (3) MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

A study of the regulatory mechanisms that govern gene expression in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and their viruses. Alterations of normal eukaryotic genetic regulatory mechanisms resulting from the transformed (cancerous) state also are discussed. Laboratory includes practical experience with the methodologies of modern genetic engineering. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Biology 345.

BIO 390 (3) IMMUNOLOGY

Introduction to the immune system with an emphasis on mammalian models. The course
focuses on the cellular and molecular regulation of the immune system in health and disease. Topics include recognition of antigen, development of lymphocyte repertories, and innate and adaptive immune responses. Also included are discussions of the immune system’s  responses to cancer cells, tissue transplants, and allergenic substances. Lecture and laboratory. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 345 and Chemistry 295; Biology 450 is recommended.

BIO 400 (3) DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

An analysis of mechanisms of early development of invertebrates and vertebrates. Includes a study of the cellular, molecular, and genetic factors which influence the determination of the body plan as well as a study of the morphogenesis of selected organ systems. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 345 and 380.

BIO 410 (3) VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY

Taxonomy, behavior, distribution, and ecology of the vertebrates and a comparative study of their morphologies. Lecture and lab. Offered fall 2008.
Prerequisite: Biology 215.

BIO 420 (3) VERTEBRATE PHYSIOLOGY

A physiochemical analysis of life processes, as studied by a systemic approach. Lecture and lab. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 215 and Chemistry 295.

BIO 430 (3) ANIMAL BEHAVIOR

An exploration of the behavioral biology of animals, including behavior genetics, physiological mechanisms, development, learning, neuro-physiology, ecology, reproduction, and social behavior; insights from ethology, psychology, behavioral ecology, and sociobiology will be studied. Labs emphasize various aspects of behavioral research in field settings and students
conduct their own research projects. Lecture and lab. Offered fall 2009.
Prerequisite: Biology 360 or consent of instructor.

BIO 450 (4) ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY

Detailed analysis of protein and membrane structure. Includes quantitative approaches to the
study of enzymes, catalytic mechanisms of enzymes, and a survey of the major metabolic
pathways of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and nucleic acids. One three-hour lab each week. Also listed as Chemistry 450. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Biology 210 and Chemistry 295.

BIO 470 (3) NEUROSCIENCE

A study of the nervous system at the molecular, cellular and intercellular levels with the goal of
understanding the generation and control of thoughts and behavior. Laboratory exercises
examine sensory transduction, CNS function, synaptic physiology, behavior and neuroanatomy. The relationship of brain and mind are examined in discussions of nervous system development, intelligence, memory, patho-physiology, sexuality and gender identity, and religious faith and ethics. Lecture and lab. Offered 2007-08.
Prerequisites: Biology 140 or 420, or Psychology 301, or consent of instructor.

BIO 490 (1-3) INTERNSHIP IN BIOLOGY

Authentic work experience in jobs that are oriented to the field of biology and that include responsibility for decision making, problem solving, and the use of techniques, skills, knowledge acquired in the classroom. May be repeated to a maximum of three units. Credit/No Credit. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing. Consent department chair and faculty advisor.

BIO 495 (1-3) SPECIAL STUDIES IN BIOLOGY

Individual study in depth of a selected biology under the direct supervision of a member of the faculty. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and department chair.

BIO 497 (1) BIOLOGY SEMINAR

Examination and discussion of selected biological issues with an emphasis on the relationship between Christian faith and scientific study. course is to be taken by Biology, Biology-Chemistry and Environmental Science majors during their last semester prior to graduation. Offered every year.
Prerequisite: Senior standing as a Biology or Biochemistry major.

BIO 499 (1-3) RESEARCH IN BIOLOGY

Independent investigation, under the supervision of a member of the biology faculty. May be
repeated for a total of six units, but no more three units may count toward upper-division
requirements for graduation. Offered every year.
Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing and consent of instructor is required.

Au Sable Environmental Field Studies Program

Summer field courses in environmental biology offered by the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, a Christian organization offering work and field experiences in the context Christian environmental stewardship. Courses offered during two 5-week summer sessions three North American campuses (Great Pacific Rim, Florida). Courses are at the upper–division level, and provide students academic content, field experience, and tools for stewardship of creation resources. Academic credit for all Au Sable courses is through PLNU. Courses are four units each, two-course load is typical. Course credit counts graduation electives. Qualified students awarded the Au Sable Fellowship of up to and grants-in-aid of at least $600 are also available. Interested students should contact PLNU’s Sable Institute representative in the Biology department.