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Note: This is the 2016鈥2017 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Note: This is the 2016鈥2017 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Biology is the study of living things at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels. It deals with fundamental questions such as:
The study of biology also has vast practical applications. The knowledge, methods, and concepts developed through research in the various fields of biology are applied extensively in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, genetic engineering, environmental protection, and wildlife management.
The Department of Biology offers:
The programs in Biology offer students an opportunity to gain knowledge in more than one area of biology, and they provide a broader training than the more specialized programs in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physiology, or Anatomy and Cell Biology. Many of our graduates continue on to M.D. programs and successful careers in health care. A B.Sc. degree in Biology also prepares students for a wide range of employment opportunities, as well as entry to professional schools in veterinary science, dentistry, agriculture, nursing, education, and library science. It provides a solid background for students who are interested in careers related to environmental protection, wildlife management, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. A B.Sc. degree in Biology often leads to postgraduate studies at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels, and then on to research careers in universities, research institutes, hospitals, and industrial or governmental laboratories.
The Department of Biology has well-equipped teaching laboratories located in the Stewart Biology Building, and research labs located in the Stewart Biology Building and the Bellini Life Sciences Building. Much of the Department's research space has been renovated or newly constructed in the last several years thanks to extensive support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Minist猫re de l'脡conomie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations du Qu茅bec, and the generosity of private benefactors. Our undergraduates are encouraged to take advantage of these facilities by pursuing independent research projects, either as 3-, 6-, and 9-credit stand-alone courses or as part of the Honours program.
Department members carry out research in areas of molecular biology, cell biology, ecology, animal behaviour, developmental biology, bioinformatics, neurobiology, marine biology, plant biology, and evolution. The Department also includes many associate faculty members, many of whom are located in 苹果淫院-affiliated teaching hospitals or in departments of the Faculty of Medicine, and others who are affiliated with the Redpath Museum, the 苹果淫院 School of Environment, and remote sites such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama and the Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados. Field courses are given at STRI and Bellairs, at the nearby Gault Nature Reserve, and also at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in New Brunswick. The Department is also a very active contributor to the Africa Field Study Semester.
The Biology Department Undergraduate Programs 2016鈥2017 booklet (鈥淏luebook鈥) describes in detail the content of each course and the level at which it is given; the aims and methods used; lectures; references; grading procedures; and other important information. The 鈥淏luebook鈥 also contains more information on registration, counselling, committee structure, and the research interests and facilities that are provided in the Department. It is available at .
Inquiries about undergraduate programs should be directed to:
Requirements for the Major and Honours programs in Biology are:
Students entering the B.A. & Sc., the Liberal program, and the Biology Science Minor have the same biology, chemistry, and mathematics requirements. The physics requirements will vary according to their future direction. Note that satisfying the minimum Freshman mathematics requirements does not necessarily qualify students for medical or dental school admissions requirements.
Students planning to take one of the joint majors or the Quantitative Biology Major or Honours options should consult:
to ensure they are taking the appropriate prerequisites.
Students interested in advanced studies in any biological discipline are strongly advised to develop their skills in computing as appropriate. As an aid to students wishing to specialize, key and suggested courses are listed by discipline.
Understanding the diverse ways in which animals feed, mate, care for their offspring, avoid predators, select their habitats, communicate, and process information constitute the subject matter of behaviour. Several approaches are used to study these questions: some focus on ecological consequences and determinants; some on physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms; and others on evolutionary origins.
Key courses: BIOL 304, BIOL 305, BIOL 306, BIOL 307, BIOL 320, BIOL 331, or BIOL 334D1/BIOL 334D2 or another field course with a significant behavioural component, BIOL 373, BIOL 507.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 377, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2.
Most courses from the fields of behaviour, ecology, and evolutionary biology will be relevant for this concentration. Some courses that focus on a particular taxonomic group such as birds (Natural Resource Sciences WILD 420), amphibians and reptiles (BIOL 427), and marine mammals (BIOL 335) include a significant amount of information on behaviour.
The study of biological diversity deals with the maintenance, emergence, and history of the inexhaustible variety of different kinds of organisms. It is deeply concerned with the particular characteristics of different organisms and therefore emphasizes the detailed study of particular groups and forms the basis of comparative biology. Our knowledge of diversity is organized through the study of systematics, which seeks to understand the history of life and the phylogenetic and genetic relationships of living things. Appreciation and knowledge of diversity and systematics are essential in ecology and evolutionary biology, and underlie all work in resource utilization and conservation biology.
Key courses: BIOL 304, BIOL 305, BIOL 373.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 240, BIOL 310, BIOL 320, BIOL 324, BIOL 331, BIOL 334D1/BIOL 334D2, BIOL 335, BIOL 342, BIOL 350/ENTO 350, BIOL 352, BIOL 377, BIOL 418, BIOL 427, BIOL 428, BIOL 429, BIOL 463, BIOL 465, BIOL 466 or BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 515, BIOL 540, BIOL 569, BIOL 573, BIOL 594, REDM 400, REDM 405.
Macdonald campus: ENTO 440, PLNT 358, WILD 307, WILD 350, WILD 420, WILD 424.
Conservation biology is the study and protection of biological diversity. It is a scientific discipline closely connecting ecology and evolutionary biology with applications in public policy and management. Conservation biology focuses on keeping normal evolutionary processes working within a functional ecological context and deals with issues of how the wide variety of organisms and ecosystems can be maintained and prevented from declining. It considers population and habitat viability and complexity in the face of threats and perturbations. Cognizance of biological diversity, knowledge, expertise in both ecology and evolutionary biology, and appreciation for the political, social, and economic contexts of the biodiversity crisis underlie all work in conservation biology.
Key courses: BIOL 308, BIOL 310, BIOL 373, BIOL 465, plus at least one of the following field courses: BIOL 331 or BIOL 334D1/BIOL 334D2 or BIOL 428 or BIOL 429 or BIOL 553.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 304, BIOL 305, BIOL 307, BIOL 324, BIOL 335, BIOL 342, BIOL 350, BIOL 377, BIOL 413, BIOL 427, BIOL 434, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 510, BIOL 515, BIOL 540, BIOL 594, ECON 225, ECON 326, GEOG 370, GEOG 470, REDM 400.
Macdonald campus: PLNT 358, WILD 350, WILD 415, WILD 420, WILD 421.
Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and environment that affect distribution, abundance, and other characteristics of organisms. A strong analytical and quantitative orientation is common to all areas of ecology, and thus students wishing to specialize in these areas are strongly encouraged to develop their background in statistical analysis, computing, and mathematical modeling. Many of the ecology courses feature a strong analytical component, and students will find that background preparation in this area is very useful, if not essential. Ecology depends heavily on field research, and thus BIOL 331 and/or other field courses should be considered as vital to all concentrations in this area.
The concentration in general and applied ecology is designed to introduce the breadth of contemporary ecology at the levels of the ecosystem, communities, and populations, and at the level of the individual organism, with an accent on the application of this science to practical problems in environmental management, and the management of resources and pests. In addition to general courses dealing with general principles, there is a selection of courses dealing with particular groups of organisms. Since it is essential to know how knowledge is obtained, the concentration includes a field course in ecology.
Key courses: BIOL 305, BIOL 308, BIOL 331 or BIOL 334D1/BIOL 334D2, BIOL 342, BIOL 350, BIOL 373, COMP 202, COMP 273.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 307, BIOL 324, BIOL 377, BIOL 418, BIOL 427, BIOL 428, BIOL 429, BIOL 432, BIOL 434, BIOL 441, BIOL 465, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 510, BIOL 515, BIOL 540, BIOL 594, GEOG 302, REDM 405.
Macdonald campus: PLNT 460.
This concentration is designed to introduce the principles of ecology as they pertain to aquatic ecosystems and aquatic biota. Since it is essential to know how knowledge is obtained, as well as what has been learned, one of the courses (Limnology) involves field work, and one (Biological Oceanography) involves a laboratory component; these courses stress the techniques used to study aquatic ecology. In addition, the concentration includes a field course in ecology. There are also a variety of courses in aquatic disciplines offered in other departments that complement the Biology Department's aquatic ecology courses.
Key courses: BIOL 305, BIOL 308, BIOL 331 or another field course, BIOL 342, BIOL 373, BIOL 418, BIOL 427, BIOL 432 (or ENVB 315), BIOL 441, BIOL 465, BIOL 515, COMP 202, COMP 273.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 307, BIOL 429, BIOL 434, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 540, GEOG 305, GEOG 306, GEOG 308, GEOG 322, REDM 405.
This concentration is designed to offer students a broad introduction to marine biology and marine ecology, which will form the basis for graduate studies in these fields or for employment in aquatic biology and oceanography.
Key courses: BIOL 305, BIOL 308, BIOL 335, BIOL 342, BIOL 373, BIOL 441, BIOL 515.
Other suggested courses: ATOC 512, ATOC 550, BIOL 331, BIOL 334D1/BIOL 334D2, BIOL 418, BIOL 429, BIOL 432, BIOL 434, BIOL 465, BIOL 540, EPSC 542.
For students intending to proceed to graduate work, one independent studies course (BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, or BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2) is recommended. Because of the importance of numerical analyses in all fields of ecology, courses in Biometry (e.g., BIOL 373) and Computer Science (COMP 202 or COMP 273) are recommended.
Evolutionary biology is the study of processes that change organisms and their characteristics through time. Evolutionary biologists are concerned with adaptations of organisms and the process of natural selection.
Key courses: BIOL 304, BIOL 305, BIOL 307, BIOL 320, BIOL 324, BIOL 331, BIOL 352, BIOL 373, BIOL 377, BIOL 463, BIOL 466 or BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 569, BIOL 573, BIOL 594.
Other suggested courses in Organismal Biology: BIOL 240, BIOL 335, BIOL 350, BIOL 427, BIOL 428, BIOL 463.
Macdonald campus: PLNT 358, WILD 420.
Genetics and Development: BIOL 300, BIOL 303.
Ecology and Behaviour: BIOL 309, BIOL 429, BIOL 434, BIOL 507, BIOL 515, REDM 405.
The courses recommended for students interested in human genetics are designed to offer a broad perspective in this rapidly advancing area of biology. Genetics is covered at all levels of organization (the gene, the chromosome, the cell, the organism, and the population), using pertinent examples from all species, but with special emphasis on humans.
Key courses: BIOL 301, BIOL 370, BIOL 373, BIOL 416, BIOL 520, BIOL 568, BIOL 575.
Other suggested courses: BIOC 311, BIOL 314, BIOL 377, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, CHEM 203 or both CHEM 204 and CHEM 214, CHEM 222, HGEN 400, MIMM 314.
The discoveries that have fuelled the ongoing biomedical and biotechnology revolution have been derived from the fusion of a number of fields of biological investigation, including molecular biology; genetics; cellular and developmental biology; and biochemistry. A substantial amount of this research has been conducted upon model eukaryotic organisms, such as yeast, the fruit fly (Drosophila), the nematode (C. elegans), and the mustard weed (Arabidopsis). In the molecular genetics and development concentration, students will obtain a comprehensive understanding of how these 鈥渕odel eukaryotes鈥 have advanced our knowledge of the mechanisms responsible for cellular function and organismal development. Graduates from this concentration will be well prepared to pursue higher degrees in the fields of basic biology, biotechnology, and biomedicine, or to assume a wide variety of positions in government, universities, and medical and industrial institutions.
Key courses: BIOL 300, BIOL 301, BIOL 303, BIOL 373, BIOL 569; CHEM 203 or CHEM 204 combined with CHEM 214, CHEM 212, CHEM 222.
Other suggested courses: BIOL 313, BIOL 314, BIOL 316, BIOL 416, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, BIOL 518, BIOL 520, BIOL 524, BIOL 544, BIOL 546.
Nervous systems are perhaps the most complex entities in the natural world, being composed of up to trillions of interconnected cells that must operate in a coordinated manner to produce behaviour that can range from the mundane (e.g., regulation of heart rate) to the magnificent (e.g., musical composition). The neurobiology discipline, one of the fastest growing areas of modern biology, seeks to understand the evolution, development, and operation of nervous systems. The neurobiology concentration addresses these issues by examining neural structure, function, and development at levels of organization that range from the molecular to the organismal. As a result of exposure to a wide range of experimental and intellectual approaches, students receive a sound, broadly based education in biology.
Key courses: BIOL 306, BIOL 320, BIOL 373, BIOL 389, BIOL 507, BIOL 514, BIOL 530, BIOL 532, BIOL 580, BIOL 588.
Other suggested courses: ANAT 321, ANAT 322, BIOL 300, BIOL 303, BIOL 466, BIOL 467, BIOL 468D1/BIOL 468D2, BIOL 469D1/BIOL 469D2, NEUR 310, NSCI 200, NSCI 201, PHAR 562, PHGY 311, PHGY 314, PHGY 425, PHGY 451, PHGY 556, PSYC 311, PSYC 318, PSYC 342, PSYC 410, PSYC 470, PSYT 455, PSYT 500.
Chair |
---|
Gregor Fussmann |
Emeritus Professors |
A. Howard Bussey; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Brist.), F.R.S.C. |
Robert L. Carroll; B.S.(Mich.), M.A., Ph.D.(Harv.), F.R.S.C. |
Ronald Chase; A.B.(Stan.), Ph.D.(MIT) |
Jacob Kalff; M.S.A.(Tor.), Ph.D.(Ind.) |
Donald L. Kramer; B.Sc.(Boston Coll.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
John B. Lewis; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Barid B. Mukherjee; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Calc.), M.Sc.(BYU), Ph.D.(Utah) |
Gerald S. Pollack; M.A., Ph.D.(Princ.) |
Ronald Poole; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Birm.) |
Derek Roff; B.Sc.(Syd.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
Post-Retirement Professor |
Gregory G. Brown; B.Sc.(Notre Dame), Ph.D.(CUNY) |
Professors |
Ehab Abouheif; M.Sc.(C鈥檇ia), Ph.D.(Duke) (E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellow) |
Graham A.C. Bell; B.A., D.Phil.(Oxf.), F.R.S.C., F.R.S. (UK) (James 苹果淫院 Professor) (on sabbatical) |
Lauren Chapman; B.Sc.(Alta.), Ph.D.(McG.) (Canada Research Chair in Respiratory Ecology and Aquatic Conservation) |
Rajinder S. Dhindsa; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Punj.), Ph.D.(Wash.) |
Gregor Fussmann; Dipl.(Free Univ., Berlin), Ph.D.(Max Planck Inst. & Kiel) |
Andrew Gonzalez; B.Sc.(Nott.), Ph.D.(Imperial Coll., Lond.) (Canada Research Chair in Biodiversity Science) (on sabbatical) |
Fr茅d茅ric Guichard; B.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Laval) |
Anna Hargreaves M.Sc.(Calg.), Ph.D.(Qu.) |
Siegfried Hekimi; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Geneva), F.R.S.C. (Strathcona Chair in Zoology; Robert Archibald & Catherine Louise Campbell Chair in Developmental Biology) (on sabbatical) |
Andrew Hendry; B.Sc.(Vic., BC), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Wash.) (joint appt. with Redpath Museum) |
Paul F. Lasko; A.B.(Harv.), Ph.D.(MIT) (James 苹果淫院 Professor) (Associate Member in Anatomy & Cell Biology) (Associate Member in the Goodman Cancer Centre) |
Martin J. Lechowicz; B.A.(Mich. St.), M.S., Ph.D.(Wisc.) (Liber Ero Chair in Conservation Biology) |
Louis Lefebvre; B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.(Montr.) |
Catherine Potvin; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Duke) |
Neil M. Price; B.Sc.(New Br.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) (on sabbatical) |
Richard Roy; B.Sc.(Bishop's), Ph.D.(Laval) |
Daniel J. Schoen; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Mich.), Ph.D.(Calif.) (Macdonald Professor of Botany) |
Associate Professors |
Gary Brouhard; B.S.E. & B.A. (Mich.), M.S.E., Ph.D.(Mich.) (Associate Member in Biochemistry and Physics) |
Thomas Bureau; B.Sc.(Calif.), Ph.D.(Texas) |
Melania Cristescu; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Ovidius Univ. Constanta, Romania), Ph.D.(Guelph) |
David Dankort; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McM.) |
Jonathan Davies; M.Sc.(Cape Town), Ph.D.(Imperial Coll., Lond.) |
Joseph A. Dent; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Colo.) (on sabbatical) |
Irene Gregory-Eaves; B.Sc.(Vic., BC), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Qu.) (Canada Research Chair in Freshwater Ecology & Global Change) |
Paul Harrison; B.Sc.(NUI), Ph.D.(Lond.) |
Rudiger Krahe; Dipl. Biol. (Friedrich-Alexander Univ.), Ph.D.(Humboldt) |
Brian Leung; B.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Car.) |
Nam-Sung Moon; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Laura Nilson; B.A.(Colgate), Ph.D.(Yale) |
Simon Reader; B.A., Ph.D.(Camb.) |
Jon Sakata; B.A.(Cornell), Ph.D.(Texas-Austin) |
Frieder Schoeck; Dipl.(Erlangen), Ph.D.(Max Planck Institute) |
Jacalyn Vogel; M.Sc.(E. Ill.), Ph.D.(Kansas) |
Tamara Western; B.Sc.(Dal.), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) (Associate Dean [Academic], Faculty of Science) |
Monique Zetka; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
Hugo Zheng; M.Sc.(Helsinki), Ph.D.(Oxf. Brookes) |
Assistant Professors |
Michael Hendricks; B.A.(Bowdoin), Ph.D.(Sing.) |
Tomoko Oyama; M.Sc.(Keio), Ph.D.(Baylor Coll.) |
Rodrigo Reyes Lamothe; M.Sc.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Oxf.) (CRC Chair) |
Alanna Watt; B.Sc.(C'dia), Ph.D.(Brandeis) |
Stephanie Weber; B.Sc.(Duke), Ph.D.(Stan.) |
Sarah Woolley; B.Sc.(Duke), Ph.D.(Texas-Austin) |
Associate Members |
Anatomy and Cell Biology: Craig Mandato |
Anthropology: Colin Chapman |
Centre for Research in Neuroscience: Sal Carbonetto, Yong Rao, Donald Van Meyel |
MUHC: Rima Rozen |
Medical Genetics, Chair: David Rosenblatt |
MNI: Kenneth Hastings |
Physics: Paul Francois |
Redpath Museum: Rowan Barrett, David Green, Hans Larsson, Virginie Millien, Anthony Ricciardi |
RVH: Hugh J. Clarke, Daniel Dufort, Teruko Taketo |
Adjunct Professors |
BELLUS Health Inc.: Francesco Bellini |
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS): Fran莽ois Fagotto, Michel Loreau |
Concordia University: Malcolm Whiteway |
IRCM: Fr茅d茅ric Charron, David Hipfner |
STRI: Andrew Altieri, Rachel Collin, Hector Guzman, Haris Lessios, William Owen McMillan, Rachel Page, Mark Torchin |
Universit茅 de Montr茅al: Pierre Drapeau |
The Minor Biology may be taken in conjunction with any primary program in the Faculty of Science (other than programs offered by the Department of Biology). Students are advised to consult the undergraduate adviser in Biology as early as possible (preferably during their first year), in order to plan their course selection. See Nancy Nelson, Stewart Biology...
For more information, see Minor Biology (25 credits).
Students may complete this program with a minimum of 45 credits or a maximum of 47 credits depending on their choice of complementary courses.
For more information, see Liberal Program - Core Science Component Biology (47 credits).
The Major requires 58 or 59 credits depending on a student's choice of complementary courses. Students in the Major program are permitted to take a maximum of 9 credits of research courses.
For more information, see Major Biology (59 credits).
Interdisciplinary research that draws from the natural and physical sciences is an important aspect of modern biology. The Quantitative Biology option is designed for students with a deep interest in biology who wish to gain a strong grounding in physical sciences and their application to biological questions. The program has two options: an ecology and...
For more information, see Major Biology - Quantitative Biology (73 credits).
This program is built on a selection of mathematics and biology courses that recognize mathematical biology as a field of research, with three streams within biology: Ecology and Evolutionary Ecology, Molecular Evolution, and Neurosciences.
For more information, see Major Biology and Mathematics (76 credits).
Students may complete this program with a minimum of 71 credits or a maximum of 72 credits depending on their choice of complementary courses. ...
For more information, see Honours Biology (72 credits).
(74-79 credits) ...
For more information, see Honours Biology - Quantitative Biology (79 credits).
For more information, see Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Computer Science and Biology (73 credits).
For more information, see Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Computer Science and Biology (79 credits).
The program is a joint venture between 苹果淫院 and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama. For more information, see Field Studies > Undergraduate > Panama Field Study Semester. You can also visit the following website for details: www.mcgill.ca/science/student/internships-field.
The Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, coordinates the 15-credit interdisciplinary Africa Field Study Semester; see Field Studies > Undergraduate > Africa Field Study Semester. You can also visit the following website for details: www.mcgill.ca/science/student/internships-field.