This is an archive. See the current website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
This page contains content from the Summer School 2009. For current information, visit the Harvard Summer School website at www.summer.harvard.edu.
BIOS S-1ab
Introductory Biology (32425)
(Website) (Printable version)
William Fixsen
(8 credits: UN) Mondays-Fridays, 9:45-11:45 am. Required laboratories Tuesdays, Thursdays or Wednesdays, Fridays, 1-4 pm. Tuition $4,950.
Harvard College students see additional information.
The principles of biology are covered in this course, with special reference to the structural, functional, and molecular mechanisms and organization of cells; genetics; development; evolution; anatomy; and physiology. Emphasis is on cells as evolved systems for the capture and transformation of energy and the processing of information, the evolution of multicellularity, and the continued interplay of structure and function at the organ level. This course fulfills the requirement of two semesters of biology needed for admission to medical school. Prerequisites: secondary school introductory courses in biology and chemistry.
BIOS S-10
Principles of Biochemistry (32376)
(Website) (Printable version)
Alain Viel
(4 credits: UN, GR, NC) Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Required sections to be arranged. Tuition $2,475.
Harvard College students see additional information.
This course is an integrated introduction to the structure of macromolecules and a biochemical approach to protein function. The organization of macromolecules is addressed through a discussion of their hierarchical structure, and a study of their assembly into complexes responsible for specific biological processes. Topics addressing protein function include enzyme kinetics, the characterization of major metabolic pathways and their interconnection into tightly regulated networks. Current laboratory techniques are discussed during lecture, and examples showing the organization of protein networks and disease-linked protein profiles are drawn from proteomic studies. The laboratory portion of the course exposes students to a broad range of experimental approaches, including affinity purification, enzyme kinetics, analysis of protein folding, and stability. The laboratory exercises are designed to give students a direct experience of research conducted in a modern laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOS S-1ab or the equivalent.
BIOS S-12
Principles and Techniques of Molecular Biology (32378)
(Website) (Printable version)
Alain Viel
(4 credits: UN, GR, NC) Mondays, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Required laboratories to be arranged. Tuition $2,475. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.
The course addresses both the fundamental principles and techniques of molecular biology. Students gain an in-depth knowledge of nucleic acid structure, molecular genetics, and the biochemistry of transcription and protein synthesis. Other topics include how mechanisms of gene regulation play a role in retroviral pathogenesis, embryonic development, and the generation of immune diversity. Each lecture directly relates molecular biology to current laboratory techniques. The laboratory portion of the course represents a complete experimental project. A combination of experiments gives students a broad exposure to several important techniques in molecular biology, together with the direct experience of an intensive research project. Experiments include current approaches to mutation analysis, protein interaction assays, and recombinant cDNA cloning by PCR. Prerequisite: BIOS S-1ab or the equivalent introductory biology course with laboratory, or permission of the instructor.
BIOS S-14
Principles of Genetics (32374)
(Syllabus) (Printable version)
Steven Theroux
(4 credits: UN, NC) Mondays, Wednesdays, noon-3 pm. Optional sections Mondays, Wednesdays, 3-4 pm. Tuition $2,475.
Harvard College students see additional information.
This course focuses on transmission and molecular genetics. Topics include chromosome structure and replication, genetic linkage and mapping, regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, epigenetics, genetic mutation, genetics of cancer, and the principles of genetic engineering. The course makes use of bioinformatics to explore gene function, and pertinent applications of bioinformatics and genetics to modern biological problems are discussed. Prerequisite: BIOS S-1ab or the equivalent.
BIOS S-25
A Comparative Anatomical Perspective of Human Origins and Health (32372)
(Syllabus) (Printable version)
Karel F. Liem and James Stephen Lee
(4 credits: UN, GR, NC) Mondays, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Required laboratories to be arranged. Tuition $2,475. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.
This course provides the fundamentals and essentials of vertebrate structure and function in an evolutionary context including issues relating to human and animal health. Whenever possible, human origins and inherited health are highlighted. Extraordinary examples are selected for in-depth discussions and presented as jewels in the evolutionary vertebrate crown. The course prepares not only biologists but also preprofessionals for postgraduate programs in the biological and health sciences, including nursing, physician assistants, veterinarian assistants, and technical assistants. The ultimate goal is to provide knowledge and understanding of the more than 300 million years of evolutionary history of the vertebrate body. Prerequisite: basic biology.
BIOS S-50
Neurobiology (32375)
(Website) (Printable version)
Shawn Murphy
(4 credits: UN, NC) Mondays, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Optional sections to be arranged. Tuition $2,475.
Online and on-campus options. See Distance Education. Harvard College students see additional information.
This course is an introduction to the organization and function of the nervous system. Topics to be covered include cell biology of neurons, physiology of excitable membranes and electrical signaling, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, sensory systems, motor systems, developmental neurobiology, simple circuits, and behavior. We discuss the molecular basis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychological disease. Prerequisite: introductory biology course or permission of instructor.
BIOS S-74
Marine Life and Ecosystems of the Sea (32373)
(Website) (Printable version)
Robert M. Woollacott
(4 credits: UN, NC) Tuesdays, Thursdays, 3:15-6:15 pm. Required sections Wednesdays, 3:15-6:15 pm. Tuition $2,475. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.
This course explores the life history and adaptations of marine life and the ecosystems of the sea. Emphasis is placed on understanding the fragility and resilience of marine systems in the face of anthropogenically driven perturbations such as habitat fragmentation, elevated SST, alien species, nonsustainable fishing practices, and increased global tourism. Prerequisite: at least one year of secondary school biology.
BIOS S-98r
Study Abroad: Supervised Research in Quantitative Life Sciences
Limited enrollment.
Section 0 (32405) (Printable version)
Venkatesh N. Murthy, Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
Section 0 (32426) (Website) (Printable version)
Robert A. Lue, Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
Section 0 (32427) (Printable version)
Takao K. Hensch, Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
Section 0 (32428) (Printable version)
Takao K. Hensch, Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-101
Study Abroad in Shanghai, China: Supervised Laboratory Research in the Life Sciences (32423)
(Printable version)
Alain Viel
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-103
Study Abroad in Shanghai, China: The Living Science—The Biology of Life and Society (32424)
(Printable version)
Robert A. Lue
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-111
Biodiversity of Tropical Plants (32377)
(Printable version)
P. Barry Tomlinson
(4 credits: UN, GR) Tuition $2,475. Limited enrollment.
This course meets June 15-July 11 at the Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Coconut Grove, Florida. Application and payment deadline: May 15. Harvard College students see additional information.
"Biodiversity" is commonly interpreted as a catalogue of species richness in a given environment and how it might be preserved, but it can mean much more if an investigation considers the functioning, not just the systematics, of the organisms in a given area, that is, their biology. Clearly biodiversity in this broad context can be studied best in the tropics, where diversity is richest.
South Florida offers a sampling of this richness, conveniently located in the continental United States. This course allows students to become familiar with tropical plants and their biological mechanisms at many levels.
The course is intended as an overview of the rich plant diversity in natural environments (for example, the Everglades National Park, Biscayne Bay National Park) and especially the collections of introduced tropical plants at collaborating institutions, notably Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Montgomery Botanical Center, Coral Gables. There are an estimated 10,000 species representing most major biological groups of plants. For example, there are more than 500 species of palms (tropical icons) available, and more than 100 plant families not represented in natural environments in the United States.
The course emphasizes morphology and anatomy in both a systematic and a functional context, through field and laboratory study. The course is structured around inquiry, and is intended to develop investigative techniques and philosophical approaches that can be applied in subsequent graduate study. The class introduces students to many tropical plant families (especially in the iconic Arecaceae) and other topics such as tree architecture, pollination biology, the morphology of vines and epiphytes, as well as distinctive tropical ecosystems like seagrass meadows and mangroves. Laboratory work emphasizes anatomy and dissection of fresh material, using tools ranging from chain saws to scalpels.
Application: Students submit the Harvard Summer School registration form, a $50 nonrefundable application fee, and a supplemental application form directly to Professor Tomlinson, The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, 4013 Douglas Road, Coconut Grove, FL 33133. Please do not send application materials to the Summer School. Students must be familiar with elementary botany. The class is intended for those who are either already enrolled in a graduate program in botany or biology, or who plan to enroll in the future. Supplemental applications will be available online soon.
Cost: Harvard Summer School tuition; travel to and from Miami; Kampong accommodation at $25 per day. Tuition and travel scholarships may be available for qualifying students.
For more information about the course and scholarship options, please contact Professor Tomlinson, pbtomlin@fas.harvard.edu.
BIOS S-112
Study Abroad at Oxford: Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Biology (32400)
(Printable version)
Andrew Berry and Naomi Pierce
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-113
Study Abroad at Oxford: Darwin and Contemporary Evolutionary Biology (32401)
(Printable version)
Andrew Berry and Naomi Pierce
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-141a
Study Abroad in Tokyo, Japan (RIKEN): Interacting Brains (32443)
(Printable version)
Takao K. Hensch
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-142
Study Abroad in Yokohama, Japan (RIKEN): Cellular and Genetic View on Autoimmunity (32450)
(Printable version)
Takao K. Hensch
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-165
Study Abroad in Borneo, Malaysia: The Biodiversity of Borneo (32406)
(Printable version)
Campbell Webb
Limited enrollment.
Study abroad programs are restricted to students 18 years of age or older.
See Study Abroad for more information.
BIOS S-200
Graduate Research Methods and Scholarly Writing in the Biological Sciences (32340)
(Website) (Printable version)
Cheryl D. Vaughan
Graduate proseminar. (4 credits: GR) Mondays, Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 pm. Tuition $1,775. Limited enrollment.
Harvard College students see additional information.
This proseminar is designed to teach students many of the writing and analytical skills that are required to succeed in graduate-level courses in the biological sciences. Through critical reading and presentation of research articles, students learn how to form questions that can be addressed experimentally and how to write a corresponding, testable hypothesis. The course also addresses the process of experimental design and current experimental methodologies in biology. Students are given multiple opportunities to hone their writing skills on several short writing assignments. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, present a paper to the class, and write a final research proposal due at the end of the semester. We focus our attention on the structural aspects of chromatin that are potentially heritable and can influence gene expression without alterations in DNA sequence. This general type of phenomenon is described as epigenetic, and the selected readings for this course center on the epigenetic behavior of chromatin, methods for studying epigenetics, and its role in the onset of human diseases. Prerequisite: satisfactory score on the test of critical reading and writing skills; molecular biology (BIOS S-12 or the equivalent) highly recommended.