Current Courses Taught: 200-400 UG, 600-700 Grad

Biol 210: Genetics

Course Delivery:

Instruction time includes 3, one hour lectures and one tutorial section/week.

Performance is graded through a combination of problem assignments, midterm and final exams

See last years syllabus, schedule and concept map for more details

Course Objectives:

This is an introductory course that builds upon the material covered in an introductory biology course, e.g., BIOL 101/2. It is designed to provide the student with a solid foundation in transmission (classical), molecular and population genetics.

Biol 423/623: Molecular Evolution and Ecology

Course Delivery:

The course is comprised of lectures and seminars in which presentations will be given by the instructor and students, and computer laboratory sections during which students will get hands-on experience with programs used to make inferences about molecular evolution and the ecology of species.

See last years syllabus, schedule and concept map for more details

Course Objectives:

This course focuses on three major topics:

1) theories on the evolution of macromolecules

2) the use of genetic variation to reconstruct the evolutionary history of species, populations or genes

3) the examination of genetic information to gain insights into the ecology of species

Biol 425/625: Applied Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

Course Delivery:

This is a lab-based course (6 hours/wk). Lectures (1 hour/wk) are used to cover theory and for discussion of class results. Performance is graded through lab reports, lab participation and a final exam.

See last years syllabus and schedule for more details

Course Objectives:

1) Gain practical knowledge in the use of core/advanced genetic laboratory techniques and data analyses.

2) Develop an understanding of methods used to collect genetic information to address questions in biology and molecular biology .

NRES 430: Undergrauduate Thesis / BIOL 499: Independent Study

I have regularly offered NRES 430: Undergraduate thesis to both NRES-Biol and BCMB (with permission) students in the past. This course is required for a BIOL or BCMB honours degree. For a list of previous student theses please see the Students page. If you are interested in pursuing an undergraduate thesis in my lab please Contact me directly.

BIOL 499 is another way to gain research experience for course credit. These are generally offered as a 3 credit course and are less formal in structure than the UG thesis, NRES/BCMB 430. Again both BIOL and BCMB students can take this course for subject requirements.

NRES 737: Evolutionary Processes

Course Objectives:

This course is an examination of evolutionary process, including discussions on micro- and macro-evolutionary change. Emphasis is placed on current evolutionary theories and a critical examination of data analysis.

Course Delivery:

This is a student led seminar-based course that will meet weekly to discuss aspects of Molecular Ecology. Emphasis will be placed on a critical examination of advanced analysis methods.

See the 2009 syllabus as an example