Biology

• BIOL E-1a Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology (Fall)
• BIOL E-1b Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (Spring)
• BIOL E-22c Animal Behavior (Spring)
• BIOL E-74 Marine Biology (Fall)
• BIOL E-100 Comparative Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates (Fall)
• BIOL E-101 Genomics and Computational Biology (Fall)
• BIOL E-103 Cell Biology: Eukaryotic Experimental Models (Spring)
• BIOL E-104 Plants and Human Affairs (Fall)
• BIOL E-106 Neurobiology (Fall)
• BIOL E-109 Principles and Techniques of Molecular Biology (Spring)
• BIOL E-119 Introduction to Proteomics (Fall)
• BIOL E-124 Developmental Bone Biology (Fall)
• BIOL E-130 Fish Biology: Models in Design, Evolution, and Conservation (Spring)
• BIOL E-142 Topics in Botany: Fungi in the Laboratory (Fall)
• BIOL E-169c Immunology I (Fall)
• BIOL E-169d Immunology II (Spring)
• BIOL E-172 Biological Perspectives on HIV and AIDS (Fall)
• BIOL E-176a Human Physiology I: Neural, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Sensory, and Neonatal Systems (Fall)
• BIOL E-176b Human Physiology II: Neural, Muscular, Renal, Reproductive, and Digestive Systems (Spring)
• BIOL E-177 Principles of Genetics (Spring)
• BIOL E-179 The Biology of Aging (Spring)
• BIOL E-180 The Physiology of Sleep (Spring)
• BIOL E-201 Topics in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (Fall)
• Related Courses

BIOL E-1a Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology (11895)
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William Fixsen, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $775.
Monday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm, Science Center, Hall B. Fall term
Class meets 6:35-9:35 pm during laboratory weeks.

BIOL E-1a and BIOL E-1b provide a one-year introduction to modern biology that fulfills medical school requirements. During some weeks, students will attend a laboratory instead of a lecture. BIOL E-1a focuses on the general principles of cellular biology. Topics include the structure of cells, the distinction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, enzymes and cellular metabolism, and the general principles of modern genetics. BIOL E-1b examines the general concepts of organismic biology. Topics include embryology and development, anatomy and physiology, and evolution. Prerequisites for BIOL E-1a: high school mathematics, chemistry, and biology; although CHEM E-1a and E-1b, or their equivalents, are not required, they are strongly recommended. Prerequisite for BIOL E-1b: BIOL E-1a or equivalent.

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BIOL E-1b Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (20011)
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William Fixsen, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $775.
Monday, Feb. 2 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm, Science Center, Hall B. Spring term
Class meets 6:35-9:35 pm during laboratory weeks.

BIOL E-1a and BIOL E-1b provide a one-year introduction to modern biology that fulfills medical school requirements. During some weeks, students will attend a laboratory instead of a lecture. BIOL E-1a focuses on the general principles of cellular biology. Topics include the structure of cells, the distinction between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, enzymes and cellular metabolism, and the general principles of modern genetics. BIOL E-1b examines the general concepts of organismic biology. Topics include embryology and development, anatomy and physiology, and evolution. Prerequisites for BIOL E-1a: high school mathematics, chemistry, and biology; although CHEM E-1a and E-1b, or their equivalents, are not required, they are strongly recommended. Prerequisite for BIOL E-1b: BIOL E-1a or equivalent.

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BIOL E-22c Animal Behavior (20012)
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4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575.
Optional sections Thursday, 7:35-8:35 pm. Spring term

*** BIOL E-22c has been CANCELLED.***

An introduction to animal behavior with emphasis on evolution, development, physiology, and ecology. Topics include sensory perception, behavioral genetics, communication, male and female reproductive behavior, the evolution of cooperation and altruism in animal societies, and human sociobiology. Prerequisite: introductory biology helpful, but strong interest in natural history and behavior is equally important.

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BIOL E-74 Marine Biology (12214)
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Robert M. Woollacott, PhD, Professor of Biology and Curator of Marine Invertebrates, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575.
Thursday, Sept. 18, 5:30-7:30 pm, Science Center, Room 309. Fall term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Science Center classrooms above the first floor.

Explores the life histories and adaptations of marine life and the ecosystems of the sea. Centers on the complex interrelationships of organisms, the diversity of various habitats, reproductive strategies, and speciation as well as the interplay of currents, light, temperature, and nutrient supply on the distribution of life in the sea. Prerequisite: an introductory course in biology at the college level.

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BIOL E-100 Comparative Functional Anatomy of the Vertebrates (11655)
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Karel F. Liem, PhD, Henry Bryant Bigelow Professor of Ichthyology, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $755, graduate credit $1,605. Limited enrollment.
Monday, Sept. 15 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Room 101. Fall term

An introduction to vertebrate evolution, development, and functional design. Structure, function, and evolutionary patterns of each major vertebrate organ system are discussed. This course prepares students for the health sciences. Some lecture material will be illuminated and demonstrated in laboratories offered six times during the semester. Prerequisite: BIOL E-1b or equivalent.

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BIOL E-101 Genomics and Computational Biology (11842)
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George M. Church, PhD, Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit, undergraduate, and graduate credit $1,500.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 5:30-7:30 pm, Science Center, Hall A. Required sections to be arranged. Fall term
Online and on-campus options. See the Distance Education website.

This course will assess the relationships among sequence, structure, and function in complex biological networks as well as the progress in realistic modeling of quantitative, comprehensive, functional genomics analyses. Exercises will include algorithmic, statistical, database, and simulation approaches and practical applications to biotechnology, drug discovery, and genetic engineering. Future opportunities and current limitations will be critically addressed. Prerequisites: introductory courses in biology, computer science, and statistics. Familiarity with the Perl programming language is recommended.

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BIOL E-103 Cell Biology: Eukaryotic Experimental Models (20013)
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Cheryl D. Vaughan, PhD, Preceptor in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Thursday, Feb. 5, 5:30-7:30 pm, Emerson Hall, Room 108. Required sections to be arranged. Spring term

This course will cultivate an understanding of eukaryotic cellular and subcellular structure, with close attention to structure/function relationships that govern cellular processes at the molecular level. We will examine the differences between several eukaryotic model systems including: fission and budding yeast, slime mold, plants, and mammalian cells in culture. We will further discuss the specific experimental techniques amenable to the study of cell biology in each system and how discoveries made using model organisms have influenced modern cell biology. Prerequisite: BIOL E-1a or equivalent.

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BIOL E-104 Plants and Human Affairs (12231)
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Otto T. Solbrig, PhD, Bussey Professor of Biology, Emeritus, Harvard University.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 5:30-7:30 pm, Science Center, Hall E. Fall term

The course reviews the importance of plants to human societies as the principal sources of food and fiber, animal fodder, and pharmaceuticals. The biology, agronomic characteristics, cultivation techniques, and economics of the major crops will be reviewed as well as the social and environmental impact of agriculture. Prerequisite: some high school biology recommended.

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BIOL E-106 Neurobiology (11392)
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Shawn Murphy, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Thursday, Sept. 18, 5:30-7:30 pm, Harvard Hall, Room 104. Optional sections for graduate-credit students to be arranged. Fall term
Online and on-campus options. See the Distance Education website.

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. Discussion of the molecular basis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychological disease. Prerequisite: introductory biology or permission of instructor.

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BIOL E-109 Principles and Techniques of Molecular Biology (21173)
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Alain Viel, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Undergraduate credit $795, graduate credit $1,645. Limited enrollment.
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 7:35-9:35 pm, Science Center, Hall E. Required labs on five Thursdays, 7:35-10 pm. Spring term

Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of nucleic acid structure, molecular genetics, and the biochemistry of transcription and protein synthesis. Working from this foundation, students will explore mechanisms of gene regulation in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses. The roles played by gene regulation and rearrangement in retroviral pathogenesis and in embryonic development also will be examined. There will be one large project comprised of three linked laboratory exercises that will introduce students to important recombinant DNA and protein expression techniques. Students will learn about the construction of an expression plasmid and assays for normal promoter function. Prerequisite: BIOL E-1a or equivalent.

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BIOL E-119 Introduction to Proteomics (12066)
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Alain Viel, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7:35-9:35 pm, Science Center, Hall E. Required sections for credit students only to be arranged. Fall term

The completion of several genome projects, including the Human Genome Project, has further fostered a systems-based approach to biology. The goal is to determine how all the genes in a genome act and how their products interact to produce a functional organism. Proteomics seeks to identify and to characterize all the proteins synthesized in a cell or a tissue. Based on this information, one can then try to understand how individual proteins or protein collectives function within an organism. The first half of the course will focus on current methodology used to analyze and identify proteins. This will include protein electrophoresis, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and protein database analysis. The second half of the course will focus on case studies derived from the current scientific literature. This will include comparisons between healthy and diseased tissues, new approaches to analyze metabolic pathways, and the comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interactions in different cell types. Prerequisites: BIOL E-1a or equivalent, BIOL E-109 recommended.

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BIOL E-124 Developmental Bone Biology (11639)
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Frederic David Shapiro, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7:35-9:35 pm, Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building, 651 Huntington Avenue, Room G-11. Fall term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Harvard School of Public Health classrooms.

This course will describe normal bone development from embryo to skeletal maturity. Limb and vertebral development will be analyzed at multiple levels encompassing gene/molecular components, ultrastructural and light microscopic relationships of cells and matrices, and 3-D shaping and growth of bone by mechanisms of cartilage growth plate and membrane bone synthesis and bone remodeling. Differences in craniofacial development will be discussed. Skeletal disorders resulting from trauma and abnormalities at the gene/molecular level (skeletal dysplasias) and pattern formation level (vertebral abnormalities) will be studied. Prerequisites: college-level introductory biology and chemistry.

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BIOL E-130 Fish Biology: Models in Design, Evolution, and Conservation (21945)
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Karel F. Liem, PhD, Henry Bryant Bigelow Professor of Ichthyology, Harvard University.
Graduate seminar. 4 units. Graduate credit $1,450. Limited enrollment.
Monday, Feb. 2, 5:30-7:30 pm, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Room 101. Spring term

This seminar discusses the functional design, reproductive patterns, and evolutionary radiations of fishes in the context of current evolutionary theory. The teleost fishes are unparalleled as models in functional biology. Fish ecology and behavior are discussed in relation to conservation biology. Prerequisite: introductory biology.

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BIOL E-142 Topics in Botany: Fungi in the Laboratory (12101)
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Donald H. Pfister, PhD, Asa Gray Professor of Systematic Botany, Harvard University.
Graduate seminar. 4 units. Graduate credit $1,450. Limited enrollment.
Monday, Sept. 15, 5:30-7:30 pm, University Herbaria, Room 122. Fall term

Fungi play an important role in ecosystems biology, medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. This seminar is intended to introduce students to basic techniques for the isolation and identification of all major groups of fungi and their growth requirements. Theoretical aspects of life history strategies and reproductive modes will be explored. Because of their interaction with animals, plants, and other microbes, fungi offer important insights into the ecology and biology of their non-fungal partners. Prerequisite: introductory biology.

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BIOL E-169c Immunology I (10018)
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Jeffrey Lyczak, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Monday, Sept. 15, 7:35-9:35 pm, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Bornstein Family Amphitheater. Required sections for graduate-credit students Monday, 6-7:15 pm. Fall term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital classrooms.

This course will present an overview of the immune system and will focus on providing the student with a solid background in modern molecular and cellular immunology. The course will cover the molecules of the immune system, including antibodies, T-cell receptors, major histocompatibility locus-encoded proteins and cytokines; the genes encoding these molecules; the cells of the immune system and their interactions; and the biological functions of the immune system and its regulation. Prerequisite: background in biology, biochemistry, and genetics.

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BIOL E-169d Immunology II (20015)
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Jeffrey Lyczak, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Monday, Feb. 2, 7:35-9:35 pm, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Bornstein Family Amphitheater. Required sections for graduate-credit students Monday, 6-7:15 pm. Spring term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital classrooms.

This course will apply the concepts outlined in BIOL E-169c to the specific study of the interaction of the host immune system with pathogenic microorganisms, tumors, and host tissues. Pathogenic mechanisms of infectious diseases and the use of vaccines and immunotherapy in prevention and treatment will be covered. Tumor immunology, immune system deficiency states, AIDS, and immune system overreactivity toward the host will be explored as parameters for the function and dysfunction of the immune system. Prerequisites: background in biology, biochemistry, and immunology.

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BIOL E-172 Biological Perspectives on HIV and AIDS (10518)
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Robert A. Lue, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Thursday, Sept. 18, 7:35-9:35 pm, Science Center, Hall E. Required sections Thursday, 6-7 pm. Fall term

Conservative estimates indicate that more than 50 million men, women, and children worldwide have been infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic. It is expected that the vast majority of these people will go on to develop AIDS and become part of the most serious medical crisis in recorded history. This course will examine the molecular biology of both the virus and the immune system that it destroys. The history of the disease also will be traced and compared to current theories of HIV transmission, clinical testing, and the potential for effective therapies and vaccines. The biology of the virus will be related at each step to issues of public policy and human behavior. Prerequisite: BIOL E-1a or equivalent.

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BIOL E-176a Human Physiology I: Neural, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Sensory, and Neonatal Systems (11245)
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Debra Kirby, PhD.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Saturday, Sept. 20, 9-11 am, Science Center, Hall D. Optional sections Saturday, 11 am-12 noon. Fall term

BIOL E-176a and BIOL E-176b will examine basic human physiology from an integrated function and a health and disease perspective. The relationships between normal function and disease will be examined; the impact of history and physiological research on medicine and physiology will be discussed. Prerequisites: introductory biology and general chemistry.

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BIOL E-176b Human Physiology II: Neural, Muscular, Renal, Reproductive, and Digestive Systems (21106)
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Debra Kirby, PhD.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 9-11 am, Science Center, Hall D. Optional sections Saturday, 11 am-12 noon. Spring term

BIOL E-176a and BIOL E-176b will examine basic human physiology from an integrated function and a health and disease perspective. The relationships between normal function and disease will be examined; the impact of history and physiological research on medicine and physiology will be discussed. Prerequisites: introductory biology and general chemistry.

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BIOL E-177 Principles of Genetics (20016)
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Frederick R. Bieber, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Monday, Feb. 2, 5:30-7:30 pm, Harvard Hall, Room 202. Required sections for graduate-credit students Monday, 7:35-8:35 pm. Spring term

A general course in genetics, providing a broad view of gene action from the molecular to the population levels, with emphasis on eukaryotes. Topics will include bacterial and viral genetics, Mendelian genetics, mutation and DNA repair, forensic DNA technology, chromosome structure and function, genomics, and population and evolutionary genetics. Prerequisites: MATH E-8, BIOL E-1a and E-1b, and CHEM E-1a and E-1b, or equivalents.

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BIOL E-179 The Biology of Aging (21906)
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Robert A. Lue, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
Graduate seminar. 4 units. Graduate credit $1,450. Limited enrollment.
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 5:30-7:30 pm, Biological Laboratories, Room 2062. Spring term

Aging is a fundamental and universal property of living systems. This seminar will review diverse models of the aging process, to better understand the biological mechanisms that underlie and bring about the expression of the aging phenotype. Topic coverage will combine primary research on the biology of aging with the broader social implications of each development. Reading material will be drawn primarily from current scientific journals as well as other sociological and popular sources. Students will confront the molecular and physiological processes that underlie the aging process, and how changes in longevity affect the social structure of society. Prerequisites: introductory biology required; molecular biology, cell biology, or immunology recommended.

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BIOL E-180 The Physiology of Sleep (20505)
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Steven A. Shea, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
Graduate seminar. 4 units. Graduate credit $1,450. Limited enrollment.
Monday, Feb. 2, 7:35-9:35 pm, Feldberg Building at Beth Israel Deaconness Hospital, Conference Room. Optional sections Monday, 6:30-7:30 pm. Spring term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center classrooms.

This seminar addresses the basis of biological rhythms, including circadian rhythms, and the technology, neurophysiology, physiology, psychology, pathology, and functions of sleep--particularly in humans. Prerequisites: introductory biology; advanced biology welcomed.

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BIOL E-201 Topics in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (10352)
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Gilles R. Bolduc, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
4 units. Noncredit $300, undergraduate credit $575, graduate credit $1,425.
Friday, Sept. 19, 5:30-7:30 pm, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Bornstein Family Amphitheater. Required sections for graduate-credit students Friday, 4:15-5:15 pm. Fall term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital classrooms.

This course provides an introduction to medical microbiology beginning with bacterial structure, function, growth, and host-parasite interactions. The course will cover select disease-causing microorganisms with an emphasis on microbial virulence factors and molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. This course does not include a laboratory. Prerequisites: introductory biology and chemistry required; biochemistry and immunology helpful.

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Related Courses

• PSYC E-1610 The Brain in Psychology
• STAT E-102 Introduction to Biostatistics

See courses listed under Natural Sciences.

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