Graduate Courses

Course Descriptions

• Entomology 212 Molecular Biology of Insects and Insect Viruses
• Entomology 214 [Pending description from Frances]
• Entomology 225 Terrestrial Field Ecology
• Entomology 253 Advanced Medical Entomology
• Entomology 290 Current Topics in GMO Research
• Entomology 291N Current Topics in Medical & Veterinary Entomology Seminar
• Entomology 292N Current Topics in Insect Physiology & Behavior Seminar
• Entomology 293N Current Topics in Insect Biotechnology & Genomics Seminar
• Entomology 294N Current Topics in Insect Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics Seminar
• Entomology 295N Current Topics in Agricultural Entomology & Bee Biology Seminar
• Entomology 297N Seminar in Entomology (Department Seminar)

ENTOMOLOGY 212 - Molecular Biology of Insects and Insect Viruses
(3 units)
Offered every year

Course Goals:

To provide molecular biological knowledge of insects and insect viruses. In insects the gene structure of major polypeptides, toxins, neuropeptides, and polypeptide related defense mechanisms will be studied. For insect viruses, the baculovirus as well as other insect viruses and their use in insect pest control and as an efficient expression vector for expression of foreign genes will be studied, e.g. post-translational modification in insects including glycosylation, amidation, secretion, and internal cleavage of expressed polypeptides. To provide students will be tools necessary to express foreign genes of their own interest using the baculovirus expression vector systems.

Entry Level:

Consent of instructor.

Text used:

None. There will be detailed handouts.

Course Format:

• Lecture: Two 1 1/2-hour lectures per week (Tuesday and Thursday)
• Grading: Grading based on attendance and presentation and/or written paper based on the number of students enrolled. Grade given is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Subject Outline:

1. Insects: model for molecular biology
2. Classification of insects using molecular biological technique
3. Cloning and gene structure of major polypeptide of Lepidoptera
4. Neuropeptide genes of insects
5. Defense mechanisms of insects and its molecular biology
6. Classification of insect viruses
7. Insect parasites and polydnaviruses
8. Gene structure of baculovirus and construction of expression vectors
9. Post-translation modification in insects using baculovirus vectors: secretion, amidation, glycosylation, internal cleavages of polypeptides
10. Insect toxins: gene structure and use for insect control using the baculovirus vector
11. Molecular biology of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus, densonucleosis virus, iridescent virus, and picorna-like virus
12. Arboviruses and mosquitoes
13. Biological control using insect viruses

Instructor:
Staff

ENTOMOLOGY 225 - Terrestrial Field Ecology
(4 units)
Offered every year

Course Goals:

Students will learn methods of formulating and testing ecological hypotheses. They will also be exposed to the local natural history and ecology of the Bodega Bay Natural Reserve.

Text Used:

• Barbour, M. G., R. B. Craig, F. R. Drysdale, M. T. Ghiselin. Coastal Ecology. University of California Press, 1973.
• Entomology 225 syllabus.

Entry Level:

Introductory ecology and introductory statistics or instructor's consent. This course is intended for graduate students primarily, although undergraduates who satisfy the prerequisites are welcome.

Course Format:

The course will meet at Bodega Bay during spring break. We will also meet on several evenings or weekends (TBA) late in the quarter for oral presentations. (Field work: 8 days of spring break @ 10 hrs. per day plus 4 weekend days @ 10 hrs. per day = 120 hours. Oral presentations: 3 evenings @ 3 hrs. each = 9 hours.)

Each student is expected to carry out a field project of his/her own design. Evaluation and grading will be based on a written report of this project and on an oral seminar that each student will present to the class. The report will be written in a style suitable for publication in an ecological journal.

Subject Outline:

1. Ecological Hypothesis Testing
2. Experimental Design in Field Situations
3. Class Project: A population analysis of woolly bear caterpillars, their food plants, and their parasites.
4. Independent Student Projects
5. Oral Presentation of Results of Student Projects
6. Written Report of Student Projects

Instructor:
R. Karban

ENTOMOLOGY 253 - Advanced Medical Entomology
(3 units)
Offered every year

Course Goals:

An in-depth analysis, rather than a survey, of the role of arthropods as vectors of pathogens, or as parasites, causing disease in humans (principally) and animals. The principles involved will be illustrated with examples from selected diseases. The interaction of host and parasite and the dynamic nature of the epidemiologic system will be stressed.

Entry Level:

One upper division course in Entomology other than Entomology 153 and one course in Microbiology. Course 153 or equivalent is recommended. Persons who have not had a course in Medical Entomology should be familiar with Harwood and James: Entomology in Human and Animal Health (7th edition) before taking the course.

Course Format:

Two hours of lectures and one discussion. Term paper and final.

Instructor:
T. W. Scott

ENTOMOLOGY 290 - Current Topics in GMO Research

Topics:
TBA

Prerequisite:
N/A

Text Used:
N/A

Course Format:
N/A

Grading:
N/A

Instructors:
Staff

ENTOMOLOGY 291N - Current Topics in Medical & Veterinary Entomology Seminar
(2 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Discussions of parasitology, ecology and epidemiology related to vectors of pathogens causing disease in man and animals.

Prerequisite:
Entomology 153. This course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
This is a graduate-level course. Upper level undergraduates may participate with instructor's consent.

Text Used:
None. Readings will be drawn from contemporary literature in medical and veterinary entomology.

Course Format:
2-hours per week seminar

Grading:
Grades will be based on student presentation of current research in the topic area (80%) and on class participation (20%). Students are expected to make substantive comments on the presentations of others in at least 40% of classes to receive full credit for participation. The participation grade will drop by one grade level for every 10% of classes in which no comments are contributed. Letter grade.

Instructors:
R. Kimsey
T. W. Scott

ENTOMOLOGY 292N - Current Topics in Insect Physiology & Behavior
(2 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Analysis of contemporary advances in insect physiology, biochemistry and/or behavior. Interpretation and description of physiological and behavioral mechanisms and functions. Application of general principles to solution of problems in the laboratory and field.

Prerequisite:
Entomology 102 if current topic is physiology, or a course in behavior if the topic is behavior. Either will suffice if the topic bridges both subjects. This is a graduate-level course. Upper-level undergraduates may participate with the instructor's consent.

Text Used:
Readings will be drawn from primary literature (journals and books) on the subject area.

Course Format:
Topics are variable within the broad areas of insect physiology and behavior. Examples might include: hormaonal control of insect metamorphosis and related behaviors, foraging behavior of social insects, insect migration. The goal of the course is to aquaint students with new and important research in the areas of insect physiology and behavior, through readings and interactive presentation of papers from the primary literature in these areas.

Grading:
Grades will be based on presentation of a research topic to the class (80%) and on participation in class discussions (20%). Letter grade.

Instructors:
B. D. Hammock
W. Leal

ENTOMOLOGY 293N - Current Topics in Insect Biotechnology & Genomics Seminar
(2 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Critical examination and discussion of advances in the areas of insect biotechnology, including genetic engineering, and genomics.

Prerequisite:
Entomology 212 (Molecular Bilogy of insects and insect Viruses) This is a graduate-level course, upper-level undergraduates may participate with the instructor's consent.

Text Used:
No textbook. Readings will be drawn from contemporary literature in the fields of biotechnology and genomics.

Course Format:
Topics vary. Representative topics include: 'Genetic engineering in insects: roles in medical entomology, behavioral genetics and agriculture'; 'Effects of transgenic crops on natural enemies of pests'.

Grading:
Students will be graded on the basis of presentation of research on the current topic (80%) and participation in class discussions (20%). Letter grade.

Instructors:
J. Chiu
B. Hammock
W. Leal

ENTOMOLOGY 294N - Current Topics in Insect Ecology, Evolution, & Systematics Seminar
(2 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Discussions of advanced topics in ecology, evolution and systematics with emphasis on analysis of factors influencing the distribution and abundance, adaptations and evolutionary relationships of insects. Includes consideration of applications of basic theory (e.g. biological control)

Prerequisite:
A general course in ecology or evolution is required; course 103 is required if the current topic focuses mainly on systematics. This is a graduate-level course. Upper-level undergraduates may take the course with the instructor's permission.

General Education:
No GE Credit

Text Used:
None. Readings will be drawn from contemporary primary literature in insect ecology and evolution.

Course Format:
Topics covered will be varied. Typical topics could include: 'Insect-plant coevolution', 'Insect phylogeography', 'The evolutionary ecology of insect life spans'. 2-hours per week seminar.

Grading:
Letter grade. Students will be graded on oral presentation of current research in the topic area (80%) and participation in class discussions (20%). Students are expected to make substantive comments on the presentations of others in at least 40% of classes to receive full credit for participation. The participation grade will drop by one grade level for every 10% of classes in which no comments are contributed.

Instructors:
J. R.Carey
R.Karban
R.Kimsey
J.Rosenheim
P.Ward

ENTOMOLOGY 295N - Current Topics in Agricultural Entomology & Bee Biology Seminar
(2 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Discussion of advanced topics relating to the biology, ecology, behavior and management of pest and benefical insects.

Prerequisite:
Entomology 110 if topic relates to pests and beneficial predtors, course 119 or equivalent if topic is bee biology; if topic overlaps then either prerequisite will suffice. This is a graduate-level course. Upper-level undergraduates may participate with consent of the instructor.

Text Used:
No textbook. Readings will be drawn from the primary literature in the areas of agricultural entomology and bee biology.

Course Format:
Topics are variable and reflect innovations in the field. Examples might include: Management of emerging diseases of honeybees; Invasion biology in the agricultural monoculture context; Pesticide trends and unforeseen consequences.

Grading:
Grades will be based on presentation of a research topic to the class (80%) and on participation on class discussions (20%). Letter grade.

Instructors:
L.Ehler
J.Granett
M.Parrella
J.Rosenheim

ENTOMOLOGY 297N - Seminar In Entomology (Department Seminar)
(1 units)
Offered every year

Topics:
Topics are variable. Examples of past topics include 'Molecular genetics: insects as an untapped resource', 'Flowers, smoke and climate; migration by moths in response to habitat deterioration', 'Population genomics of dengue susceptibility in Aedes aegypti', 'Phylogeny and evolution of alternative genetic systems in scale insects'.

Prerequisite:
None

Entry Level:
This is a graduate level course.

Text Used:
No textbook.

Course Format:
Topics vary. Students attend the weekly Entomology seminar. Entomology offers a weekly seminar series that includes presentations by prominent entomologists. This offers our graduate students opportunities to learn about current research on a wide variety of topics related to insects and other arthropods.

Grading:
The entomology faculty believe that students should receive credit for participating in this important learning activity. One credit awarded based on seminar attendance, students are encouraged ot attend a wider variety of seminars, instead of choosing only those which are in their immediate area of study. Mode of grading S/U

Instructor:
Visiting Scholars

See Undergraduate Course Descriptions.