CURRICULUM COURSE REVIEW FORMAT
This form is for use when altering the University curriculum by adding or combining courses.
1.
Course Title/Number: Behavior (23-515)
2.
Number of Credits: 3
3.
Curriculum Program Title: Biology
4.
Curriculum/Course is:
New ____ Required _____ Revised _X__ Elective _X__
5.
List Prerequisites: None
6.
List Courses Being Replaced/Renamed:
This course is a revision of Behavior (23-515) and is being renamed to: Molecular
Foundations of Behavior
7.
List Courses Being Deleted: N/A
8.
Needs Statement:
Advances in multiple areas of Neurobiology, Psychology and Molecular Biology have allowed deeper insights into the cellular and molecular bases of behavior. It is important for today’s students of the Neurosciences to comprehend the molecular approaches used by scientists to decipher complex neural processes such as those that underlie behavior, and provide an understanding on the use of model organisms in effectively using these approaches. This course will build on core undergraduate courses offered to undergrads at DSU, and will be required for the MS in Cellular and
Molecular Neuroscience, and the proposed doctoral program in Neuroscience. This course will also serve as an elective course option for graduate students pursuing one of the MS degrees in Biology. The course is being renamed so that it precisely reflects the content to be taught, as well as to differentiate it from Behavior 23-315.
9.
Catalogue Description of the Course:
This course is designed primarily for students pursuing graduate studies in
Neuroscience. Topics covered will focus on the sensory processing systems, as well as complex behaviors such as learning and memory. Each process will be considered at the behavioral, anatomical, neural, and genetic levels. Examples will be drawn from recent studies on various model organisms as well as humans when applicable.
At the end of the course, students should be able to discuss neural mechanisms and the molecular approaches used by scientists to understand behavior.
Pre-requisites: none

10.
List Objectives of the Course: a) To provide students with an introduction of reasonable depth to the subject of behavior; b) To provide students with the opportunity to appreciate the integration of many fundamental disciplines into a derivative area of scientific study; c) To help students understand objectively defined components of behavior and current methods applied to understand the basic biology underlying behavior. d) To provide students with computer based molecular and analytical tools and required for understanding the molecular basis of behavior. e) To assist students in reading and critically analyzing research articles in the scientific literature related to molecular neuroscience. f) To guide students will making presentations of current research papers in the scientific literature. The presentations will include background and introductory information, the data supporting the author’s conclusions, and a critical analysis of the author’s evidence and conclusions. g) To engender excitement in the student about the study of biology in general, and behavior in particular, and prepare the student for future studies of a more advanced nature in the behavioral and neural sciences.
11.
Course Outline:
Class meets twice twice per week for 1 hour and 25 minutes. The following topics will be covered:
1. Overview of the brain, neuron types, sensory receptors, action potentials and receptor potentials. Introduction to model organisms used to understand behavior.
2. Olfaction: Olfactory receptor general structure and associated molecular components, and olfactory transduction.
3. Gustatory system: overview, commonality and differences with/from olfaction,
Modulation of gustation; structural conservation and evolution.
4. Vision: Simple and compound eyes; Photoreceptors types, genes, visual transduction pathways. Correlation of color vision with olfaction.
5. Auditory systems and mechanosensation: Mechanosensory neurons in C. elegans; Use of tactile information by organisms
6. Circadian rhythms, Social regulation of circadian rhythm, Social “mutants” in worms and flies.
7. Learning and memory: Gill withdrawal reflex in Aplysia, Short-term and long-term memory, and their molecular pathways.
8. Molecular basis of complex behaviors such as sex biased behaviors including courtship and aggression.
9. QTLs and study of regulation of gene expression with DNA Microarrays; Comparative genomics of genes that influence behavior.
10. Biological and philosophical contexts applied to Consciousness, dualistic and materialistic schools, thought experiments and sum up.
Text: Principles of Neural Science by Kandel, Schwartz and Jesell; 2000; Fourth edition; McGraw-Hill Medical .; ISBN-10: 0838577016; ISBN-13: 978-

0838577011. Besides, current and relevant review articles will be provided by the instructor, and students will be directed to specific references and other resources
(available online or in the library) covering particular topics of interest.
12.
Show how the proposed course fits into the curriculum or course sequence:
This course will be offered as an elective for M.S. in Molecular and Cellular
Neuroscience as well as M.S. and M.A. in Biology students.
13.
Are there comparable courses in other departments? If so, list all comparable courses here:
There are no comparable courses.
14.
How will students be affected by this course change? Will this course improve students' professional competence, employability and ability to pass professional examinations? Does this course increase the number of credit hours required for graduation? Do the course prerequisites increase the total number of semester hours in this curriculum program?
Successful completion of this course will enhance students’ understanding of the molecular basis of behavior and the use of model organisms in tackling basic questions in biology. The genomics component of the course will allow the students to amalgamate seemingly different areas of science. The improvement in critical reading and analysis skills will benefit students in any career endeavor in future.
15.
What effect will this new course have on University resources? Will this course require new or additional resources and/or staffing?
The course will be taught by existing university faculty affiliated with the
Neuroscience Graduate Program.
16.
How will this new course benefit the University?
This course revision will provide our graduate students with an important, relevant and viable avenue to enhance their knowledge of the neural sciences. It will also help ensure that our graduates are competitive with their professional peers and reflect
DSU’s high standards.
17.
How will the change affect the program?
The new course will provide an essential component to the training of our
Neuroscience graduate students. Specialized understanding of the molecular basis of behavior will expose our students to the forefront of some of the most challenging research areas in Neuroscience. This knowledge will be of utmost importance in kindling the intellectual spark in our students here as well as in their future research careers.