Science ElectivesScience ElectivesOur science electives offer a choice of physical, life, or science communications areas. Each student in the program chooses one elective course. Each course includes lecture and hands-on, laboratory activities that are appropriate to the subject matter.
These electives are:
Biochemistry of the Gene. Topics include the structure of DNA, the genetic code, the oranization of the human genome, gene activity, signals induction, repression, and the consequences of DNA errors-- cancer and genetic disease. Also discussed is recombinant DNA and the many scientific advances and practical applications of recombinant DNA technology in agriculture, medicine, and ecology. The laboratory provides introduction to the isolation and analysis of DNA, including construction and analysis of recombinant molecules through the study of bacterial genetics.
Physics of the 20th Century. Topics include the uncertainty principle, the quantum-mechanical view of atoms, the philosophy of quantam mechanics, special relativity, models of the nucleus, the quark model, elementary particles, nuclear astrophysics and cosmology, and the physics of Big Bang models. The laboratory work is cooperative and is coordinated with the physics discussions.