Department of Biology
Dr. Carolyn B Howard, Professor and Interim Chair
P.O. Box 18540
Telephone: (601)-979-2586
Fax: (601) 203-5139
E-mail: carolyn.b.howard@jsums.edu
Dr.Tammi, Associate Professor & Assistant Chair
E-mail: tammi.m.taylor@jsums.edu
Dr. Ibrahim Farah, Professor and Biology M.S. Program Coordinator
E-mail: ibrahim.o.farah@jsums.edu
Faculty
Dr. H. A. Ahmad, Professor
Dr. I. Farah, Professor
Dr. B. Graham, Associate Professor
Dr. C. Howard, Professor
Dr. H. C. Huang, Assistant Professor
Dr. N. Ibrahim, Assistant Professor
Dr. R. Kafoury, Associate Professor
Dr. R. Kulawardhana, Assistant Professor
Dr. A. Mbemi, Assistant Professor
Dr. K. Ndebele, Associate Professor
Dr. F. Noubissi, Assistant Professor
Dr. M. Pacurari, Associate Professor
Dr. A. Patlolla, Assistant Professor
Dr. J. Stevens, Professor
Dr. Tammie Taylor, Assistant Professor
Dr. Brent Thoma, Assistant Professor
Course Descriptions
An introductory course for non-major graduate students dealing with the science of the environment and man's relationships through political, social, economic, and ethical processes.
Emphasis placed on fundamental problems that confront man from day to day. Topics among others for discussion are ecology, population, energy, food, transportation and land pollution.
The application of biological procedures and techniques at the elementary school level with emphasis on selected topics in biology.
A study of the principal concepts of heredity to include the application of classical and modem genetics.
This course is designed for students in biological sciences with no advanced training in mathematics. Basic concepts in statistical methods and experimental techniques and their general applicability in biology will be stressed.
A study of our natural resources with emphasis on their origin, properties, use and misuse and good conservation practices.
Review of nutrient sources, requirements and deficiency diseases of man. Emphasis on nutritional metabolism under normal and pathological conditions, and current research.
Study of the structure, synthesis, isolation and interactions of macromolecules of biological interest.
A study of the tropic relationships and energy transfer in ecosystems.
Special techniques for culturing microorganisms. Includes a survey of some of the important microbes in medicine, industry and public health.
Intended for students who wish to obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the invertebrates.
The physiology of specific parasite and host-parasite relationships will be studied in great detail. Clinical specimens will be studied.
Study of cell anatomy as revealed by electron microscopy. Emphasis on bioenergetics, cell metabolism and current cell research.
The study of antibodies that are elicited in response to antigens and the difference between the protoplasm of one organism and another as reflected in the blood.
An introduction to the types of viruses that infect humans, animals, plants, and bacteria, their mode of replication, mode of swiping cellular functions, human viral diseases and viral vaccines, and drug development, and the medical and economic significance of viral diseases in public health.
The study of physiological processes related to the human. The physiological systems to be examined are: gastro-intestinal, renal, endocrine, neural, and reproductive.
The basic fundamentals of endocrinology. The role of the endocrine glands and their products (hormones) in the maintenance of a constant internal environment in living organisms.
Provides general consideration of the principal concepts of tissues and cellular pathology, with emphasis on human tissues and pathology. The course prepares students for further studies in medicine, dentistry, and allied health fields.
Students will elect a specific topic that is not covered in other biology courses. The student, working independently, will be required to submit a research paper that includes an exhaustive review of literature.
A course designed for survey of biological literature. The student will be required to prepare and present reports and assigned projects. Required of all students.
Thesis representing original research. (Required for M.S. students)
The study of the roles of microorganisms in natural systems with attention given to the examination of nutrient cycles, methods of analysis of microbial biomass and activities as well as the functional roles of microorganisms.
This course uses modern knowledge in life sciences, as well as new developments in biotechnology to address important issues related to environmental clean-up of hazardous wastes. The nature of environmental pollution is reviewed, and basic concepts in molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology and plant physiology are applied to demonstrate the significance of bioremediation and phytoremediation in pollution control. Therefore, an emphasis is put on the use of biological methods and processes for the remediation of contaminated soils and water resources.
Students will elect a specific topic that is not covered in other biology courses. The student, working independently, will be required to submit a research paper that includes an exhaustive review of literature.
The objectives of the Systems Biology course is to prevent methods for modeling and analyzing biological systems, in particular cellular systems. It is designed to cover intracellular processes, including enzymatic reactions, polymerization processes, gene expression, gene-environment interactions, and signal transduction. Also the course introduces mathematical modeling fundamentals, including deterministic models, includinglinear regression methods, explains the differences between linear and nonlinear regression, and illustrates how to determine input variables to improve estimation accuracy during experimental design. The material covers the process-function-behavior sequence in cells and illustrates how modeling and analysis of signal transduction units play a mediating role between process and function.
An analysis of the cellular mechanisms of hormone action. The role of target tissues, receptors, hormone analogs and, metabolic inhibitors in studies of hormone action will be discussed.
The Advanced Topics in Computational Biology will introduce the students to data-driven models of molecular interaction networks and applications of discrete algorithms, data mining, and machine learning to the modeling and analysis of molecular interactions and computational disciplines in systems biology networks.
A groundwork of environmental science, environmental awareness and ecological literacy for the incoming Ph.D. students is presented. The environment and its living and non living components, and the interactions of these component areas studied. The course is set in a thermodynamic perspective and is based on a nested hierarchy of systems. Key concepts and principles that govern how we think the environment works are presented while learning how to apply these concepts to possible solutions of various environmental degradation, pollution and resource problems.
Studies of the basic concepts of environmental chemistry; the nature of chemical compounds; organic and inorganic; chemical reactions; their effects, and fate of chemical species, in aquatic systems. This include: Studies of equilibrium phenomena of acids, bases, salts, complex compounds, and oxidation/reduction reactions. Studies of water pollution, environmental chemistry of water and its properties.
This course focuses on the impact of environmental problems on human health. Health issues related to water pollution/contamination by physical, chemical and biological agents; wastewater discharges; radiations; air pollution; municipal, and industrial wastes; food contamination; pesticides; occupational hazards; and vector-borne diseases are discussed.
This course is designed as an applied, advanced biostatistics course for students in the Environmental Science Ph.D. Program. Students will learn how to apply important concepts and principles of environmental biostatistics in the conduct of their research, from the initial designing of experiments to proper data collection and analysis, inferences, interpretation of results in applied terms, reporting and presentation of the results. The statistical computer software (SAS) will be used to analyze and interpret results.
This course uses modern knowledges in life sciences, as well as new developments in biotechnology to address important issues related to environmental clean-up of hazardous wastes. The nature of environmental pollution is reviewed, and basic concepts in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, and plant physiology are applied to demonstrate the significance of bioremediation and phytoremediation in pollution control. Therefore, an emphasis is put on the use of biological methods and processes for the remediation of contaminated soils and water resources.
This course explores the relationship and impact of the environment to health and illness in human populations. An exploration of man-made and natural environmental hazards will be discussed. Environmental health and risk assessment will be discussed as well as interventions. Environmental policy and practices will be viewed from the public health perspective and include the study of energy, waste, environmental justice, and regulation.
This course emphasizes on waste control methodologies for both municipal and industrial wastes including hazardous and nonhazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The students are familiarized with environmental legislation regulating these wastes at state and federal levels. A thorough review is done on waste handling, transport, treatment technologies including chemical, physical, biological and thermal treatments, and disposal options such as land disposal of wastes. Waste minimization techniques such as source reduction and recycling are also discussed.
This course provides students with basic concepts and principles in Water Quality Management. The effects of organic, inorganic, biological and thermal pollutants/contaminants in various systems of the hydrologic cycle including streams, reservoirs, and estuaries; eutrophication; water quality criteria and standards; monitoring concepts; methods in water quality management; regulatory considerations; and non point source pollution control, are discussed.
This course provides students with basic concepts and principles of air quality management. Contaminant classification, pollutant sources, criteria pollutants, health effects, exposure and risk assessment are discussed. Pollutant measurements and air quality assessment techniques are considered with regard to atmospheric effects on dispersion and transport. Identification of, and control strategies for, stationary and mobile sources, and environmental regulations are studied, and indoor air quality considered.
This course is designed to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills required to develop and apply epidemiologic principles and concepts to the study of adverse effects of various environmental factors on both human and ecological health. Emphasis is put on the study of the health effects of physical, chemical and biologic factors in the external environment, broadly conceived from the epidemiologic point of view. As such, it enables students to interpret epidemiological data and understand the approaches used in the epidemiologic investigations of acute and chronic diseases. The course also covers the basic methods and issues involved in epidemiologic investigation of disease conditions in human populations.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the basic principles and concepts of toxicology including : exposure characterization, dose-response relationship, kinetics and distribution of toxicants in a biological system; to understand the fate, behavior and toxicities of xenobiotic chemicals, and the mechanisms by which they affect cells and organs; and to identify the sources and discuss the effects of various groups of environmental toxicants including heavy metals, pesticides and other industrial byproducts.
This course is designed to provide students with qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to evaluate the probability of injury, disease and death in humans and other life forms, from exposure to various environmental contaminants. Hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose-response evaluation and risk characterization are emphasized. Regulatory and technical aspects of risk assessment in the promulgation of public and environmental safety standards are discussed.
This course provides students the basic concepts of homeostasis and adaptation to the environment. Discussions are designed to provide an understanding of the physiological responses to various types of pollutants in the different environmental systems including aerospace, hyperbaric, marine and terrestrial environments. Emphasis is placed on homeostatic responses at cellular, organ and organ system levels to various environmental stresses.
This course is designed to provide scientific knowledge for a better understanding of interactions between biological, physical and chemical components of wetlands. The structure and function of various types of wetlands; their biodiversity, biogeochemistry, and the impact of pollution on their ecological characteristics are discussed. Discussions are also done on how constructed wetlands can be used as water quality enhancers.
This course is designed to provide students with qualitative and quantitative skills necessary to examine and understand the impacts of the natural geologic materials and processes on the prevalence, incidence and distribution of human (and other animal) diseases. The course focuses on the understanding of the nature and behavior of geological factors, and the examination of their impacts on health. Hence, the course will encompass major local, national and global health issues impacted by geological materials and/or processes. It will also encompass the interactions between human activities, geological factors, environment and health, as well as the innovative technologies that are used for the characterization and impact assessment of geologic materials on health.
This course focuses on contemporary issues in environmental health science. The student is expected to review, discuss, and present orally a report on a topic related to contemporary environmental issues. Topic areas for selection include (but not limited to): environmental biology, environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology, environmental toxicology, atmospheric science, water quality management, solid and hazardous waste management, computer modeling and remote sensing. Students are required to attend all scheduled seminars.
Original research in one of several subdisciplines in Environmental Science. Credit per academic session allowable is 1-6 hours. Student must produce, present and defend a document of publication quality.