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PROGRAMS / COURSE DESCRIPTION
BIOLOGY COURSES
BIOL 30 MOLECULAR FORENSICS
Units: 0.5 - This course will not apply to the Associate
Degree. 9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite)
This course is designed to meet the need for continuing
education and supplemental forensics training for law
enforcement personnel and educators. Topics will
include the molecular science behind DNA fingerprinting
analysis and serology. Emphasis will be on collection,
recognition, analysis, and evaluation of these forms of
evidence.
BIOL 31 FORENSIC TAPHONOMY
Units: 0.5 - This course will not apply to the Associate
Degree. 9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Taphonomy is the study of the postmortem process.
Taphonomy incorporates the use of entomology,
pathology, osteology, odontology, animal behavior and
chemistry in order to recover, study and preserve dead
organisms. Reconstruction of the biology and/or ecology
along with circumstances of death is important in
answering questions that pertain to cause, manner and
time since death.
BIOL 52 FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
Units: 3.0 – 48-54 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Students will learn some of the various aspects of
forensic entomology. Students will learn basic insect
morphology and how it applies to the forensic field. This
course will also cover the basic forensic collection
techniques, laboratory procedures, analysis of the data,
and how to write a written case report.
BIOL 54 FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. (No prerequisite)
This course examines the medico-legal investigation of
death from accidental causes, suicides, homicides,
blunt/sharp force injuries, gunshot wounds, asphyxia
and drowning. The course will cover the identification of
individuals through dental remains and records, as well
as sex, age and race determinations.
BIOL 70 INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY
Units: 5.0 - 48-54 hours lecture and 96-108 hours
laboratory. (No prerequisite)
This course is designed to introduce students to
concepts of modern molecular biology. The concepts
will be applied as students learn general manipulation of
phage, plant, and bacterial DNA. Students will learn
theory and techniques of PCR, gene cloning, DNA
fingerprinting, restriction analysis, immunoblot analysis
and library construction/screening.
BIOL 71 INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY
TECHNIQUE
Units: 4.0 - 48-54 hours lecture and 48-54 hours
laboratory. (No prerequisite)
An introduction to laboratory methods for students
interested in a career in a laboratory setting. Emphasis
will be on basic laboratory methods, the principles that
underlie those methods, and the equipment that makes
laboratory work possible. Topics will include laboratory
safety, quality control, regulatory agencies, and will
address problem solving in a laboratory environment.
BIOL 72 BIOMOLECULAR SCIENCE
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. (No prerequisite.
Recommended: BIOL 100 or BIOL 107)
This course is a theoretical approach to laboratory
techniques common to modern biotechnical/clinical
laboratories. Principles of molecular biology, genetics,
metabolism, and immunology will be studied with
emphasis on their application to modern analytical
methods. Information and Communication technology
will be used to develop formal writing and public
speaking skills. See cross listing for CHEM 72.
BIOL 98 A/B COMPARATIVE NATURAL HISTORY
STUDIES
Units: 3.0-4.0 - 16-18 lecture hours plus 96-108 hours
laboratory for each unit. (No prerequisite. Grade Option)
This course offers students the opportunity to learn firsthand
about plants, animals, ecology, geography, and
conservation policies of the trip destination, which is
most frequently a foreign country. Pre-trip lectures will
include slide shows of organisms you may see and
previews of activities and adventures you will
experience on the natural history field trip. Trips vary in
length from 9 days to 2.5 weeks. Biology majors who
wish to participate in a CSU transferable course with
more rigorous course requirements and comprehensive
biodiversity studies may wish to enroll in BIOL 250A,
Ecosystem Field Biology which is offered concurrently.
BIOL 100 GENERAL BIOLOGY
Units: 4.0 - 48-54 hours lecture and 48-54 hours
laboratory. CSU, UC (UC credit limitation). (No
prerequisite)
This is an introductory course with emphasis on the
scientific method, analysis of scientific data, metric
system, current biological problems, cellular biology,
genetics and heredity, classification and systematics,
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE
2012-2013 Victor Valley College Catalog 135