BI 4218	Population Genetics, Systematic & Evolution (B.Sc. & B.Sc. Ed. Major)
Prerequisite:	BI 2207 (Genetics) or BI 1110 (Genetics & Evolution)
Units:	3
Contact hrs:	28 lectures, 14 tutorial & 7 practical
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Variation within populations. The Hardy-Weinberg model. Mutation; mating and reproductive systems; migration, genetic drift and founder effect. Selection. Systematic. The concept of the species. Sub-specific taxa. Speciation. Adaptive radiation. Cladogenesis and anagenesis. Homology and analogy. Phylogeny and cladistic analysis. Phenetics & numerical taxonomy; evolutionary classifications. Extinction and its consequences. Biogeography & Continental Drift with special reference to South East Asia. The origin of life & origin of eukaryotes.

Recommended Textbooks:

Hartl, D.L. & Clark, A. G.  Principles of Population Genetics, Sinauer Associates Inc., Canada, 1997. Price, P.W. Biological Evolution, Saunders College Publishing, USA, 1996

BI 4220	Conservation and Management of Living Resources (B.Sc. & B.Sc. Ed. Major)
Prerequisite:	BI 1108 (Organisms & their Environment) or BI 1111 (Animal Biology)
Units:	3
Contact hrs:	28 lectures, 14 tutorials & 7 practicals
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: A description of the physical environment of Brunei. The description, distribution, degradation, rehabilitation of the terrestrial, marine and freshwater resources. Principles of conservation and management including the use of case studies wherever possible to illustrate the management of the above resources in Brunei Darussalam. Environmental pollution. Ecotourism. Environmental Impact Assessment.

Recommended Textbooks:

Baker, R. Environmental management in the Tropics. CRC Press, 1993. McKinney, M.L. & Schoch, R.M. Environmental Science – Systems and Solutions, Jones & Bartlett Publishers, London, 1998. Primack, R.B. Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sunderland Mass. Sinauer, 1998

BI 4222	Final Year Biology Project (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 3207 Biometry or MA 1201 Analysis of Biological Data & Experiments
Units:	8 (to be spread over 2 semesters)
Contact hrs:	12 hours per week
Assessment:	Coursework 100% (Dissertation 85%, Oral presentation 15%)

Course Outline: This course will introduce students to research methodology, research attitude, research ethics and data analyses, and train them to think and work independently.

Each student will investigate a research problem of his/her choice, closely supervised by one or more academic staff. An oral presentation of the research project as well as a dissertation will be graded.

References:

Relevant references as determined by the supervisor.

BI 4223	Entomology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	Animal Physiology BI 3202
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	2 lectures, 1 Tutorial and one 4-5 hour practical per week
Assessment:	Coursework 40% comprising assessment of practical work (30%), and tests and assignments (10%): Examination 60% comprising one 3-hour theory examination

Course Outline: The course includes a study of the insect body form, with emphasis on the detail of the integument and appendages. Higher-level insect classification based on wing formation (distinguishing the Apterogota and Pterygota), and hemimetabolous and holometabolous development is covered. Included in the course is a section on reproduction, moulting and diapauses. The course covers insect nutrition and feeding, including mouthpart structure, phytophagy and entomophagy. The course includes a component of insect physiology, specifically metabolism, gas exchange, water balance and thermoregulation, as well as sensory physiology, communication and eusocial behavior. A component covers community ecology, insect conservation and tropical forest diversity. The economical importance of insects is considered through a study of medical and veterinary aspects, as well as plant-insect interactions and the biological control on insects, including agricultural pests and integrated pest management.

Textbooks:	Chapman, R.F. 1998.The Insects – Structure and Function, 4th Ed. Cambridge University Press. Daly, H.V., Doyen, J.Y. and Purcell, A.H. 1998.Introduction to insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd Ed., Oxford University Press
References:	Chown, S.L. and Nicholson, S.W. 2004.Insect Physiological Ecology – Mechanisms and Patterns,Oxford University Press.

BI 4224	Tropical Forest Ecology and Ecophysiology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 3206 (Plant Physiology) & BI 4229 (Population & Community Ecology)
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	42 lectures & 14 tutorial  & 7 practicals of 4-6 hrs each
Assessment:	Examination: 60% comprising one 3-hour theory paper Course Work: 40% comprising assessment of practical work/field reports (30%), tests (10%).

Course Outline: Forest formation and forest types. Comparison of forest ecosystem with other terrestrial ecosystems. Forest gap/canopy dynamics (phase concept, heterogeneity as functional principle, types and dynamics of niches, disturbances, stability, resilience, scale problems). Plants in forest ecosystems : life strategies in production of fruits and seeds; classification Animals in forest ecosystem. Nutrient and hydrological cycling within forest ecosystems. Physiological ecology of tropical plants, including mangrove: ecophysiology of resources acquisition, especially of light, water and nutrients; species interactions (herbivore-plant; epiphyll, forest vines and hemiepiphyte); ecophysiological patterns within and among forest communities; ecophysiology of forest regeneration (seed dormancy and longevity; tree seedling survival and growth); growth responses in pioneer Vs late successional species. Forest history and evolution with special reference to those in SE Asia and Borneo in particular. Forest biodiversity and conservation including that of fungi and animals. Forest ecosystem restoration.

Textbooks:	Mulkey,S.S., Chazdon R.L. & Smith A.P. (1996) Tropical Forest Plant Ecophysiology. Chapman & Hall, New York. Turner I.M. (2001) The Ecology of Trees in the Tropical Rain Forest. Cambridge University Press
References:	Barnes B.V., Zak D.R., Denton S.R. & Spurr S.H. (1998). Forest Ecology. 4th Edition, Jong Wiley & Sons. Kimminis, J.P. (1997). Forest Ecology. 2ndition, Macmillan, New York. Luittge, U. Physiological Ecology of Tropical Plants. Springer, Berlin. Richards P.W. (1996) The Tropical Rainforest. 2nd Edition Cambridge University Press

BI 4225	Biochemistry and Immunology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 1112 or BI 2209; BI 3209
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	3 lectures & 1 tutorial per week & six 4-5 hour practicals every fortnight
Assessment:	30% comprising assessment of practical work (20%), tests & assignments (10%): Examination 70% comprising one 3-hour theory examination.

Course Outline: This course will provide an in depth treatment of the major biochemical metabolic pathways: gycolysis, electron transport chain, oxidative phosphorylation, krec’s cycle, malate-aspartate shuttle,glycerol phosphate shuttle, as well as alcoholic & lactate fermentation. In addition, the course will focus on the pentose phosphate pathway, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis, the regulation and integration of fatty acid catabolism & lipid biosynthesis & degradation of purine & pyrimidine nucleotides. The course will also cover metabolic interrelationships and discuss the diseases associated with the above metabolic pathways. The immunobiology section of the course will deal with innate immunity, the recognition of antigen, the development of mature lymphocyte receptor repertoires and the adaptive immune response. The immune system will also be explored in terms of failures of host defence mechanisms, allergy and hypersensitivity, as well as autoimmunity and transplantation.

References:

Devlin, T.M. Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations. 4th Ed. Wiley-Liss Inc, New York. USA, 1997. Plummer, D.T. An Introduction to Practical Biochemistry. 3rd Ed. McGraw Hill, 1987. Roitt, I. Brostoff, J. & Male, D. Immunology. 3rd Ed. Mosby 1993. Stryer, L. Biochemistry. 4th Ed. Freeman, 1995

BI 4226	Aquatic Biology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 4226 Aquatic Biology
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	42 lectures (3hr/wk), 7 practicals of 5 hrs each & 14 tutorials (1hr/wk)
Assessment:	Examination 70% comprising one 3-hour theory paper: Coursework 30% comprising practical work/field reports (20%), tests and other assignments (10%)

Course Outline: This course will on focus life processes in aquatic environments ranging from freshwater to fully marine. It begins with a consideration of the unique properties of water, its association with all life forms and its global distribution and cycling. Freshwater environments, both lenthic and lotic, are explored in terms of physical parameters, nutrient status, biota and life cycles, biological adaptions, productivity and functional feeding groups. Marine ecosystems, ranging from the interdal shore to the open ocean and from surface waters to the abyssal depths, are surveyed during lectures in terms of physical structure, biogeochemical processes, biodiversity, productivity and ecosystem functioning. Marine and freshwater ecosystems relevant to Brunei are given particular attention and include streams, lakes, wetlands, rocky & soft substrate shores, mangroves, coral reefs, plankton and the deep ocean. Field trips will visit both marine and freshwater environments. The course will also cover fisheries and aquaculture resources.

Textbooks:

Barnes R. & Hughes R.N. Introduction to Marine Ecology. 3rd.,Blackwell Scienctific Publications, 1999. Dudgeon D. 1999. Tropical Asian Streams: Zoobenthos, Ecology and Conservation. Hong Kong University Press 830 pp

References:

Barnes R. & Mann K.H. (Eds.) Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecology.2nd Ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991. Dobson M. & Frid C.L. The Ecology of Aquatic Ecosystems. Longman, 1998. Horne A.J. & Goldman C.R. Limnology. 2nd Ed., McGraw Hill, 1994. Mann K.H. & Lazier J.R.N. Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems. Blackwell Scienctific Publications, 1991. Yule, C.M. & Yong, H.S. 2004. Freshwater Invertebrates of the Malaysian Region. Akademi Sains Malaysia & Monash University Malaysia, 861pp

BI 4227	Biotechnology (B.Sc. & B. Biotech.)
Prerequisite:	BI 1110 (Genetics and Evolution) or BI 2207 (Genetics)
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	42 lectures, 14 tutorials & 7 practicals
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Fundamental and principles of Biotechnology: What is biotechnology? Ancient and Classical Biotechnology. What do genes do? Tools in Genetic Engineering Workshop: Why bacteria? Basic recombinant DNA technology. Advances in Molecular Biology. Biotechnology Applications Today and Tomorrow: Effect of the New Biologist on Health Care. Applications in Agriculture, Medicine and Environment, The Development of Biopharmaceuticals. The Human Genome Project. The Challenges of technology transfer. Controversial aspects of biotechnology related to public policy society and environmental issues: Ethics, Behavior and Values in Science and Society; The Role of Government in the Development of Biotechnology; Regulation Agencies and Laws for Product Regulation, Patents and Society. Expanding the horizons of Biotechnology in the 21st century.

Recommended Textbooks:

Grace, S. E. 1997. Biotechnology Unzipped: Promises and Realities. Joseph Henry Press, Washington, DC. ISBN: 0-309-05777-9

BI 4229	Population & Community Ecology (B.Sc. Ed. Major & B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 1115 (Organisms, Environment & Ecology); BI 3207 (Biometry)
Units:	3
Contact hrs:	2 lectures, 1 tutorials & 1 5-hour practical every forthnight
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Description of biological populations and models of their growth, density regulation and intraspecific competition. Life history strategies; migration and dispersal. Life Table analysis and predictions; use of Leslie projection matrices to model growth in age/size-structured populations. Interspecific interactions; competition, predation, parasitism and mutualism. Description, delimitation, and analyses of ecological communities: species diversity and similarity between communities; determinants of community structure including succession and island bio-geography theory and their applications in design of nature reserves.

Textbooks:	Gotelli, N.J. A Primer of Ecology, Sinauer Associates, 1998. Krebs, C.J. Ecology: The experimental analysis of distribution and abundance, Harper Collins, 2000
References:	Begon M, Harper J.L. & Towsend C.R.  Ecology: Individuals, Populations and Communities, Blackwell, 1996. Krebs, CJ. (1999) Ecological methodology. Harper Publisher, New York.

BI 4230	Field Ecology 2 (B.Sc. & B.Sc. Ed. Major)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	7 days residential field course
Assessment:	Individual field course reports have to be of publishable quality and will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Passing this course is compulsory for graduation

Course Outline: Depending on the number of students, several field ecology projects (either process-oriented or descriptive) that can be completed in 7 days will be suggested by the lecturers concerned. Students will work in groups to investigate these plant or animal-based problems that will be rigorously supervised. Students will also benefit from the various interactions with their peers and lecturers involved in other research projects.

Recommended Textbooks:

Reference material will be suggested or provided by each lecturer

BI 4231	Parasitology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 3202 (Animal Physiology)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	1.5 lectures per week, 1 tutorial per fortnight & 4 practicals of 5 hours each
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: The lecture material will include the natural history, epidemiology, distinctive biological characteristics, microscopic and submicroscopic structures and functions of selected examples of parasites that colonize different organ-systems of the host. Biochemical and immunological factors involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases will be presented to illustrate diversity in the “functions” of endoparasites. Practicals will cover protozoan parasites, microscopic identification of both blood and intestinal parasites, pathoparasitology and immunoparasitology..

Textbooks:	Schmidt, G.D. & Roberts, L.S. (2000) Foundations of parasitology. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill
References:	Cook. G.C. & Zumla ,A.I (2002) Manson’s tropical diseases. London: Saunders. Hunter, G.W. (2002) Hunter’s tropical medicine and emerging infectious diseases. London: Saunders. Peters, W. & Pasvol, G. (2002) Mosby – Tropical medicine and parasitology. Oxford: Elsevier.

BI 4302	Coral Reef Ecology (Option BSc. Ed. Major)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	21 lectures, 7 tutorials & 4 practicals
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Introduction to the coral organism, its clonal nature and the importance of coral-algal symbiosis and nutrient cycling in reef building. Consideration of the trophic status of corals – autotrophy & heterotrophy. In a global context, we will conduct a virtual survey of coral reef structure, types of reef formation and the geographic distribution of coral reefs. Brunei coral reef resources will be included. Scleractinia are the main reef formers today but many other types of organisms dominated reefs in previous geological epochs. At the biogeographic level, diversity and distribution of reef corals will be studied at species and generic level The course will also cover the very varied reproductive strategies of corals, their growth and longevity and competition between corals for space on a reef. Other important topics to be covered are predation of corals, species diversity & co-evolution in reef communities, productivity of coral reefs and lastly, but not least, environmental damage to coral ecosystems, both natural and anthropogenic.

Recommended Textbooks:

Barne, R.S.K. & Hughes R.N. In Introduction to Marine Ecology. 3rd Edition Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1999. Rupert, E.E. & Barnes, R.D. Invertebrate Zoology. 6th Edition, Brook/Cole Pub.Co., 1994

BI 4303	Food Microbiology (option B.Sc. Ed. Major)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	21 lectures, 7 tutorials & 4 practicals
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Introduction to food microbiology and historical development. Microbial interaction in food: sources of microorganisms. Determination of the presence in food, factors affecting the growth of microorganisms. Determination of the presence of microbial cells or their products in food. Microbial spoilage of food in: fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry and fish. Food additives. Preservation of food using: reduced temperature, heat, drying, irradiation, chemical and fermentation. Food borne microbial diseases: intrinsic and extrinsic causes, common food borne diseases and the toxins they produced. Emerging food pathogens (viruses, fungal, bacteria and others). Prevention and control of food borne diseases. Food safety and legislation: HACCP, laws and regulation.

Recommended Textbooks:

Jay, M.J., 1992. Modern Food Microbiology.4th Edition, Van Norstand Reinhold, New York

BI 4304	Herpetology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 3202 (Animal Physiology) or BI 1113 (Human Biology)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	2 lectures, 1 tutorial & 1 5-hour practical every forthnight
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: The course will start by exploring amphibian and reptile evolution, diversification, and global biogeography. It will then examine the physiological adaptations of amphibians and reptiles including biomechanics, temperature and water relations, energetic, endocrinology, and neurobiology. Further topics will be reproduction, life-history, predator-prey interactions and biomedical aspects of poisons and venoms. Finally the course will explore the role of conservation management, and monitoring of amphibian and reptile populations.

Textbooks:	Pough, F.H., Andrews, R.M., Cadle, J.E., Crump, M.L., Savitzky, A.H., & Wells, K. (2003) Herpertology. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall
References:	Malkmus, R., Manthey U., Vogel, G., Hoffmann, G.,P., & Kosuch, J. (2002) Amphibians & reptiles of Mount Kinabalu (North Borneo). Rugell: Gantner Verlag.

BI 4305	Developmental Biology (B.Sc.)
Prerequisite:	BI 3202 (Animal Physiology)
Units:	2
Contact hrs:	1.5 lectures per week, 1 tutorial per fortnight & 4 practicals of 5 hours each.
Assessment:	Coursework 30% Examination 70%

Course Outline: Developmental biology deals with the process by which genes in the fertilized egg control cellular characteristics in the developing embryo. This further influences the characteristics and behaviour patterns of the final develop organism. The course will start with an introduction to developmental biology and the techniques used in the study of developing animals. This will be followed by lectures on gametogenesis, fertilization, cleavage and blastulation. Furthermore, the course will deal with mechanical aspects, cell to cell communication, neurulation, ectodermal organs, as well as endodermal and mesodermal organs. Finally, fate mapping, totipotency, axis determination, gastrulation, cell differentiation, hormonal control of development and growth, alteration of gene patterns during development, evolution and development will be covered.

Textbooks:

Gilbert, S.F. (2006). DevBio. A companion to development at Biology. 8th Edition. Oxford University press. Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Watson, J.D. (2002) Molecular Biology of the Cell. New York: Garland Science Johnson, M. H. & Everitt, B. J. (1984) Essential Reproduction. 3rd Ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science. Walbot, V. & Holder, N. (1987) Developmental Biology. New York: Random House

References:

Klathoff, K. (1996) Analysis of Biological Development. New York: McGraw Hill Wolpert, L., Beddington, R., Jessell, T.M., Lawrence P, Meyerowitz, E. M. & Smith J. (2001) Principles of Delopment. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

BI 5201	Natural Ecosystems and Conservation
Units:	4
Contact hrs:	3 lectures, 1 tutorial per week & 5-hour practical every alternate week
Assessment:	40% comprising assessment of project reports (30%) & seminars (10%) : 60% comprising one 3-hour theory examination

Course Outline: Functioning of Ecosystems: energy flow, cycles of matter (e.g. N,C, ect.); Review of types of ecoysytems (principally tropical); Ecological principles especially relevant to conservation and management e.g. island biogeography theory. Properties and benefits of different types of natural ecosystems: direct uses, functions. Biodiversity, endemism, aesthetic values. Effects of disturbances to ecosystems. Methods of conservation: conservation objectives, IUCN classification of protected areas; selection, design, establishment and management of protected areas; different management strategies; rehabilitation and restoration of natural ecosystems. Watershed management; conservation of endangered plants and wild life, and case studies.

Textbooks:

Campbell N.A. & Reece, J.B. (2002). Biology. Benjamin Cummings (6th Ed.) U.S.A. Primack R.B. (2004), Essentials of Conservation Biology, Sinauer Associates Inc., Inc., (3rd Ed.) U.S.A