Biology (BIOL)

About Biology

Biology is the study of living things at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels. It deals with fundamental questions such as:

the origin and evolution of plants and animals;
interactions between living organisms and their environment;
mechanisms of embryonic development;
structure and function of the living cell and individual molecules within it;
molecular basis of inheritance;
biochemical and genetic basis of human diseases; and
how the brain and the nervous system control behaviour.

The study of biology also has vast practical applications. The knowledge, methods, and concepts developed through research in the various fields of biology are applied extensively in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, genetic engineering, environmental protection, and wildlife management.

The Department of Biology offers:

Liberal program;
Major program;
Joint Majors with Computer Science and with Mathematics;
Honours program;
Joint Honours with Computer Science;
Minor program;
Minor concentration in Science for Arts students;
Biology Major and Honours option in Quantitative Biology; as well as
Major and Minor concentrations in the B.A. & Sc.

The programs in Biology provide you with an introduction to the broad spectrum of Biological Sciences in contrast to more specialized programs in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Anatomy and Cell Biology. The B.Sc. degree in Biology prepares you for a wide range of employment opportunities as well as entry to professional schools in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, agriculture, nursing, education, and library science. It also provides a solid background for those interested in careers related to environmental protection, wildlife management, biotechnology, and genetic engineering. The B.Sc. degree in Biology can also lead to post-graduate studies and research careers in universities, research institutes, hospitals, and industrial or governmental laboratories.

The Department of Biology's well-equipped research laboratories are located in the Stewart Biology Building, 1205 Docteur Penfield Avenue and in the adjacent Bellini Life Sciences Building as well as in the Duff Medical Building. The Department includes many biologists who are international leaders in their research fields, but who nevertheless remain deeply committed to undergraduate education. We have outstanding infrastructure for cell, developmental, and neurobiology research, and extensive links to biomedical scientists throughout McGill and all over the world. Our ecology and evolutionary biology group is also internationally prominent and dedicated to studying aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Our core undergraduate program will expose you to the broad areas of biology at all of these levels of complexity. At the same time you will be able to focus on topics related to your specific interests through complementary and elective courses. Beyond the large introductory classes, our class sizes are relatively small and you will have lots of opportunities for contact with your instructors; this is one of our strengths! Biology's teaching and research resources are extended by affiliation with the Redpath Museum, the hospitals and research institutes of the McGill University Health Centre, the Montreal Neurological Institute, the Sheldon Biotechnology Institute, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Field courses enable you to study biology in a natural setting, in local ecosystems (e.g., at McGill's Gault Nature Reserve), and in distant ones such as Barbados, Panama, and East Africa. The Biology Department is also deeply committed to providing individual research experiences to its undergraduates. U2- and U3-level students, not just Honours program students, can carry out semester- or year-long independent study projects for course credit in Biology department research labs. Numerous summer opportunities are also available.

Undergraduate students are represented by the MBSU (McGill Biology Students Union), in the Departmental Assembly and in Standing Committees.

Note to those interested in the B.A. & Sc. program: Both a major and a minor concentration in Biology are available to students pursuing the B.A. & Sc. degree. These concentrations are described on the Undergraduate B.A. & Sc. Biology page.

Preprogram Requirements

Requirements for the Major and Honours programs in Biology are:

two courses in elementary biology;
two courses in general chemistry;
two courses in mathematics (as per the Freshman science requirements);
one or two courses in physics (mechanics and electromagnetism), depending on your choice of upper year courses.

Students entering the B.A. & Sc., the Liberal program, and the Biology Science Minor have the same biology, chemistry, and mathematics requirements. The physics requirements will vary according to their future direction. Note that satisfying the minimum Freshman science requirements does not necessarily qualify students for medical or dental school admissions requirements.

Students planning to take one of the joint majors or the Quantitative Biology Major or Honours options should consult:

Undergraduate Advisor
Stewart Biology Building, Room N7/9B
Telephone: 514-398-4109
Email: nancy.nelson@mcgill.ca
Website: mcgill.ca/biology/undergraduate-studies/advising-planning/biology-advising

to ensure they are taking the appropriate prerequisites.

Biology Concentrations

Note: The concentrations set out below are only guidelines for specialized training. They do not constitute sets of requirements.

Note: Courses used to satisfy the complementary course components of the Major program must be at the 300+ level. Any 200 level courses listed below must be taken as electives.

Note: Please confirm the guidelines and policies for taking courses outside Arts and Science.

If you are interested in advanced studies in any biological discipline, you are strongly advised to develop your skills in computing as appropriate. As an aid to students wishing to specialize, key and suggested courses are listed by discipline.

CEEB: Conservation, Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 304	Evolution.	3
Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A comprehensive introduction to evolutionary biology. It covers both short-term and long-term evolutionary processes. Topics include the history of life, the origin of species, adaptation, natural selection and sexual selection. See course page for more information
BIOL 305	Animal Diversity.	3
Animal Diversity. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The characteristics of the major groups of animals, their ancestry, history and relationship to one another. The processes of speciation, adaptive radiation and extinction responsible for diversity. Methods for constructing of phylogenies, for comparing phenotypes, and for estimating and analyzing diversity. See course page for more information
BIOL 308	Ecological Dynamics.	3
Ecological Dynamics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Principles of population, community, and ecosystem dynamics: population growth and regulation, species interactions, dynamics of competitive interactions and of predator/prey systems; evolutionary dynamics. See course page for more information
BIOL 309	Mathematical Models in Biology.	3
Mathematical Models in Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data. See course page for more information
BIOL 310	Biodiversity and Ecosystems.	3
Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Ecological bases of the natural causes and consequences of current global environmental changes, including how biodiversity and ecosystem processes are defined and measured, how they vary in space and time, how they are affected by physical and biological factors, and how they affect each other and human societies. See course page for more information
BIOL 311	Advanced Methods in Organismal Biology.	3
Advanced Methods in Organismal Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of methods and techniques used by organismal biologists, paired with the design of sampling programs to test hypotheses using observational or experimental data, and the analysis of data. Topics include DNA barcoding/metabarcoding and experimental evolution. See course page for more information
BIOL 320	Evolution of Brain and Behaviour.	3
Evolution of Brain and Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Functional and comparative approach to neuroanatomy, examining how species changes in brain organization contribute to evolutionary changes in behaviour. See course page for more information
BIOL 331	Ecology/Behaviour Field Course.	3
Ecology/Behaviour Field Course. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Methods of sampling natural populations. Testing hypotheses in nature. See course page for more information
BIOL 334D1	Applied Tropical Ecology.	1.5
Applied Tropical Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Relevant to agriculture, forestry, fisheries and conservation of natural resources. Field component taught at the University's Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados, for two weeks in early May. The course is organized in a series of small-group field projects of 2-3 days each. Interested students should check the course website, attend the full information session and fill out an application form. See course page for more information
BIOL 334D2	Applied Tropical Ecology.	1.5
Applied Tropical Ecology. Terms offered: Summer 2025 See BIOL 334D1 for course description. See course page for more information
BIOL 335	Marine Mammals.	3
Marine Mammals. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Biology of marine mammals with special emphasis on seals and whales of the Bay of Fundy. Taught at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, St. Andrews, N.B., for two weeks in August. The course combines lectures, laboratory exercises, field trips, and individual projects. See course page for more information
BIOL 352	Dinosaur Biology.	3
Dinosaur Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Using dinosaurs as exemplars, this course teaches aspects of comparative, functional, and developmental morphology, macroevolution, macroecology, and phylogenetic systematics. Lab dissections will explore vertebrate anatomy. See course page for more information
BIOL 377	Independent Reading Project.	3
Independent Reading Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent reading project. See course page for more information
BIOL 413	Directed Reading.	1
Directed Reading. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading. See course page for more information
BIOL 418	Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology.	3
Freshwater Invertebrate Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The life history and ecology of freshwater invertebrates in lakes, rivers and wetlands; habitat requirements, functional ecology and food web interactions; the role of invertebrates in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems; threats to freshwater diversity. See course page for more information
BIOL 428	Biological Diversity in Africa.	3
Biological Diversity in Africa. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Biological diversity as exemplified by a particular taxonomic group chosen by the instructor, using field setting in East Africa to impart training in species identification, field research, and principles embodied in the phylogeny, systematics, biogeography, ecology, physiology and/or behaviour of the organisms concerned. See course page for more information
BIOL 429	East African Ecology.	3
East African Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Field settings (Uganda, Kenya, and/or Tanzania) are used to impart training in ecological principles critical to tropical conservation with an emphasis on research design and field research exercises. See course page for more information
BIOL 432	Limnology.	3
Limnology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A study of the physical, chemical and biological properties of lakes and other inland waters, with emphasis on their functioning as systems. See course page for more information
BIOL 436	Evolution and Society.	3
Evolution and Society. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Explores the impact that biological evolution and evolutionary thinking have on society. Topics include intelligence, language, race, gender, medicine, genetically modified organisms, politics, and creationism. See course page for more information
BIOL 441	Biological Oceanography.	3
Biological Oceanography. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to how the ocean functions biologically: biology and ecology of marine plankton; regulation, extent and fate of production in the sea. See course page for more information
BIOL 451	Research in Ecology and Development in Africa.	3
Research in Ecology and Development in Africa. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Development of observation and independent inquiry skills through: 1) participation in short-term project modules in collaboration with existing researchers; 2) participation in interdisciplinary team research on topics selected to allow comparative analysis of field sites; 3) active and systematic observation, documentation, and integration of field experience in ecology and development issues. See course page for more information
BIOL 465	Conservation Biology.	3
Conservation Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussion of relevant theoretical and applied issues in conservation biology. Topics: biodiversity, population viability analysis, community dynamics, biology of rarity, extinction, habitat fragmentation, social issues. See course page for more information
BIOL 466	Independent Research Project 1.	3
Independent Research Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 467	Independent Research Project 2.	3
Independent Research Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 468D1	Independent Research Project 3.	3
Independent Research Project 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 469D1	Independent Research Project 4.	4.5
Independent Research Project 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 507	Animal Communication.	3
Animal Communication. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to communication between animals, including humans. Physical and phylogenetic constraints on the evolution of communication systems will be discussed. The approach to communication will draw from behavioural ecology, psychology, physiology and physics. See course page for more information
BIOL 510	Advances in Community Ecology.	3
Advances in Community Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The origin, maintenance and roles of biological diversity within ecological communities. See course page for more information
BIOL 515	Advances in Aquatic Ecology.	3
Advances in Aquatic Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Aquatic ecology and the major issues challenging the field. See course page for more information
BIOL 517	Cognitive Ecology.	3
Cognitive Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Cognition refers to the processes of acquiring, retaining, and using information. In the wild, an organism relies on a wide variety of information to interact with its environment and these interactions affect its survival and reproduction. Focus on the ecology and evolution of cognition and its underlying neural mechanisms. Examines links between cognition, behaviour in the wild, and the brain. Builds upon the principles of behavioural ecology and behavioural neuroscience. See course page for more information
BIOL 540	Ecology of Species Invasions.	3
Ecology of Species Invasions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Causes and consequences of biological invasion, as well as risk assessment methods and management strategies for dealing with invasive species. See course page for more information
BIOL 553	Neotropical Environments.	3
Neotropical Environments. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Ecology revisited in view of tropical conditions. Exploring species richness. Sampling and measuring biodiversity. Conservation status of ecosystems, communities and species. Indigenous knowledge. See course page for more information
BIOL 569	Developmental Evolution.	3
Developmental Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The influence of developmental mechanisms on evolution. This course draws on recent examples from plants and invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Topics include homology, modularity, dissociation, co-option, evolutionary novelty, evolution of cis-regulation and gene regulatory networks, developmental constraint and evolvability, heterochrony, phenotypic plasticity, and canalization. See course page for more information
BIOL 573	Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course.	3
Vertebrate Palaeontology Field Course. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Terrestrial vertebrate fossils (i.e. dinosaurs, crocodiles and other reptiles) and palaeocommunity analysis, including practical training with fossil identification, mapping, collecting, and stratigraphic interpretation. See course page for more information
BIOL 592	Integrated Bioinformatics.	3
Integrated Bioinformatics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 'Post-genomic' bioinformatics. Concepts behind large-scale computational analysis and comparison of genomes/proteomes (and beyond), and the implications for our understanding of the basic processes of molecular and cell biology and the evolution of those processes. See course page for more information
BIOL 594	Advanced Evolutionary Ecology.	3
Advanced Evolutionary Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Evolutionary ecology is the study of evolutionary change in natural populations. General predictive approaches in evolutionary ecology, including population genetics, quantitative genetics, optimality, and game theory will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on the mathematical underpinnings of each approach, particularly as they relate to classic and contemporary problems. See course page for more information
GEOG 302	Environmental Management 1.	3
Environmental Management 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An ecological analysis of the physical and biotic components of natural resource systems. Emphasis on scientific, technological and institutional aspects of environmental management. Study of the use of biological resources and of the impact of individual processes. See course page for more information
GEOG 305	Soils and Environment.	3
Soils and Environment. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussion of the major properties of soils; soil formation, classification and mapping; land capability assessment; the role and response of soils in natural and disturbed environments (e.g. global change, ecosystem disturbance). See course page for more information
GEOG 308	Remote Sensing for Earth Observation.	3
Remote Sensing for Earth Observation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A conceptual view of remote sensing and the underlying physical principles. Covers ground-based, aerial, satellite systems, and the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible to microwave. Emphasis on application of remotely sensed data in geography including land cover change and ecological processes. See course page for more information
GEOG 322	Environmental Hydrology.	3
Environmental Hydrology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Quantitative, experimental study of the principles governing the movement of water at or near the Earth's surface and how the research relates to the chemistry and biology of ecosystems. See course page for more information
GEOG 470	Wetlands.	3
Wetlands. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An examination of the structure, function and utility of wetlands. Topics include the fluxes of energy and water, wetland biogeochemistry, plant ecology in freshwater and coastal wetlands and wetlands use, conservation and restoration. Field trip(s) are envisaged to illustrate issues covered in class. See course page for more information
REDM 400	Science and Museums.	3
Science and Museums. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Natural history museums and their collections, how collections are created and maintained and how collections are used in scientific research. Context of natural history museums, collections-based research and curatorial methods. See course page for more information
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PARA 424	Fundamental Parasitology.	3
Fundamental Parasitology. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species. See course page for more information
PLNT 358	Flowering Plant Diversity.	3
Flowering Plant Diversity. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow. See course page for more information
PLNT 460	Plant Ecology.	3
Plant Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theory and practice of plant ecology with an emphasis on the interaction between patterns and ecological processes and the dynamics, conservation and management of plant populations and communities over a range of temporal and spatial scales. See course page for more information
WILD 307	Natural History of Vertebrates.	3
Natural History of Vertebrates. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches. See course page for more information
WILD 350	Mammalogy.	3
Mammalogy. Terms offered: Winter 2026 This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized. See course page for more information
WILD 415		3
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.
WILD 420	Ornithology.	3
Ornithology. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds. See course page for more information
WILD 421	Wildlife Conservation.	3
Wildlife Conservation. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species. See course page for more information

MCDB: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 300	Molecular Biology of the Gene.	3
Molecular Biology of the Gene. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction. See course page for more information
BIOL 301	Cell and Molecular Laboratory.	4
Cell and Molecular Laboratory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to biology research and communication with a focus on cell and molecular biology. Through conducting a series of project-based experiments and writing a final report, molecular and synthetic biology techniques such as gene cloning, manipulation, protein isolation and characterization and how research is conducted, analyzed and communicated will be addressed. In addition, an introduction to bioinformatics methods and their role in analysis will be provided. See course page for more information
BIOL 302	Fundamentals of Genetics and Genomics.	3
Fundamentals of Genetics and Genomics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Trait variation within and across populations and species,and how this reflects variation within genomes. Case studies and problem-solving approaches will be used to illustrate the tools of genomics, molecular genetics and classical genetics, and how they are employed to understand the mechanisms of phenotypic variation.Topics will include evolutionary, developmental and human genetics. Application of multiple levels of genetic analysis, formulation, and testing of hypotheses on critical topics ranging from evolution to developmental biology to human genetics. See course page for more information
BIOL 303	Developmental Biology.	3
Developmental Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A consideration of the fundamental processes and principles operating during embryogenesis. Experimental analyses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels will be presented and discussed to provide an overall appreciation of developmental phenomena. See course page for more information
BIOL 306	Neural Basis of Behaviour.	3
Neural Basis of Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information. See course page for more information
BIOL 309	Mathematical Models in Biology.	3
Mathematical Models in Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data. See course page for more information
BIOL 313	Eukaryotic Cell Biology.	3
Eukaryotic Cell Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In-depth examination of the structure and function of eukaryotic cells, with an emphasis on experimental design and interpretation. Examination of the molecular mechanisms of various cellular processes, including protein homeostasis, intracellular transport, cytoskeletal dynamics, multicellular organization and cell proliferation. See course page for more information
BIOL 314	Molecular Biology of Cancer.	3
Molecular Biology of Cancer. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The molecular basis of human cancers, including analyzing the events that promote the formation of oncogenes and inhibit tumour suppressor genes, the biochemical properties of the proteins encoded by these genes, and their functions. Current molecular targets for cancer therapy and the concepts and consequences of inheriting mutations in genes that predispose to cancer. See course page for more information
BIOL 316	Biomembranes and Organelles.	3
Biomembranes and Organelles. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course focuses on biomembranes and subcellular organelles and their implications for disease. The topics include: protein and lipid biochemistry, membrane structure and transport; intracellular compartmentalization, protein sorting and modification, intracellular membrane trafficking; energy transfer, organization and dynamics of chloroplasts and mitochondria; extracellular matrix and cell walls. See course page for more information
BIOL 377	Independent Reading Project. (course retired)	3
Independent Reading Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent reading project. See course page for more information
BIOL 413	Directed Reading.	1
Directed Reading. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading. See course page for more information
BIOL 416	Genetics of Mammalian Development.	3
Genetics of Mammalian Development. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course aims to examine problems, theories, and experimental evidence on several concepts of mammalian developmental processes at molecular to organogenesis levels. Most topics are in the mouse model system, where various techniques for genetic manipulation are available. See course page for more information
BIOL 466	Independent Research Project 1.	3
Independent Research Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 467	Independent Research Project 2.	3
Independent Research Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 468D1	Independent Research Project 3.	3
Independent Research Project 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 469	Independent Research Project 4.	9
Independent Research Project 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 518	Advanced Topics in Cell Biology.	3
Advanced Topics in Cell Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Concepts and mechanisms in advanced cell biology, based on genetic, cell biological, biophysical, and computational studies. Emphasis is placed on processes that are evolutionarily conserved, with examples from model organisms and cell-free (in vitro) approaches. See course page for more information
BIOL 524	Topics in Molecular Biology.	3
Topics in Molecular Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Molecular genetics and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, including signal transduction, cell differentiation and function, genetic diseases in eukaryotes. See course page for more information
BIOL 544	Genetic Basis of Life Span.	3
Genetic Basis of Life Span. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course will consider how gene action is determining the duration of life in various organisms focusing on the strengths and limitations of the genetic approach. The course will focus particularly on model organisms such as yeast, Caenorhabditis, Drosophila and mouse, as well as on the characterization of long-lived people. See course page for more information
BIOL 546	Genetics of Model Systems.	3
Genetics of Model Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in the genetics and molecular genetics of unicellular, plant, invertebrate and vertebrate models systems. See course page for more information
BIOL 551	Principles of Cellular Control.	3
Principles of Cellular Control. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Fundamental principles of cellular control, with cell cycle control as a major theme. Biological and physical concepts are brought to bear on control in healthy cells.. See course page for more information
BIOL 565	Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology.	3
Cell and Tissue Mechanobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The emerging field of mechanobiology and mechanotransduction, and their relevance in the context of multicellular physiology in health and disease. The molecular and cellular foundations of mechanobiology are covered. Current literature on the topic will be discussed and presented by students. Identification of gaps in current knowledge and proposing research to address them. See course page for more information
BIOL 568	Topics on the Human Genome.	3
Topics on the Human Genome. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Cellular and molecular approaches to characterization of the human genome. See course page for more information
BIOL 569	Developmental Evolution.	3
Developmental Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The influence of developmental mechanisms on evolution. This course draws on recent examples from plants and invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Topics include homology, modularity, dissociation, co-option, evolutionary novelty, evolution of cis-regulation and gene regulatory networks, developmental constraint and evolvability, heterochrony, phenotypic plasticity, and canalization. See course page for more information
BIOL 588	Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology.	3
Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussion of fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the general features of cellular neurobiology. An advanced course based on lectures and on a critical review of primary research papers. See course page for more information
BIOL 592	Integrated Bioinformatics.	3
Integrated Bioinformatics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 'Post-genomic' bioinformatics. Concepts behind large-scale computational analysis and comparison of genomes/proteomes (and beyond), and the implications for our understanding of the basic processes of molecular and cell biology and the evolution of those processes. See course page for more information
BIOC 311	Metabolic Biochemistry.	3
Metabolic Biochemistry. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The generation of metabolic energy in higher organisms with an emphasis on its regulation at the molecular, cellular and organ level. Chemical concepts and mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis are also emphasized. Included: selected topics in carbohydrate, lipid and nitrogen metabolism; complex lipids and biological membranes; hormonal signal transduction. See course page for more information
HGEN 400	Genetics in Medicine.	3
Genetics in Medicine. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Using clinical vignettes, this course will emphasize the principles, ethical and legal issues of human heredity in medical genetics in the context of nature and genetic diversity of the human population. See course page for more information
MIMM 314	Intermediate Immunology.	3
Intermediate Immunology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An intermediate-level immunology course covering the cellular and molecular basis of lymphocyte development and activation in immune responses in health and disease. See course page for more information

NBB: Neurobiology and Behaviour

Course List
Course	Title	Credits
BIOL 300	Molecular Biology of the Gene.	3
Molecular Biology of the Gene. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of current knowledge and approaches in the area of regulation of gene expression, post-transcriptional control of gene expression, and signal transduction. See course page for more information
BIOL 303	Developmental Biology.	3
Developmental Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A consideration of the fundamental processes and principles operating during embryogenesis. Experimental analyses at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels will be presented and discussed to provide an overall appreciation of developmental phenomena. See course page for more information
BIOL 304	Evolution.	3
Evolution. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A comprehensive introduction to evolutionary biology. It covers both short-term and long-term evolutionary processes. Topics include the history of life, the origin of species, adaptation, natural selection and sexual selection. See course page for more information
BIOL 305	Animal Diversity.	3
Animal Diversity. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The characteristics of the major groups of animals, their ancestry, history and relationship to one another. The processes of speciation, adaptive radiation and extinction responsible for diversity. Methods for constructing of phylogenies, for comparing phenotypes, and for estimating and analyzing diversity. See course page for more information
BIOL 306	Neural Basis of Behaviour.	3
Neural Basis of Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Neural mechanisms of animal behaviour; neuroethology; cellular neurophysiology, integrative networks within nervous systems; neural control of movement; processing of sensory information. See course page for more information
BIOL 307	Behavioural Ecology.	3
Behavioural Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. How an organism’s behaviour relates to its physical, biological, and social environment, using evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Emphasis is on general principles, covering topics such feeding, predator avoidance, aggression, reproduction, social behaviour, communication and cognition. See course page for more information
BIOL 309	Mathematical Models in Biology.	3
Mathematical Models in Biology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Application of finite difference and differential equations to problems in cell and developmental biology, ecology and physiology. Qualitative, quantitative and graphical techniques are used to analyze mathematical models and to compare theoretical predictions with experimental data. See course page for more information
BIOL 320	Evolution of Brain and Behaviour.	3
Evolution of Brain and Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Functional and comparative approach to neuroanatomy, examining how species changes in brain organization contribute to evolutionary changes in behaviour. See course page for more information
BIOL 377	Independent Reading Project.	3
Independent Reading Project. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent reading project. See course page for more information
BIOL 389	Laboratory in Neurobiology.	3
Laboratory in Neurobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Methods of neurobiological research, including extracellular and intracellular recordings, electrical stimulation, and the study of neuro-behavioural problems. See course page for more information
BIOL 413	Directed Reading.	1
Directed Reading. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Directed reading. See course page for more information
BIOL 414	Invertebrate Brain Circuits and Behaviours .	3
Invertebrate Brain Circuits and Behaviours . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exploration of the neural and molecular mechanisms that drive animal behaviour, with a focus on invertebrates, including the principles of neural circuits and behaviour. See course page for more information
BIOL 466	Independent Research Project 1.	3
Independent Research Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 467	Independent Research Project 2.	3
Independent Research Project 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 468D1	Independent Research Project 3.	3
Independent Research Project 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 469D1	Independent Research Project 4.	4.5
Independent Research Project 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research project. See course page for more information
BIOL 506	Neurobiology of Learning.	3
Neurobiology of Learning. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Exploration of the neurobiological basis of learning, from molecules to circuits, focusing on the synaptic, cellular and circuit-level processes that support learning, in the context of different brain regions and forms of learning. See course page for more information
BIOL 507	Animal Communication.	3
Animal Communication. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to communication between animals, including humans. Physical and phylogenetic constraints on the evolution of communication systems will be discussed. The approach to communication will draw from behavioural ecology, psychology, physiology and physics. See course page for more information
BIOL 517	Cognitive Ecology.	3
Cognitive Ecology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Cognition refers to the processes of acquiring, retaining, and using information. In the wild, an organism relies on a wide variety of information to interact with its environment and these interactions affect its survival and reproduction. Focus on the ecology and evolution of cognition and its underlying neural mechanisms. Examines links between cognition, behaviour in the wild, and the brain. Builds upon the principles of behavioural ecology and behavioural neuroscience. See course page for more information
BIOL 530	Advances in Neuroethology.	3
Advances in Neuroethology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Neural mechanisms underlying behaviour in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms. See course page for more information
BIOL 532	Developmental Neurobiology Seminar.	3
Developmental Neurobiology Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussions of all aspects of nervous system development including pattern formation, cell lineage, pathfinding and targeting by growing axons, and neural regeneration. The basis for these discussions will be recent research papers and other assigned readings. See course page for more information
BIOL 580	Genetic Approaches to Neural Systems.	3
Genetic Approaches to Neural Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course will focus on recent research employing genetic-based methods to examine the functional and structural properties of the nervous system. The focus will be on approaches for studying neural circuits and behavior in a range of model organisms. Topics will include recent technological advances, such as optogenetics for modifying and controlling neuronal activity, and animal models of neurological diseases. Students will critically analyze the application of these methods to current research through in-class discussion of primary literature, student presentations, and written assignments. See course page for more information
BIOL 588	Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology.	3
Advances in Molecular/Cellular Neurobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Discussion of fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying the general features of cellular neurobiology. An advanced course based on lectures and on a critical review of primary research papers. See course page for more information
BIOL 592	Integrated Bioinformatics.	3
Integrated Bioinformatics. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. 'Post-genomic' bioinformatics. Concepts behind large-scale computational analysis and comparison of genomes/proteomes (and beyond), and the implications for our understanding of the basic processes of molecular and cell biology and the evolution of those processes. See course page for more information
ANAT 321	Circuitry of the Human Brain.	3
Circuitry of the Human Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This course explores the functional organization of the human brain and spinal cord. The course focuses on how neuronal systems are designed to subserve specific motor, sensory, and cognitive operations. See course page for more information
ANAT 322	Neuroendocrinology.	3
Neuroendocrinology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A lecture course describing brain-endocrine relationships. Emphasis on modern experimental evidence and conceptual developments within the field. See course page for more information
NEUR 310	Cellular Neurobiology.	3
Cellular Neurobiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A survey of the functional organization of nerve cells, signalling in the nervous system, and principles of neural development. Topics include cell polarity, neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, receptors and second messengers, cell lineage, guidance of axon outgrowth, and nerve regeneration. Emphasis will be placed on analysis of neurons at the molecular level. See course page for more information
PHAR 562	Neuropharmacology.	3
Neuropharmacology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics in pharmacology with an emphasis on molecular mechanisms of drug-action and cellular targets in the nervous system. See course page for more information
PHGY 311	Channels, Synapses and Hormones.	3
Channels, Synapses and Hormones. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In-depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses on cellular communication in the nervous system and the endocrine system. See course page for more information
PHGY 314	Integrative Neuroscience.	3
Integrative Neuroscience. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. In depth presentation of experimental results and hypotheses underlying our current understanding of how single neurons and ensembles of neurons encode sensory information, generate movement, and control cognitive functions such as emotion, learning, and memory, during voluntary behaviours. See course page for more information
PHGY 425	Analyzing Physiological Systems.	3
Analyzing Physiological Systems. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to quantitative analysis of physiological data, both to the mode of thinking and to a set of tools that allows accurate predictions of biological systems. Examples will range from oscillating genetic networks to understanding higher brain function. Modelling and data analysis through examples and exercises will be emphasized. See course page for more information
PHGY 451	Advanced Neurophysiology.	3
Advanced Neurophysiology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics of current interest in neurophysiology including the development of neurons and synapses, physiology of ionic channels, presynaptic and postsynaptic events in synaptic transmission and neuronal interactions in CNS function. See course page for more information
PHGY 556	Topics in Systems Neuroscience.	3
Topics in Systems Neuroscience. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Topics of current interest in systems neurophysiology and behavioural neuroscience including: the neural representation of sensory information and motor behaviours, models of sensory motor integration, and the computational analysis of problems in motor control and perception. Students will be expected to present and critically discuss journal articles in class. See course page for more information
PSYC 311	Human Cognition and the Brain.	3
Human Cognition and the Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The course is an introduction to the field studying how human cognitive processes, such as perception, attention, language, learning and memory, planning and organization, are related to brain processes. The material covered is primarily based on studies of the effects of different brain lesions on cognition and studies of brain activity in relation to cognitive processes with modern functional neuroimaging methods. See course page for more information
PSYC 318	Behavioural Neuroscience 2.	3
Behavioural Neuroscience 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The physiological bases of motivational states, with respect to feeding, drinking, sexual behaviour, drug use, and aggression. Physiological bases of learning and memory. See course page for more information
PSYC 342	Hormones and Behaviour.	3
Hormones and Behaviour. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The role of hormones in organization of CNS function, as effectors of behaviour, in expression of behaviours and in mental illness. See course page for more information
PSYC 410	Special Topics in Neuropsychology.	3
Special Topics in Neuropsychology. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Developments in cognitive neuroscience and cognitive neuropsychiatry via readings from primary sources. Topics include the neural bases of memory, emotion, social cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases. Integrating knowledge from studies in clinical populations and functional neuroimaging studies. See course page for more information
PSYC 470	Memory and Brain.	3
Memory and Brain. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Memory systems are studied with an emphasis on the neural computations that occur at various stages of the processing stream, focusing on the hippocampus, amygdala, basal ganglia, cerebellum and cortex. The data reviewed is obtained from human, non-human primates and rodents, with single unit recording, neuroimaging and brain damaged subjects. See course page for more information
PSYC 455		3
Terms offered: this course is not currently offered.
PSYT 500	Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders.	3
Advances: Neurobiology of Mental Disorders. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Current theories on the neurobiological basis of most well known mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, dementia). Methods and strategies in research on genetic, physiological and biochemical factors in mental illness will be discussed. Discussion will also focus on the rationale for present treatment approaches and on promising new approaches. See course page for more information

Available Programs

Biology (BIOL) Related Programs and Study Semesters

Joint Major in Computer Science and Biology

For more information, see Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Computer Science and Biology (74 credits).

Joint Honours in Computer Science and Biology

For more information, see Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Computer Science and Biology (77 credits).

Panama Field Study Semester

The program is a joint venture between McGill University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama. For more information, see the Panama Field Study Semester page. You can also visit the Faculty of Science's Field Study Semesters website for details.

Africa Field Study Semester

The Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, coordinates the 15-credit interdisciplinary Africa Field Study Semester. You can also visit the Faculty of Science's Field Study Semesters website for details.

Barbados Field Study Semester
The Faculty of Science offers a 15-credit program at the Bellairs Research Institute in Barbados during the Fall term (September to December). It is directed at students having an interest in global issues and sustainability science, applied to the Caribbean region. For more information, see the Barbados Field Study Semester page. You can also visit the Faculty of Science's Field Study Semesters website for details.

2025-2026