SCHOOL OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
The study of biology covers a wide range of systems at all levels of organisation, ranging from molecules and cells to organisms and populations, both plants and animals. At HKUST, the biological research and teaching programmes reflect all levels, with emphasis on the molecular and cellular levels. Research areas within the Department include molecular biology and genetics, cell and developmental biology, plant and animal physiology, neurobiology, marine biology and environmental biology.
The Department also contributes to the research and development programmes of the Biotechnology Research lnstitute and the lnstitute for Environmental Studies.
The Department of Biology is equipped with modem teaching facilities and state-of-the-art research instruments, including facilities for cell culture, molecular and cell biology, and modern microscopy as well as animal care facilities and a greenhouse for plant studies.
Faculty
Professor and Head of Department:
Madeline C.S. WU, BSc National Taiwan; PhD Univ of Texas, Austin Professors:
Donald C. CHANG, BSc National Taiwan; MA, PhD Rice
Fu-Shiang CHIA, BSc National Taiwan Normal; MSc, PhD Univ of Washington Shain-Dow KUNG, BSc Chung-Hsing; MSc Guelph; PhD Toronto
(Vice-President for Academic Affairs)
Shang Fa YANG, BS, MSc National Taiwan; PhD Utah Senior Lecturers/Associate Professors:
Nancy Y.Y. IP, BS Simmons Colt, PhD Harvard Maria Li LUNG, BSc Cornell; PhD Stanford
I-Hsun NI, BSc, MSc National Taiwan; PhD British Columbia Lecturers/Assistant Professors:
King-Lau CHOW, BSc Chinese Univ of Hong Kong; PhD Baylor Coll of Medicine Robert N. HOLDEFER, BA Drake; MA, PhD Southern Illinois
W. L. Wendy HSIAO, BS National Taiwan; MSc UnivofMichigan, Ann Arbor; PhD Columbia
Mun-Fai LEUNG BSc Northeastern; PhD Boston
Ning LI, BSc Beijing Forestry Colt, MSc, PhD Univ of Washington Peiyuan QIAN, BSc Ocean Univ of Qingdao; MSc Xiamen; PhD Alberta Karl Wah-Keung TSIM, BSc, MPhil Chinese Univ Hong Kong; PhD Cambridge Joseph T. Y. WONG, BSc Univ Coll of North Wales; MSc, PhD Stirling Yung-Hou WONG, BSc London; MPhil, PhD Cambridge
Yong XIE, MSc Fudan; PhD Cornell
Albert C. H. YU, BSc, MSc, PhD Saskatchewan
Undergraduate Programme
The underqraduate programme leading to the Bachelor of Science degree provides basic training in the biological sciences through course work and laboratory studies. During the first two years of study, students take a set of core subjects in biology
Department of Biology
and biochemistry. Laboratory work associated with the core and some elective courses is also required. In their second and third years of study, students take a series of electives specialising in one of the following: (1) cell and molecular biology, (2) organismal biology, (3) marine biology, or (4) environmental biology. Optional seminar courses designed to enhance students' communication skills and research projects to train students in laboratory research are also provided.
Admission Requirements 1996-97
In addition to the general entrance requirements of the University, acceptable grades are required in two ALsubjects plus one AUAS subject. One of the subjects must be AL Biology, and one other must be AUAS Chemistry.
Curriculum for BSc in Biology Core courses
BlOL 101 Biodiversity
BlOL 102 Environmental Biology BlOL 104 Cell Biology l BlOL 202 Animal Physiology BlOL 206 Microbiology BlOL 21 1 General Genetics BlOL 225 Plant Biology Required courses
BlCH 121 Introduction to Biochemistry BlCH 122 Intermediary Metabolism
BlCH 172 Introductory Biochemical Laboratory BlCH 182 Biochemical Laboratory Techniques
Elective courses
Elective types
Additional requirement
BlOL Biology elective
(1) BlOUBlCH Biology or Biochemistry elective (2) SClE Science elective
(3) COMP Computer science elective ENGG Engineering elective FREE Free elective
FREE Non-Biology FREE elective
(4) H&SS Humanities and Social Science elective SB&M Business and Management elective
Minimum Minimum no. of courses total credits
(5) LANG 001 Language Skills Enhancement I
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Notes:
(1) Students may elect one of the following: BlOL204, BlOL213, BlOL216, BICH 201, or BICH 21 1.
(2) CHEM 101IMATH 005 is a recommended elective which may be replaced by another approved SCIE elective.
(3) COMP 101 is a recommended elective which may be replaced by another approved COMP elective.
(4) Of these courses, at least one course in Humanlies and one in Social Science are required.
(5) . . Students admitted without grade C or above in AS Use of English will be required to take and pass this course during the first semester of attendance.
A minimum of 101 credits is required for the BSc programme in Biology.
Recommended Pattern of Study for the Curriculum 1st year Fall C BIOL 101;
R BICH 121, BICH 172, BICH 182;
E HLSS, SCIE;
0 LANG 001 (Total: 16 credits)
Spring C BIOL 102, BIOL 104;
R BICH 122;
E FREE, SBIM (Total: 18 credits)
2nd year Fall C BIOL 21 1, BIOL 225;
E BIOVBICH, FREE, H&SS (Total: 17 credits) Spring C BIOL 202, BIOL 206;
E BIOVBICH, COMP, S B I M (Total: 17 credits) 3rd year Fall E two BIOL, ENGG, two FREE, H&SS (Total: 18 credits) Spring E three BIOL, FREE, H&SS (Total: 15 credits) C = core course; R = required course; E = elective course; 0 = other course
Postgraduate Programmes and Research
The Department of Biology provides postgraduate training in basic and applied biology. In addition to taking advanced postgraduate courses, each student will conduct research in one of the following fields:
Molecular Genetics: gene regulation; molecular biology of plant organelles;
tumor virology
Cell and Developmental Biology: receptors and signal transduction; cell growth and differentiation; membrane biophysics
Department of Biology
Neurobiology: molecular neurobiology; growth factors; neural regeneration;
visual neuroscience and neurotransmitters
Plant Molecular Biology: Phytohormone biosynthesis and action; plant senes- cence; molecular biology of sea weeds
Marine Biology and Environmental Biology: Remote sensing; larval ecology;
mariculture; settlement and metamorphosis of fouling organisms; marine pollution Biotechnology: gene transfer; immuno-diagnostics; cancer drug development
The first two areas encompass molecular genetics, developmental biology, microbiology, molecular pharmacology and immunology, and genetic engineering in plants and animals. The Department focuses on a few key areas and emphasises co- operative efforts with other research groups. One of the projects to be developed is the delineation of the mechanisms of cell differentiation at cellular and molecular levels.
This work will involve departmental laboratories that engage in studies such as development, gene regulation, growth factors and signal transduction, ultrastructure, cell manipulations, and gene transfer.
The plant physiology and animal physiology/neurobiology areas focus on research with great potential for technological applications in the comina decades.
~olecularapproachesareemphasised tostidy many important aspects of n&robiology, including neuronal differentiation and neural regeneration.
Marine biology and environmental biology cover molecular studies of red tide dinoflagellates and other marine algae, genetic manipulations of economically impor- tant marine invertebrates, reproductive biology of marine fouling organisms, ecotoxicology of marine plants; and remote sensing (satellite) of marine environment. Special attention is directed towards improving the environment of Hong Kong and the optimisation of its marine resources.
Research in biotechnology is an integral part of the activity of the University's Biotechnology Research Institute.
The Department offers research-oriented programmes leading to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Biology. The Depart- ment also participates in two Master of Science (MSc) programmes, one in Biotechnology and one in Environmental Science.
Qualified students with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, or related fields, may apply for admission to the postgraduate degree programmes in the Department of Biology. Transcripts from the applicant's undergraduate institution and letters of recommendation from former instructors are required.-scores in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), if available. should be submitted as su~~lementarv . , -
. .
information.
Master of Science (MSc) Programme i n Biotechnology
This multi-disciplinary programme is jointly offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Civil and Structural Engineering. For details, please refer to page 112.
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Master of Science (MSc) Programmes in Environmental Science and Engineering
These multi-disciplinary programmes are jointly offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineer- ing and Mechanical Engineering. For details, please refer to page 181.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Programme in Biology
The purpose of the MPhil degree is to train postgraduate students to conduct independent research in biological sciences. The programme normally takes two years of full-time studies to complete, and about twice as long for part-time students. Students with a first degree in an area other than that of their postgraduate programme may be required to take additional courses.
In fulfilling the degree requirements, students are expected to attend and present seminars, undertake course work and conduct thesis research. The passing standard in a graded course is C and the overall average must be B or above. In the final stage of the programme, students are required to submit a thesis to the Department and, subsequently, to present and defend it. Any student who has performed unsatisfactorily will be asked to re-submit the thesis. The result of the second attempt of the thesis defence will be either Pass or Fail.
Specific programme requirements are:
at least two four-credit postgraduate courses selected by students and approved by the postgraduate supervising committee;
BlOL 61 1 Postgraduate Seminars I;
BlOL 612 Postgraduate Seminars II;
presentation of two seminars, one on the research proposal and one on research results;
BlOL 699 MPhil Thesis Research;
presentation and oral defence of the MPhil thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme in Biology
The purpose of the PhD programme is to train students in original research in biological sciences, and to cultivate the independent and innovative thinking that is essential for a successful research career in either basic or applied biology. The programme normally takes four years from the first degree to complete. Students with a first degree in an area other than their postgraduate programme may be required to take additional courses.
In fulfilling the degree requirements, students are expected to attend and present seminars, undertake course work and conduct thesis research. The passing standard in a graded course is C and the overall average must be B or above. Students are also required to pass a comprehensive/qualifying examination set by the Depart- ment. In the final stage of the programme, students are required to submit a thesis to the Department and, subsequently, to present and defend it. Any student who has performed unsatisfactorily will be asked to re-submit the thesis. The result of the second attempt of the thesis defence will be either Pass or Fail.
Department of Biology
Specific programme requirements are:
BlOL 61 1 Postgraduate Seminars I, and BlOL 612 Postgraduate Seminars II;
in the first year of study, and attendance of the postgraduate seminar series in subsequent years; and
three postgraduate courses for students starting with a first degree or two postgraduate courses for those who start the programme with a relevant MPhil or MSc degree;
a candidacy examination;
BlOL 799 PhD Thesis Research; and
presentation and oral defence of the PhD thesis.
Faculty Research Interests
Professor Madeline C.S. WU, Head of Department
The regulatory mechanism that controls the initiation of chloroplast DNA replication and the molecular mechanism for sequestering heavy metal in ~ h l a m ~ d o m o n a s reinhardtii.
Broad range molecular and transformation studies of marine macroalgae.
Professor Donald C. CHANG
Current research interests include: (i) development of improved technologies for gene transfer and cell fusion; (ii) calcium signalling in cell function; and (iii) molecular mechanisms of embryo development and cell differentiation.
Professor Fu-Shiang CHlA
Research interests concern reproductive ecology of marine ilivertebrates and marine pollution problems.
Professor Shain-Dow KUNG, Vice-President for Academic Affairs
One area of research is the molecular evolution of chloroplast genomes. The second area involves the molecular mechanism of genetic tumours, while the third area involves analysis of the regulatory sequences of UV-B radiation inducible.
Professor Shang-Fa YANG
The plant hormone ethylene regulates many aspects of plant growth and development.
Professor Yang's research focuses on the biochemistry and molecular biology of ethylene biosynthesis and action in relation to plant senescence.
Dr Nancy IP, Associate Professor
Major research interests are focused on the use of molecular approaches to identify novel neurotrophic factors and their receptors, as well as to study their functional roles in neuronal differentiation and synapse formation.
Dr Maria LI LUNG, Associate Professor
Primary research interest lies in the causes of cancer, particularly molecular studies to establish the role of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and other genetic factors which may contribute to the development of various cancers.
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