undergrad

Undergraduate Study in GDCB

Introduction

Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) considers undergraduate education to be a cornerstone of the university, and is a major participant in the development and offering of three first-class interdepartmental undergraduate majors. GDCB is one of two departments, along with Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB), offering the Biology major; one of three departments, along with EEOB and Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB), offering the undergraduate Genetics major; and one of three departments, along with Computer Science and Mathematics, offering the new undergraduate major in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCBio). See the website of each undergraduate major for more information.

Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

Demand for individuals trained in bioinformatics and computational biology has exploded in recent years as huge amounts of data have been created through the advances of genome sequencing. Iowa State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences now offers a B.S. program in bioinformatics and computational biology (BCBio) that will prepare students for careers at the interfaces of biological, informational and computational sciences.

Undergraduate study in BCBio is jointly administered by the departments of Computer Science, Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) and Mathematics. BCBio is an interdisciplinary science at the interfaces of the biological, informational and computational sciences. The science focuses on a variety of topics, including gene identification, expression, and evolution; RNA, protein, and genome structure; and molecular and cellular systems and networks. The large group of participating faculty provides students with a multidimensional perspective on BCBio and presents them with broad range of possibilities to get involved in research. Students will develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, writing, and research-related activities in the biological sciences. They will use techniques in applied math, informatics, statistics, computer science, chemistry, artificial intelligence and biochemistry.

ISU's news release of June 21, 2007 about the new BCBio program

Biology Program

Iowa State University is great place to study biology. With over 200 faculty who are biologists, biology students have the opportunity to learn from research and educational leaders in all fields of the biological sciences. Although the Biology major is offered by two departments, Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB), it allows students to combine courses from over 10 departments into a single integrated program of study. To complement the outstanding biology academic program, students are also encouraged to become involved in biology through a number of activities, including the BEST learning community, international field trips, attending summer biological field stations to take courses or do research, doing research with faculty members on campus, or joining student clubs.

Genetics Program

Iowa State University has a long history of world-class research and education in genetics, making it one of the premier institutions for students to study genetics. As a result of the reorganization of the biological sciences in 2003, genetics became an interdepartmental major offered by a trio of departments: Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (BBMB), Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB). Genetics is the scientific study of heredity, the understanding of which is fundamental to all the biological sciences. The interdepartmental Genetics program offers a full range of instruction in all aspects of the genetics, from the molecular genetics of microorganisms to population genetics.

Former Undergraduate Majors in Botany and Zoology

In a major reorganization of the biological sciences at Iowa State University in 2003, the departments of Zoology and Genetics and Botany were dissolved, passing on their roles in undergraduate education to Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB) and Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB). New entry into the Botany major and the Zoology major were ended at that time, although students already enrolled in these majors have been and continue to be accommodated.

Students wishing to study in the general areas of botany or zoology should find a very good home within one of the three undergraduate majors described above. They can choose from the very successful Biology major, which includes substantial flexibility for study of many areas of biological sciences, including botany and zoology; the equally successful Genetics major, which is smaller and more focused; or the exciting new Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BCBio) major.