Course Announcement: Molecular Studies of Marine Biological Diver sity on the Indian River Lagoon, Florida and Andros Island, Bahamas

[Jose Lopez]

Course Announcement:
Molecular Studies of Marine Biological Diversity on the Indian River Lagoon,
Florida and Andros Island, Bahamas*
Tentative dates:  June 4 - June 17, 2001

Study of intra- and interspecific genetic variation of selected marine
invertebrates.  Laboratory and field studies will compare diversity found
among tropical mangrove and coral reef habitats in the Indian River Lagoon
and Andros Island, Bahamas.  In a marine conservation and molecular ecology
context, lectures and practical laboratory work will cover modern techniques
such as marine invertebrate (e.g, cnidarian, poriferan etc) tissue
preparation, DNA purification, genomic fingerprinting, the polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) and molecular phylogenetic analyses.  Experiential learning
through integration into a Bahamian  "out-island" community will also be
emphasized.  Open to upper level biology students and teachers. 3 graduate
semester hours credit, transferable from FIT.  Total fee: approx $2500.00
(currently tentative, but which includes 3 hours of Florida Institute of
Technology graduate course credit; Fees will reflect a 30% discount if
course credit is not required).  Scholarships are available on a "as
needed", and  "first come first serve" basis. The course will begin on the
campus of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Ft. Pierce, FL. Course
fees include lab fees, tuition, accommodation and travel to the Bahamas
Environmental Research Center (operated by George Mason University's Center
for Field Studies) Andros Island.   Dr. Jose V. Lopez (Harbor Branch
Oceanographic  Institution, Assistant Scientist and course instructor) with
guest lecturers To Be Announced.

*This an International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY) 2001-2002
Approved Project (http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/IBOY)

For more information please contact Jill Sunderland, 800-333-(HBOI), X506,
Kristina Jones, 703-993-1436 or 993-1740 (GMU), and  visit the following
websites:

http://www.ncc.gmu.edu/Ncc2000/courses/cfs/andros.html 
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8169
and http://www.hboi.edu/education/coursesched.html


Jose V. Lopez, Ph.D.
Assistant Scientist
Division of Biomedical Marine Research
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution
5600 US 1 North
Ft. Pierce, FL 34946
PH: 561-465-2400, ext 478
F: 561-461-2221
http://www.hboi.edu/biomed/
  
The real voyage of discovery consists not 
    in seeking new landscapes, 
       but in having new eyes 
	 -  Marcel Proust


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