DR. MIKE MISAMORE

Course Overview
 
Developmental Biology (Biol 40223)
Histology (Biol 40203)
Tropical Biology (50903)
 
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY (Biol 40223)
Developmental biology is a 3-credit lecture/lab course that combines the current molecular and genetic approaches to animal development with classic anatomical embryology. The lectures focus of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving the developmental process. The laboratory consists of live labs looking at various aspects of development from Chlamydomonas and sea urchin fertilization to tadpole metamorphosis. The study of anatomical embryology takes a traditional approach using the classic chick/pig development while projecting those processes to human embryology. Although the course focuses on human development, numerous other organisms are studied to fully understand the developmental process.

 
HISTOLOGY (Biol 40203)
Histology is a 3-credit lecture/lab course that covers the various cells and tissues that comprise the human body. In a highly coordinated lecture/lab format students are presented a general background of anatomy and function of a tissue or organ then go to the lab where they transfer that knowledge to actual histological samples to fully understand how structure and function interrelate. Numerous examples of diseases and conditions that directly impact the histology are incorporated into the course.

 

TROPICAL BIOLOGY (Biol 50903)
Tropical biology is a non-tradition lecture/lab course highlighted by field research in the Caribbean. The initial third of the course is a traditional, lecture course where students are learn the ecology, biodiversity, and biogeography of the tropics with special attention to the Caribbean. The students apply this knowledge during a one-week trip to Jamaica and the Hofstra University Marine Lab in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. Students observe first hand the flora and fauna of Jamaica while exploring the Blue Mountain rainforests, snorkeling among coral reefs and hiking through mangrove forests. During this trip students also conduct independent research projects. Upon returning to TCU, students spend the remainder of the semester writing up their data and presenting it at TCU’s Student Research Symposium.

 
PRINCIPLES OF LIFE SCIENCES (Biol 10504)
Principles of Life Sciences is required for undergraduate students majoring in Biology. It is a two-semester, team-taught course introducing students to the major concepts of biology. My contribution to the course includes cell replication (mitosis, meiosis, and gametogenesis), metabolic processes (photosynthesis, respiration, biosynthesis), and lifecycle diversity.

CELL/MOLECULAR/DEVELOPMENT (Biol 30603)
This course is required for undergraduates majoring in Biology. It is a team-taught course introducing students to the major concepts and techniques relating to the cell, molecular and developmental biology. My contributions to the course include topics on cell adhesion and extracellular matrices and the major concepts behind the developmental process.