Zoology major graduate school (Master course)

Outline
The zoology major graduate school aims at deepening zoological knowledges rooted in the base of intellectual curiosity in all natural sciences, nurture of discovering, problem-solving, and publication skills through latest studies the students choose. The school consists of disciplines related to wild and reared animals. All disciplines are not separate, but interdependent with one another. Both groups of disciplines put much weight on teaching and research in natural history, and aims to elucidate characteristics of animals from multiple approaches using recent scientific methods. Also, as we deal with animals in our teaching and research, we regard that due respect to animal welfare is a prerequisite in the school.
Laboratories, full-time staff and specialties
[Professor]
 Shuji KOBAYASHI  (Laboratofy of animal systematics and natural history)  Natural history studies of wild animals
 Hiroyuki TAKASAKI (Laboratory of animal socio-ecology )  Socio-ecology of animals
 Shinya MIZUNO  (Laboratory of animal molecular ecology and pathophysiology) Biochemical and molecular biological studies
 Masahito NATORI (Laboratory of comparative animal anatomy)  Morphological studies of teeth and skulls
 Kazuyuki MEKADA  (Laboratory of animal resources) Resouce development in captive-reared and wild animals
[Associate professor]
 Ken TAKUMI  (Laboratory of animal reproductive physiology)  Endocrinology of wild animals
 Atsushi NAKAMOTO  (Laboratory of animal conservation science)  Coexistence between human and nature
[Lecturer]
 Mitsuo NUNOME  (Laboratory of animal genetics) 
 
N.B.: Depending on the personnel, students cannot be placed under his/her guidance. Therefore, please make an enquiry in advance before application for admission.
 
Main lectures
Advanced Animal Phylogenetic Systematics (by Dr. Kobayashi)
 Diverse animal species occur on Earth. Focusing on mammals, the aim of this lecture is placed on comprehension of the phylogeny of families in each major order.

Advanced Socio-Ecology(by Dr. Takasaki)
 Animal socio-ecology is based on a broad range of natural sciences. Out of recent scientific papers, those which typically depict the characteristics of this discipline are chosen to learn related themes. Alongside, the participants are expected to get used to logical formality in scientific papers, for enhancement of their reading skills and in preparation for their paper writing and presentation in future.

Advanced Animal Anatomy (by Dr. Natori)
 This lecture focuses on the comparative anatomy of the head in vertebrates, and occasional tests are given to the participant students to enhance their understanding. Also their skills in identification of mammals are strengthened by providing information on comparative anatomy of teeth, which are often indispensable clues to identification of species, as well as of bones.

Advanced Animal Physiology(by Dr. Takumi)
 Animals maintain homeostasis of their bodies in total with diverse regulation mechanisms. This lecture is aimed to reach deep understanding of bodily fluid adjustment, blood circulation, locomotory control, respiration, metabolism, nervous system, immune system, and endosecretory system in multiple levels from cells and tissues to organs and individual animals.

Advanced Experimental Animal Science(by Dr. Mekada)
 Experimental animals are indispensable for safety and efficacy tests of medicines and foods as well as education and elucidation of diverse biological mechanisms. In particular, introductory texts and scientific papers on knowledge and techniques required for dealing with laboratory mice are read. Also in consideration of 3R toward formation of societal agreements, relevant legal regulations and guidelines are deeply read, aiming at comprehending raison d'être of experimental animals.

Advanced Molecular Ethology and Ecology (by Dr. Mizuno)
 Each animal has its species-specific behavior patterns, acquired through evolution, in adaptation to the external environment. Based on the co-existence and co-prosperity of animals, formed through a law of jungle, ecological systems have been modified historically. Therefore, molecular biology-based analysis of animal behavior would provide a basic understanding of ecological dynamism. From this point of view, this lecture aims to comprehend living body systems that govern ethological behavior patterns and environmental adaptations at molecular and genetic levels.

Advanced Animal Genetics (by Dr. Nunome)
 Coming soon

Advanced Conservation Biology (by Dr. Nakamoto)
 Topics related to biodiversity, environmental conservation, and humans and animals are lectured comprehensively from in-depth technical viewpoints. In particular, each participant student's research theme in the master course is respected, and relevant papers are asked to read for presentation for discussion with the other participants toward better understanding of conservation biology in network with other disciplines in science.
 
Student experimenting in labo (Laboratory of reproductive physiology)
 
Student reading in library (Laboratory of animal systematics and natural history)
 

About entrance examination and admission
Enquiries to be addressed to:
Admission Office Okayama University of Science
Kake Institute of Education
1-1 Ridai-cho, Okayama City700-0005 Japan
Phone: +81-86-256-8415 (direct to Admission Office)
Fax: +81-86-256-9750
E-mail: ridai■edu.kake.ac.jp ←(replace ■ with 「@」)
Enquiries on this URL
To be addressed to:
Dr. Atsushi NAKAMOTO
Department of Zoology
Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science
E-mail: nakamoto■zool.ous.ac.jp ←(replace ■ with「@」)

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