つくば生物ジャーナル　Tsukuba Journal of Biology (2002) 1: 142-xxx.

生物学類英文ガイド

白岩　善博、 Darryl Macer、 Richard S. Weisburd（生物学類国際交流委員会）

　生物学類国際交流委員会では国際交流促進策の一つとして生物学類の英文ガイドを作成した。第一の目的は，交換学生協定を締結している英国マンチェスター大学生物学部学生に対する当生物学類の紹介と留学生に対する情報提供の充実を図ることである。今回，本ガイドをつくば生物ジャーナルに投稿することによって，広く筑波大学生物学類を紹介する契機とするとともに，関係各位が筑波大学生物学類を海外向けに紹介する際に積極的に本ガイドを利用するよう希望したい。

Guide for International Students studying Biology in the University of Tsukuba

Organization of Institutes in the University of Tsukuba

This general information to the University of Tsukuba gives an overview of the organization of the University (http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/index-e.html), and guides for living in Tsukuba (http://www.city.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp/english/index.htm).

The College of Biological Sciences is the undergraduate teaching program in biology. It was founded in 1975. Every year about 80 students enter the four-year undergraduate program in biological sciences in the college (Seibutsu Gakurui in Japanese). The lectures in this program are mainly in Japanese, and cover basic and applied subjects of biology. There are several lectures conducted in English (including scientific English classes, bioethics, bioethics and genes, and biological oceanography), which can be formally taken if appropriate status as a regular or exchange student is obtained. Short stay students are welcome to attend these lectures through informal arrangements with the lecturers.

Faculty members have a range of research interests, and for research purposes the University divides its faculty members into Institutes. Most of the faculty of the College of Biological Sciences are members of the Institute of Biological Sciences (http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/ibs/index-e.html) (Gakkei in Japanese). Most of the faculty members are also associated with a two-year Master's Degree Program (e.g. Environmental Sciences [http://www.envr.tsukuba.ac.jp/], Biosystems [http://www.bsys.tsukuba.ac.jp/index-e.html]), and with a Doctoral Degree Program (e.g. Doctoral Program in Life and Environmental Sciences [http://www.life.tsukuba.ac.jp/]). Entrance to the postgraduate programs is through written examinations and interviews, which are open to applicants in either English or Japanese language. Postgraduate research theses can be written in either English or Japanese.

College of Biological Sciences Curriculum, Courses and Field Stations

The research interests of members cover fields of fundamental biology, and also provide opportunities for laboratory courses. Short stay students could also apply to participate in some intensive courses or field courses through application to the responsible faculty. There is a Gene Experiment Center associated with the College, which conducts advanced research on genetic engineering. The Gene Experiment Center was the first institution licensed to build a glasshouse for field trials of genetically engineered plants at a university in Japan. There are field research courses and education training courses at laboratories in Shimoda (marine research center, http://www.shimoda.tsukuba.ac.jp/EnHome.html) and Sugadaira (alpaine ecological field research, http://www.sugadaira.tsukuba.ac.jp/).

Foreign students can enter the Undergraduate Program in the College of Biological Sciences

There are a few foreign students in the College of Biological Sciences, either as formal students enrolled for the four-year degree program, or as one-year exchange students from universities with an exchange agreement with the University of Tsukuba (http://www.bsys.tsukuba.ac.jp/index-e.html). The College of Biological Sciences has a formal cooperation student exchange agreement with the University of Manchester, UK (http://www.man.ac.uk/), which is discussed in detail below. For full-time student status in their junior year at a university of college having an inter-university exchange agreement with the University of Tsukuba, there is a special course for one-year program known as JTP (Junior Year at Tsukuba) Program at the University of Tsukuba (http://www.intersc.tsukuba.ac.jp/jtp_overview.htm).

For exchange students staying up to one year, knowledge of Japanese is not necessary, but students should enroll in a Japanese language course when in Tsukuba (or even before). Students in their senior year of undergraduate degree study who come to Tsukuba will chose a laboratory for senior research by mutual agreement, and can expect to communicate about the research using English language. Tsukuba is an international city by Japanese standards, and students with a friendly and cooperative personality will find many students, faculty, and other city residents willing to communicate using English language. The University of Tsukuba has the second highest ratio of foreign students among national universities in Japan, but most of the foreign students are postgraduate students. Students who come for research exchange can expect to be able to communicate in English with members of the laboratory.

Student Exchange Program with the University of Manchester (UK)

There is a formal one-year exchange program for undergraduate students between the School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester (UK) and the College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba. University of Manchester students normally come for one year and participate in the intensive Japanese language courses at the University of Tsukuba. They will be associated with a laboratory to do some experiments related to their interests. Early application is encouraged because at least one of the students in this program each year they may be awarded a studentship by the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ) (http://www.aiej.or.jp/index_e.html) that covers their living costs; university fees such as tuition and entrance fee for students under the student exchange agreement are waived, regardless of success in the AIEJ studentship application.

Exchange students are welcome to attend lectures, but not required to. The students can attend any lectures in the University of Tsukuba if they wish, so some students have used the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of not only biology but of Japan in general. The contact person in the University of Tsukuba for this exchange program is Professor Yoshihiro Shiraiwa (Email: emilhux@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp).

Dormitory accommodation

Students under this exchange program can also obtain a low cost student dormitory room, at about 10,000 Japanese Yen per month rental fee.

Students from other departments, and universities, are welcome to make enquiries to the administration office of the University of Tsukuba. Often dormitory rooms are available. For students already enrolled, family apartments are also available at low cost in the University.

Studentships from the Association of International Education, Japan (AIEJ)

About 50 students a year receive studentships from the AIEJ for short-term studies (from three months to one year) at the University of Tsukuba. There are over 50 universities in the world with exchange agreements with the University of Tsukuba (http://www.intersc.tsukuba.ac.jp/).

Entrance Examination for Foreign Students

Those students who wish to enter the four year undergraduate program should write to the Dean, College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan. Students who enter the four-year degree program can answer written questions on the entrance exam in Japanese or English, however, the questions are written only in Japanese, and lectures are mainly in Japanese. The University of Tsukuba offers intensive programs in Japanese language, but a fundamental knowledge of Japanese language is needed to complete the four-year degree program.

Those students who cannot envisage reading or speaking Japanese should probably consider postgraduate courses where exams can be taken in English, as discussed above. In all cases prior contact with faculty members should be made well in advance of application to study.

The annual fees for the university vary by course but are approximately 500,000 Japanese Yen per year, and the costs of living in Tsukuba are discussed in the information for Foreign Scholars at the University (http://www.intersc.tsukuba.ac.jp/).

Are you already in Tsukuba?

If you are already living in Tsukuba, or even studying biology at any level at the University of Tsukuba, you may like to be on a mailing list for social activities involving foreign students in Biology. The contact person in the University of Tsukuba for this list is Professor Yoshihiro Shiraiwa (Email: emilhux@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp). There is also a journal published by the College of Biological Sciences (Tsukuba Journal of Biology http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/tjb/).

If you are a foreign student in biology and have something you would like to discuss, then you are welcome to discuss it with a member of the foreign student committee at the College of Biological Sciences: Professors Yoshihiro Shiraiwa (Japanese, Email: emilhux@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp), Rick Weisburd (USA, Email: weisburd@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp), or Darryl Macer (New Zealand, Email: macer@biol.tsukuba.ac.jp).

The students of the College of Biological Sciences have a balanced gender ratio, and most students are between 18-23 years of age. The faculty does not tolerate harassment of students and if you have any problems please contact a member of the foreign student committee, or the Dean of the College of Biological Sciences, to ensure that any misunderstandings do not escalate. There are faculty members with fluency in other languages besides English and Japanese in case you wish to talk in another language.

Lectures in English

In the University of Tsukuba there are numerous lectures conducted in English in various faculties and programs, but there is no centralized list of these lectures. Most faculties are willing to have students join their lectures on an informal or formal basis, so please contact faculty personally when in Tsukuba. Students will have to find out about the existence of lectures conducted in languages other than Japanese in other departments and programs through personal contact once they are in Tsukuba.

There are also research lectures in English at the university and at some of the other 300 research institutions in Tsukuba Science City, and many international conferences in the city every year. The university libraries contain journals in many languages.

Tsukuba life for foreign students

The University of Tsukuba and International Student Center web sites offer extensive information about campus procedures and life; this short guide introduces life in Tsukuba Science City, a town of about 170,000 people located about 50 km northeast of Tokyo, at the northern side of the Kanto Plain. The view from Tsukuba is dominated by the 876-m high Mount Tsukuba just north of the town. On particularly clear days it is possible to see Mt. Fuji from various places in Tsukuba. The climate is typically hot and humid in summer; pleasant, though sometimes rainy, in spring and fall; and cool in winter. Snow usually falls a few times during winter, but rarely accumulates. Earthquakes do shake Tsukuba; there have been no large ones here lately.

The town is unusual in its very high density of scientific institutions. Tsukuba has more than 50 national research institutes, many corporate research laboratories, joint industry-government research laboratories, and several universities. This high density of scientific institutions attracts an uncommonly high proportion of foreigners to the town. Much of the town was newly constructed within the past 25 years. 

There is a very convenient pedestrian/bicycle path along the long axis of town with bridges over most road crossings. There are 2 broad, main north-south roads, Nishi-Odori and Higashi-Odori, which run parallel to each other most of their way. Tsuchiura Gakuen-Sen is the largest east-west road and it is also quite wide, 6 lanes in the center of town. The city of Tsuchiura is a few kilometers east from the center of Tsukuba. A new express train to Tokyo is under construction and expected to begin service in 2005. Until then, transportation options to Tokyo include driving or taking a bus or train. The Joban highway passes through Tsukuba; tolls are expensive compared to other countries and traffic going to town is sometimes quite heavy. The bus runs from Tsukuba Center to Ueno and Tokyo Stations. If traffic is light, the ride to the city takes only about 70 minutes. The Joban train line runs through Tsuchiura, Arakawaoki, and Hitachino-Ushiku, all only a short drive (about 15 minutes) from Tsukuba Center. The train takes slightly more than an hour to Ueno Station. As Tsukuba is ratherflat, bicycling is a very practical and generally pleasant way to get around locally.

Useful links for foreign students

Tsukuba information Kanto and Japan information Tokyo info


Members in the College of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba (2002)

Professors

FUJII, Koichi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Ecology
Research: Research on ecology, and in particular on the dynamics and structure of the biotic populations and communities. One focus is on the regulation mechanisms of animal populations. Approaches used involve laboratory experiments with bean-bean weevils parasitic wasp systems, and their mathematical modeling. Another research project involves the mechanisms of colony formation by egrets.
Keywords: population dynamics, prey-predator interaction, intra- and interspecific competition
HAYASHI, Ichiroku (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Research: I have studied on mechanism of successional changes of plant communities. According to the information on the plant succession, we are able to predict the vegetation dynamics under various conditions of human perturbation. Based on the results, I have attempted to restore stands degraded by human impacts with vegetation recovery in dry deciduous woodlands in Brazil, Kenya and Inner Mongolia, China
HAYASHI, Jun-ichi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Embryology, Embryology.
Research: 1. Somatic cell genetical and molecular biological approaches to understand dynamics of the mitochondrial genetic system and of organelle biogenesis in living human and rodent cells. 2. Molecular biological approaches for analyzing the inheritance and expression of mtDNA mutations in mammals. 3. Diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases and diabetes using intercellular transfer of the patient mtDNA to mtDNA-less human cells. 4. Isolation and characterization of transgenic mice possessing pathogenic mtDNA mutations for screening drugs and for understanding the mechanisms of phenotypic expression of mitochondrial diseases.
INOUYE, Isao (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant Systematics and Phylogeny
Research: Systematics and Phylogeny of phytoflagellates and protists. Systematics and phylogeny of phytoflagellates which form many distinct lineages in the eukaryotic world. For obtaining a better framework of photosynthetic organisms and understanding of their early divergence, microalgae exhibiting primitive features and non-pigmented flagellates, probably the descendants of ancestors of photosynthetic lineages, are studied. Major techniques presently employed are electron microscopy of cellular components, especially of the flagellar apparatus, and DNA sequencing. Description and classification of new taxa are also important part of work.
Keywords: ultrastructure, life cycle, molecular phylogeny
KAMADA, Hiroshi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology
Research: Main subject is to elucidate the mechanisms of morphogenesis in higher plants, especially embryogenesis and flower formation. On embryogenesis, we are analysing the molecular mechanisms for induction of embryogenic competence (totipotency) and for development of somatic and zygotic embryos. On flower formation, we are characterizing various genes of which the expression is correlated to induction of flowering and to determine the flower structure. We are also working on molecular mechanisms of biological clock in higher plants. Approaches used involve gene cloning, plant transformation and cell engineering as well as plant tissue culture.
KURAMOTO, Taketeru (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Physiology II, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Biology, Extension Course of Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Biology
Research: Our goal of research using marine invertebrates (lobsters) is to understand how the central nervous system (CNS) controls or regulates cellular function and finally, animal behavior. The main target has been functional coupling of the CNS and cardiovascular system. Recently, we found that some cold neurons in CNS have a neurosecretory role. Keywords: physiology, marine invertebrates, CNS, circulation system, cold neuron, neurohormones
NUMATA, Osamu (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Cytology; Cell Biology I, Cell Biology II, Cell Biology Laboratory
Research: Research on molecular mechanisms of cytokinesis using the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena. One project is to study the mechanism of division plane determination using cell division arrest mutant cdaA1. A second project is to elucidate functions of actin-binding proteins and myosin in contractile ring formation.
Keywords: cytokinesis, cytoskeleton, Tetrahymena, actin, myosin
OGUMA, Yuzuru (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching:　Evolutionary　Genetics， General Genetics
Research: Studies on insect speciation, particularly in genetic aspects of microevolution. Genetic control of courtship behavior based on acoustic, olfactory and visual signals in Drosophila.
Keywords: evolution, Drosophila, species recognition, courtship behavior
OIKAWA, Takehisa (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Plant Ecology, Plant Ecology
Research: Research on plant ecology, and in particular on the physiological　ecology of terrestrial plants. As part of IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) in Japan, productivity of a plant community is analyzed in relation to global change in environmental conditions such as temperature, CO2 concentration and heat balance through field measurements and model simulation. Another research project is to study decomposition of soil organic material from the viewpoint of global carbon cycling.
SAITOU, Takehiko (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Neurophysiology,
Research: Research on cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating development and regeneration in the vertebrate retina; How do retinal neurons differentiate? How do they make specific synaptic connections? Generally, developmental work involves fish and chick, and studies of retinal regeneration are carried out with newt and chick. Techiniques include electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, cell and tissue culture, and in situ hybridization. Another line of research concerns retinal neuro-circuitry.
Keywords: retina, development, regeneration, patch clamp recording, immunohistochemistry, cell and tissue culture, in situ hybridization
SAKAI, Shingo (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant physiology.
Research: Research on physiological functions and the mode of action of plant hormones. One research project involves the regulation of gene expression by plant hormones in sexual modification, cut injury and immortal cell induction. Another research project involves the characterization of putative plant hormone receptors. A new project is the purification and gene cloning of telomerase of higher plants.
SHIRAIWA, Yoshihiro (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Biochemistry II, Metabolism and Physiological Chemistry I-II, Metabolism and Physiological Chemistry Laboratory.
Research: Regulatory mechanisms for the photosynthetic fixation of CO2 by microalgae, such as unicellular green algae and coccolithophorids, and for the changes in the photosynthetic properties during acclimation to high or low CO2 conditions are our main interests for research. Mechanism of intracellular calcification by marine coccolithophorids is also actively studied. Research themes in detail are as follows: mechanisms for the efficient utilization and transport of inorganic carbon, the regulatory mechanisms of carbon metabolism in photosynthesis and photorespiration, the CO2-concentrating mechanism by microalgae, and the induction mechanisms and the physiological functions of high- and low- CO2-inducible proteins.
Keywords: algal growth regulation, biomineralization, photosynthetic carbon metabolism; CO2-acclimation, marine microalgae
SUGITA, Hiroaki (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Animal Taxonomy, Animal Systematics.
Research: Research on evolution and phylogeny of Chelicerata (horseshoe crabs, spiders, scorpions, etc). Approaches used involve comparative studies, between horseshoe crabs, of amino acid sequences and antigenicity of hemocyanin subunits, nucleotide sequences of two mitochondrial genes, and developmental capacity of artificial hybrids. Current focus is on molecular evolution of hemocyanin subunits and species evolution of horseshoe crabs and spiders based on amino acid sequence analyses.
TAKAHASHI, Mihoko (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: System in Cell.
Research: Research on genetic control of locomotive and mating behavior in ciliates,mainly in Paramecium caudatum and Tetrahymena thermophila. Isolation of mutants, genetic analysis, characterization of gene products and genetic relationships among mutants, especially among voltage-sensitive Ca2+　channel mutants. Cloning of the genes controlling function of Ca2+ channels is now looked for. Identification of mating type specific　molecules relating to sexual recognition by mating-type specific monoclonal　antibodies. Elucidation of the determination factor(s) of germinal and　somatic nuclei.
TANAKA, Yoshimasa (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Genetic Information I, Genetic Information Laboratory
Research: Studies on development and differentiation of the social amoebae (mainly, Dictyostelium discoideum and Polysphondylium pallidum) using reverse genetics. One project uses cDNA to construct a relational database on the structure, function and expression profiles of each gene for understanding the genetic network and the basic mechanisms of multicellular organization, differentiation and pathogen infection. The information obtained from the cDNA project is available on the Internet (http://www.csm.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/ cDNAproject.html).
Keywords: Dictyostelium, genome analysis, differentiation, genetic network
YAMANE, Kunio (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Molecular Genetics.
Research: (1) Research on molecular mechanism of the targeting and membrane translocation of secretory proteins, and on the molecular relationships between protein localization and morphogenesis in Bacillus subtilis. (2) protein engineering and structural/functional analyses of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase. (3) Participating in the International project on the Bacillus subtilis genome DNA sequencing and functional analyses.
HOSHINO, Takayuki (Institute of Applied Biochemistry)
Teaching: Enzyme Chemistry, Applied Biochemistry Laboratory II
Research: 1. Molecular genetics and molecular breeding of thermophilic microorganisms using an extremely thermophilic eubacterium, Thermus thermophilus as a host strain. 2. Analysis of microbial flora in fish gut and examination of their probiotic effects. 3. Screening of novel microorganisms and their use for industrial and environmental applications.
Keywords: applied molecular microbiology, thermophiles, lactic acid bacteria, probiotics
KOBAYASHI, Michihiko (Institute of Applied Biochemistry)
Teaching: Biochemistry, Biological Macromolecule Functions
Research: The research of our lab is focused on fascinating problems in biotechnology, molecular evolution and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways. Our work largely involves screening of microorganisms producing novel enzymes and their application for the production of new biologically active substances and the elucidation of fundamental principles of catalytic and regulatory mechanism in the enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
Keywords: Applied microbiology, Biotechnology, Genetic engineering; Enzymology, Bioconversion, Molecular evolution
MATSUMOTO, Hiroshi (Institute of Applied Biochemistry)
Teaching: Biochemistry II, Chemical Regulation of Plants, Applied Biochemistry Laboratory III
Research: Research on modes of action of plant growth regulators including herbicides, allelochemicals and phytotoxins, and molecular mechanisms of resistance to the chemicals in crop and weed species. Current research also focuses on physiological and biochemical aspects of plant responses to oxidative environmental stresses due to active oxygen species and gene expression of anti-oxidative enzymes.
Key words: Plant growth regulators, herbicides, modes of action, environmental stresses on plants, active oxygen species, anti-oxidative enzymes
SUZUKI, Takahisa (Institute of Applied Biochemistry)
Teaching: Organic Chemistry, Chemical Ecology, Experiment of Applied Biochemistry III, Chemistry of Biologically Active Compounds
Research: Insect Chemical Ecology: Studies on chemical structures and functions of various semiochemicals that mediate chemical communications between insect-insect or insect-plant. These compounds include pheromones and allelochmicals (allomones, kairomones, synomones, etc.). 1) pheromones (sex, aggregation and alarm) of insects; 2) biosynthetic study of aggregation pheromones of stored product insects; 3) host-searching or host-recognizing kairomones of parasitic wasps attacking bruchid weevils; 4) attractants and oviposition stimulants for stored-product insects; 5) chemical ecology of water striders
Keywords: chemical ecology, semiochemicals, pheromone, allelochemicals, chemical communication

Associate professors

FURUKUBO-TOKUNAGA, Katsuo (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching:Developmental Biology, Practical Course on Molecular Cellular Embryology
Research:Molecular Genetics of Brain Development: understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms of brain development is a central issue in neuroscience. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system, I focus on the molecular mechanisms of brain patterning and neural network formation that set up the computational basis for higher order functions such as learning, memory and perception. Recent molecular studies have revealed that genetic programs of brain development are conserved between flies and mammals. Studies on the Drosophila brain will have general impact to the understanding of the human brain.
Keywords: brain, genes, development, learning and memory, olfaction, evolution
HAMA, Takeo (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Aquatic ecology
Research: Primary productivity, composition of photosynthetic products and their regulating factors in marine and lake environments. Transformation, transport and decomposition processes of organic materials through aquatic food web, especially concerned with biogeochemical properties of particulate and dissolved organic constituents.
Keywords: aquatic ecosystem, biogeochemical cycle, phytoplankton, particulate organic matter, dissolved organic matter
KANZAKI, Ryohei (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Physiology I, Animal Physiology Laboratory, Biophysics II
Research: Insects are an excellent model for understanding adaptive control in biological systems, which also inspires the control and communication in engineered system. We are interested in 1) Releasing mechanisms of the adaptive behavior by the processing of insect microbrain systems; 2) bio-microsystems based on behavioral and neural mechanism, and 3) bio-nanosystem of single neurons of insect.
Keywords: neuroethology, insect, brain, olfaction, micromachine, nanotechnology
KUWABARA, Tomohiko (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Microbiology, Introduction to Microbiology, Fundamental Biology Laboratory III
Research: Studying microorganisms from hydrothermal vents, hyperthermophilic and anaerobic prokaryotes, such as Thermococcales. We are also interested in physiological roles of hemolysin homolog of non-pathogenic microorganisms.
Keywords: hydrothermal vent, hyperthermophile, anaerobic microorganism, hemolysin, heavy metal-binding protein
MACER, Darryl (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Bioethics; Bioethics and Genes; Scientific English Discussion
Research: Environmental, ethical, social, economic and legal issues of biotechnology in medicine and agriculture. International comparisons of perceptions of bioethics, life and nature. Promotion of bioethics education at schools and university. Developing international bioethics networks, particularly in poorer countries. Students should be willing to try to use English to become international in focus. Papers are on-line on this site (http://www.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~macer/index.html).
Keywords: bioethics, anthropology, biotechnology, public policy, medical ethics
MACHIDA, Ryu-ichiro (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Morphology, Animal Systematics.
Research: Research on the phylogeny of Atelocerata, especially on the origin, evolution and ground plan of Insecta, based on comparative embryological and morphological approaches. Another field of study concerns the classification of thysanurans (Archaeognatha and Zygentoma).
Keywords: morphology, systematics, inseta, thysanurans
MARIKO, Shigeru (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant Ecology II and Plant Ecology Laboratory. These classes are intended to give undergraduate students an introduction to processes structuring plant communities and methodologies for ecological study. Topics covered include geographical distribution, adaptation of plants to their environments, interactions between individuals and species, succession, ecosystems and their development, and biogeochemical cycling.
Research: Research program addresses ecophysiology of plants and ecology of terrestrial ecosystems. Major goals of my research program are to enhance our mechanistic understanding of how plants are adapted to the environment, provide information necessary to link individual plant and population processes to higher scales of community organization, and evaluate contribution of ecosystems to global matter cycles.
Keywords: aquatic ecology, biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem ecology, physiological ecology, plant ecology
NAKAMURA, Kouji (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Genetic Information II; Biology on Molecular and Functional Basis，Laboratory; Applied Biochemistry，Laboratory II; Fundamental Biology，Laboratory I, II, III
Research: research on the function and structure of non-coding RNAs. non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes produce functional RNA molecules rather than encoding proteins. Several systematic screens have identified a surprisingly large number of new ncRNA genes in bot prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Non-coding RNAs seem to be particularly abundant in roles that require specific nucleic acid recognition without complex catalysis, such as in directing post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression or in guiding RNA modifications. Moreover, these non-coding RNAs are identified as small drug targets.
Keywords: RNomics, non-coding RNA, RNA world, riboregulation, post-transcriptional gene regulation.
NAKATANI, Kei (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Biophysics I, Biophysics II, Biophysics Laboratory
Research: My research is concerned with the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction and its modulation in sensory receptor neurons. The techniques we use include electrophysiology (e.g. patch-clamp recording), computer simulation, and immunocytochemistry.
Keywords: neuron, signal transduction, ion channels, sensory receptors, electrophysiology
SAITOU, Takashi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching:Animal EcologyⅡ
Reseach:Social organization of the Great Tit. Evolution of clutch-size in birds (life-time reproductive success of the Great Tit and Grey Starling).
Keywords: social organization, clutch-size, reproductive success, great tit, grey starling.
SAKAMOTO, Kazuichi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching:System in Cell I, System in Cell II, Molecular Cytology and Embryology Laboratory
Research: Research on molecular biology of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, differentiation and aging of mammalian cells. Currently we focused on the molecular function of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in related to the following subjects; (1) forkhead-type transcription factor (FKHR) family-mediated cell apoptosis and tumor suppression, (2) Septin (cytoskeletal protein) family-involved cell apoptosis and tumor suppression, (3) osteoclast differentiation and apoptosis in bone metabolism, (4) prostaglandin-induced cell apoptosis and receptor function.
Keywords: apoptosis, tumor suppression, oxidative stress, osteoclastogenesis, prostaglandin
SATOH, Shinobu (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant Physiology I, Plant Physiology Laboratory, Fundamental Biology Laboratory I
Research: Research on the molecular functions of apoplast including cell wall in plant development and function with molecular biological techniques. 1. Functions of root and organic substances including proteins in xylem sap in whole plant. 2. Functions of proteins and pectin of cell wall in plant cells.
Keywords: cell wall, pectin, root, xylem sap, gene
TOKUMASU, Seiji (Institute of biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant Taxonomy II, Introduction to Plant Taxonomy, Laboratory and Field Studies in Plant Taxonomy
Research:Research on ecology of fungi, and in particular on the fungal successions　associated with the decay of plant debris. One focus is on the floristic descriptions of the development of fungal communities on various substrata, and another is on the effects of climate on the geographic ranges of saprophytic microfungi involved in successions. Another research project involves the infra-specific structures of some zygomycetous fungi related to their geographic ranges.
Keywords: mycology, microfungi, decomposer succession, geographical distribution, micro-evolution, speciation
URUSHIHARA, Hideko (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Molecular Genetics I, Introduction to Genetics, Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Research: 1. Analysis of molecular mechanisms of sexual cell interactions using the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum as a model organism. 2. Genome-wide and computational analysis of genes in Dictyostelium discoideum with special attentions to genetic networks controlling multicellular development
Keywords: Dictyostelium discoideum, sexual reproduction, multicellular development, massive cDNA analysis, gene structure
YAMAGISHI, Hiroshi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Physiology I, Neurophysiology Laboratory
Research: Physiology and development of the cardiovasucular system in invertebrates. Main focus is to explore ontogenic and phylogenic diversity in heartbeat pacemaker mechanisms and in its regulatory systems in crustaceans using morphological, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological methods.
Keywords: invertebrates, cardiac pacemaker, regulation, ontogeny, phylogeny
KAINOH, Youichi (Institute of Agriculture and Forestry)
Teaching: Chemical Regulation of Animals
Research: The chemical ecology of insect pests and parasitoids, especially the relationships in parasitoid-host (kairomone), parasitoid-host plant (synomone), and parasitoid-parasitoid (pheromone). I also focus on the associative learning in a braconid parasitoid, Ascogaster reticulatus Watanabe, which is one of the important natural enemies in tea fields.
Keywords: chemical ecology, insect parasitoid, associative learning, biological control, tri-trophic interaction
YAMAOKA, Yuichi (Institute of Agriculture and Forestry)
Teaching: Functional Microbiology
Research: Research includes taxonomy, ecology and physiology of plant pathogenic fungi, particularly ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles infesting conifers and rust fungi parasitic on field crops and trees.
Keywords: Ophiostoma, Ceratocystis, blue-stain fungi, bark beetle, rust fungi

Assistant Professors

AOKI, Masakazu (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Botany, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Zoology, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Ecology, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Biology, Extension Course of Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Biology
Research: The ecology of shallow-water marine benthos. Approaches used involve field observations and experiments with a local species population. One focus is on the interactions between macroalgae and the animals utilizing them. Another research project involves life history and reproductive behavior, in particular the evolutionary process of sociality in peracarid crustaceans.
Keywords: marine ecology, benthos, plant-animal interactions, peracarid, crustaceans, life history, reproductive behavior
MIYAMURA, Shin-ichi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Introduction to Morphology.
Research: Research on plant morphology, and in particular on the cell biology of the reproduction of green plants, especially green algae, liverworts, ferns and gymnosperms. One focus is on the mechanism of gametogenesis of siphonous green algae and ferns. Approaches used involve fluorescence microscopy, electronmicroscopy and biochemical analysis of flagellar apparatus of gamete. Another research project involves the structure and function of pyrenoids.
Keywords: plant morphology, gametogenesis, pyrenoid structure and function
MIYAZAKI, Jun-ichi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Embryology Laboratory
Research: 1. Systematics for resolving phylogenetic relationships of organisms such as freshwater and Antarctic fishes and deep-sea animals and understanding evolutionary events mainly by means of molecular approaches. 2.Developmental biology on 1) determination, differentiation, and maturation of muscle, 2) structures and transcriptional control of muscle-specific genes, 3) functions of developmentally and tissue-specifically regulated muscle protein isoforms
Keywords: molecular evolusion, Cypriniformes, Notothenioidei, Bathymodiolus, chemosynthesis-based community, alternative splicing, trans-acting factor, cis-acting element
NAKAYAMA, Takeshi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Plant Systematics Laboratory I, Plant Systematic Laboratory II, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Botany; Laboratory and Field Studies in Plant Taxonomy; Fundamental Biology Laboratory II
Research: The diversity and phylogeny of algae, especially green algae. Ultrastructural and molecular characters are used to clarify the phylogenetic relationship of algae. Studying on the phylogenetic diversity of colorless protists.
Keywords: algae, phylogeny, protists, ultrastructure
OAMI, Kazunori (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Fundamental Biology Laboratory I, II, III, Neurobiology Laboratory
Research: Chemoreception, regulation of cell motility, membrane electrogenesis and related subjects. Simple unicellular organisms (mainly Paramecium) are used in the experiments. Conventional physiological techniques are employed.
Keywords: Paramecium, chemoreception, cell motility, ion channel, electrophysiology
SAITO, Yasunori (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Embryology I, Laboratory in Marine Animal Embryology, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Zoology, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Biology.
Research: Research on the self-nonself recognition mechanisms in colonial marine invertebrates, sponges, bryozoans and compound ascidians. The focus is on the relationship between the allorecognition in those animals and transplantation immunity controlled by the major histocompatibility gene complex (MHC) in vertebrates. Other research projects are on the mechanisms of asexual reproduction in botryllid ascidians and on the phylogeny of botryllid ascidians.
Keywords: colony, allorecognition, asexual reproduction, botryllid ascidian, phylogeny.
TOQUENAGA, Yukihiko (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Ecology Laboratory, Laboratory and Field Studies in Ecology I (Terrestrial)
Research: Evolutionary ecology, and in particular theoretical studies of　populations, communities, and ecosystems in virtual as well as real worlds. Materials are laboratory/natural bean weevil populations, egrets and herons living around Tsukuba City, bumble bees foraging at lowland areas, and computer bugs occupying several gigabytes in my hard disks.
Keywords: evolutionary ecology, population, artificial life, bean weevil, egret, bumble bee
YAHATA, Kensuke (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Animal Systematics Laboratory I, Laboratory and Field Studies in Marine Zoology. Laboratory and Field Studies in Animal Taxonomy.
Research: Research on animal phylogeny, and in particular on the origin andevolution of the arthropod subphyla. Approaches used involve comparative morphological analyses on the structure of the ovaries and on the modes of oogenesis.
Keywords: animal phylogeny, comparative morphology, Arthropoda, Myriapoda, ovary, oogenesis
YTOH, Nozomi (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Biophysics Laboratory, Fundamental Biology Laboratory I, II, III
Research: 1. Nomenclature and bioinformatics. The names given to natural objects are organised hierarchically into groups (species into genera; genera into families; ...). When a species is found in the wrong group it is reassigned, but making databases and other reference material aware of that change and enabling them to use both the current name or the old name is not, at present, possible. Nomenclatural databases could offer considerable value as meta-data in defining relationships for generalising search criteria. A flexible data structure is necessary to assist taxonomic works, and understanding of taxonomic consideration which is the foundation of our thought (not only in taxonomy but in a general sense). See http://www.nomencurator.org/ for project detail. The first Ebbe Nielsen Prize awardee. 2. Molecular biodiversity in environments. Molecular techniques in biology such as PCR have enabled us to handle microorganisms in environments from which they have never been cultured and hence never considered in taxonomical contexts. Because we do not know these organisms, we need a methodology to handle microbial biodiversity in environments without time consuming cloning and sequencing. Biological acitivity assesment of these microbes in environments using molecular methods is also of interest.
Keywords: GBIF, CBD, biodiversity, bioinformatics, environmental molecular biology
NAKAJIMA-KAMBE, Toshiaki (Institute of Applied Biochemistry)
Teaching: Applied Biochemistry Laboratory I
Research: 1) Modification and molecular design of polyurethane-degrading enzymes of Comamonas acidovorans strain TB-35. 2) Biodegradation of various volatile hydrocarbons by bacteria under low nitrogen and phosphorus conditions. 3) Ecological studies of bioplastic-degrading bacteria in soil.
Keywords: bioremediation, molecular breeding, polyurethane,

Instructors, Research Associates and Foreign Professor

MARUO, Fumiaki (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Fundamental Biology，Laboratory I, II, III
Research: Developmental biology, and in particular on regulatory mechanisms of stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The main experimental system is the germline stem cells in Drosophila gametogenesis. The neuronal stem cells in the Drosophila brain are also studied. Approaches used involve genetic, immunological and molecular biological techniques.
Keywords: Drosophila, stem cell, cell differentiation, germ cell, brain
MATSUZAKI, Osamu (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Laboratory in Cell Biology, Laboratory in Fundamental Biology
Research: Behavioral Studies on the House Musk Shrew (Suncus murinus). It is a coitus induced ovulater. This animal builds up the relationship between conspecifics by touching. The series of mating behaviors of this ancestral mammal was completed by the continuous touching of both sexes and by changes in the manner of contact.
Keywords: mating behavior, following, induced ovulater, house musk shrew, Suncus murinus
MO, Wenhong (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Fundamental Biology, Laboratory I, II
Research: Plant ecology; Current research is to quantitatively estimate the role of soil respiration inarbonbudgetofgrasslandecosystems, especially using stable isotope technology to partition root respiration and heterotrophic respiration.
Keywords: Carbon dynamics, soil respiration, carbon isotope ratio, root respiration, grassland ecosystem
MORIO, Takahiro (Institute of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Fundamental Biology，Laboratory III; Genetic Information，Laboratory
Research: Research on molecular basis of multicellular organization in cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum. The current approach is based on genomic analyses including gene cataloging by EST analysis and elucidation of genetic network through expression profiling using microarray technology.
Keywords: multicellular organization, genetic network, Dictyostelium, genomics
WEISBURD, Richard (College of Biological Sciences)
Teaching: Biology in English for Sophomores, Biology in English for Juniors, Biology in English elective, Biological Oceanography
Research: Conservation biology, environmental ethics and policy. Analysis of the motivations that lead to environmental degradation. Management of biosphere reserves in China, where biodiversity preservation will remain ineffective unless local communities benefit from the reserves and have a stake in benefits derived from them.
Keywords: sustainable development, conservation biology, aquatic ecology, environmental ethics

The International Student Exchange Committee
in the College of Biological Sciences
University of Tsukuba
Dec. 12, 2002

Contributed by Yoshihiro Shiraiwa, Received December 17, 2002, Revised version received December 25, 2002.
©2002 筑波大学生物学類