The Department of Life Sciences, launched in 2018 by integrating the former two departments relating to biology and life technology, has set a mission to foster human resources that are required for our creative society. Our new education and research programs aim to provide undergraduate students with fundamental knowledge in biology, ecology and life sciences, as well as skills applicable in the fields of drug design, food, medical and agricultural sciences. In the second year grade, the department will provide four courses to advance students’ knowledge and skills in more specialized ways. “Cell Biology” and “Aquatic Biology and Biodiversity” courses offer biology and ecology-oriented curricula. Research areas are protozoan ecology and cell biology, symbiosis between protozoa and alga, plant physiology, biotechnology and molecular biology, systematic and evolutionary botany, behavioral and theoretical ecology, molecular physiology of sensory reception, developmental biology, evolutionary genetics, histology, hair biology and marine biology. “Biochemistry and Life Sciences” and “Food and Life Sciences” courses offer chemistry and biotechnology-oriented curricula. Research areas are organic synthesis, molecular structure, nuclear magnetic resonance, gene manipulation, genetic information, tissue culture, molecular biology, cellular information, environmental biochemistry, informational molecules, microbial technology, and food science and nutrition.
Cell Biology Course
| Academic Advisor |
Main Research Projects |
| Prof. K.Akama |
Studies on regulatory mechanism of tRNA gene expression and physiological function of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in plants |
| Prof. A.Nishikawa |
Mechanism of myogenesis and interdigital cell death in amphibian |
| Prof. T.Matsuzaki |
Control mechanisms of hair formation and hair cycle |
| Assoc.Prof. H.Ishida |
Cell motility mechanisms of protists |
| Assoc.Prof. Y.Kodama |
Elucidation of the mechanism that establishes endosymbiosis between the ciliate Paramecium bursaria and Chlorella spp. |
| Assis.Prof. T.Akihiro |
Isolation and characterization of the novel membrane transport protein from the plant |
| Assis.Prof.Y.Yamaguchi |
Comparative physiology and endocrinology of body fluid regulation in vertebrates |
Aquatic Biology and Biodiversity Course
| Academic Advisor |
Main Research Projects |
| Prof. F.Aranishi |
Molecular evolutionary, ecological and conservative genetics of aquatic organisms |
| Prof. N.Hirohashi |
Reproductive physiology of marine invertebrates |
| Prof. S.-J.Lin |
Plant reproduction and evolutional diversity |
| Assoc.Prof. T.Takahara |
Behavioral ecology and bio-monitoring using environmental DNA in aquatic animals |
| Assoc.Prof. A.Mougi |
Theoretical study on maintenance mechanism of biodiversity |
| Assis.Prof.K.Sugai |
Ecological genetics of woody plants on islands |
Biochemistry and Life Sciences Course
Food and Life Sciences Course
| Academic Advisor |
Main Research Projects |
| Prof. M. Kawamukai |
Molecular genetics and application of yeast |
| Prof. K. Murota |
Elucidation of the bioavailability of lipophilic functional food factors |
| Prof. K.Yokota |
Biochemistry and molecular cell biology on health benefit of food-derived factors and biopharmaceuticals |
| Assoc.Prof. T.Kaino |
Elucidation of biosynthesis, regulatory mechanism and function of coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) |
| Assoc.Prof. H.Shimizu |
Study on the relationship between food-derived intestinal bacterial metabolites or cyanobacteria-derived toxins, and pathogenesis of diseases |
| Assoc.Prof. M.Jisaka |
Structure and function of enzymes involved in lipid peroxidation and following reactions |
| Assoc.Prof. K.Nishimura |
Membrane trafficking machinery of proteins in plant cells |
| Assoc.Prof. Y.Matsuo |
Cell signaling in fission yeast |
