Enquiry for Science Major/Minor/Programme Requirements
BIOL2102 Biostatistics (6 credits) Academic Year 2025
Offering Department Biological Sciences Quota 192
Course Co-ordinator Dr E Pickett, Biological Sciences < epickett@hku.hk >
Teachers Involved (Dr E Pickett,Faculty of Science)
(Prof J D Gaitan-Espitia,School of Biological Sciences)
Course Objectives This course aims to is to introduce students to the core ideas and concepts of statistical analysis with special attention to the
modeling approaches used in biological sciences. The course will give students the skills and knowledge to understand how to
apply these concepts using the R statistical programming language for data analysis. Although the course covers some basic
concepts (experimental design, distributions, hypothesis testing), the main emphasis of the course is on model building and
selection, linear models (regression and analysis of variance), basic random effects and mixed effects models.
Course Contents & Topics Introduction to Statistics and Probability; Descriptive Statistics and Estimation; Statistical Inference; Statistical Explanation and Diagnosis; Likelihood and Model Selection, Categorical predictors (ANCOVA and ANOVA); Factorial design, Multiple Comparisons and Block Design; Correlation and Regression Analyses; Multiple Regression Analysis. Students will learn how to use R to conduct the statistical analyses, and correctly interpret the results.
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

CLO 1 formulate biological questions into statistical questions
CLO 2 design experiments effectively
CLO 3 appreciate and interpret statistics in scientific paper
CLO 4 use R to carry out common statistical computations
CLO 5 understand the assumptions of commonly used statistical methods
CLO 6 critically evaluate the scientific literature
CLO 7 apply different statistical modeling methods
Pre-requisites
(and Co-requisites and
Impermissible combinations)		 Pass in BIOC1600 or BIOL1110 or BIOL2306 or ENVS1301 or ENVS2002 or SCNC1111
Not for students who have passed in BIOL2512, BBMS2013 or BIOF2013.
Course Status with Related Major/Minor /Professional Core 2025 Major in Biological Sciences ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2025 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2024 Major in Biological Sciences ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2024 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2023 Major in Biological Sciences ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2023 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2022 Major in Biological Sciences ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2022 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Biological Sciences ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Environmental Science ( Disciplinary Elective )
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) ( Core/Compulsory )
2021 Minor in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology ( Disciplinary Elective )
Course to PLO Mapping 2025 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2 >
2025 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3 >
2025 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 >
2025 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,2,3 >
2025 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3 >
2024 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2 >
2024 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3 >
2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 >
2024 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,2,3 >
2024 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3 >
2023 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2 >
2023 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3 >
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 >
2023 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,2,3 >
2023 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3 >
2022 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2 >
2022 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3 >
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 >
2022 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,2,3 >
2022 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3 >
2021 Major in Biological Sciences < PLO 1,2 >
2021 Major in Biological Sciences (Intensive) < PLO 1,3 >
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity < PLO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 >
2021 Major in Ecology & Biodiversity (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,4,5,6 >
2021 Major in Environmental Science < PLO 3 >
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology < PLO 1,2,3 >
2021 Major in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (Intensive) < PLO 1,2,3 >
Offer in 2025 - 2026 Y        1st sem    Examination No Exam     
Offer in 2026 - 2027 Y
Course Grade A+ to F
Grade Descriptors
A Demonstrate thorough grasp of the subject and skills required for attaining all the course learning outcomes. Show strong analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking, with evidence of original thought. Apply highly effective computational skills and techniques for basic statistical analyses. Be able to critically use data and statistical results to draw appropriate and insightful conclusions. Apply highly effective organizational and presentational skills.
B Demonstrate substantial grasp of the subject and skills required for attaining at least most of the course learning outcomes. Present evidence of analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking. Apply effective computational skills and techniques for basic statistical analyses. Be able to correctly use data and statistical results to draw appropriate conclusions. Apply effective organizational and presentational skills.
C Demonstrate general but incomplete grasp of the subject and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Present evidence of some analytical and critical abilities and logical thinking. Apply moderately effective computational skills and techniques for basic statistical analyses. Demonstrate mostly correct but some erroneous use of data and statistical results to draw appropriate conclusions. Apply moderately effective organizational and presentational skills.
D Demonstrate partial and limited grasp of the subject and skills required for attaining some of the course learning outcomes. Present evidence of some coherent and logical thinking, but with limited analytical and critical abilities. Apply limited or barely effective computational skills and techniques for basic statistical analyses. Demonstrate limited ability to use data and statistical results to draw appropriate conclusions. Apply limited or barely effective organizational and presentational skills.
Fail Demonstrate evidence of little or no grasp of the subject and skills required for attaining any of the course learning outcomes. Present evidence of little or lack of analytical and critical abilities, logical and coherent thinking. Apply minimally effective or ineffective computational skills and techniques for basic statistical analyses. Demonstrate misuse of data and statistical results and/or unable to draw appropriate conclusions. Apply minimally effective or ineffective organizational and presentational skills.
Communication-intensive Course N
Course Type Lecture-based course
Course Teaching
& Learning Activities
Activities Details No. of Hours
Lectures 36.0
Tutorials 24.0
Reading / Self study 100.0
Assessment Methods
and Weighting
Methods Details Weighting in final
course grade (%)		 Assessment Methods
to CLO Mapping
Assignments 2 x 20 % each 40.0 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Test 12 x 5% each 60.0 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Required/recommended reading
and online materials		 Zar, J. H. (2010). Biostatistical Analysis, 5th edition. Pearson.
Dytham, C. (1999). Choosing and Using Statistics: A Biologist's Guide. Oxford: Blackwell Science.
Good, P.I. (2013). Introduction to Statistics through Resampling Methods and R. Wiley (e-book via ebrary).
Verzani, J. (2014). Using R for Introductory Statistics. 2nd edition. CRC Press. [e-book via ebrary].
Faraway, J (2015). Linear Models with R. 2nd edition CRC Press. [e-book via ebrary].
Course Website http://moodle.hku.hk/
Additional Course Information


Back  /  Home