EVOLUTION, ECOLOGY, AND GENETICS LABORATORY

ANTHRO/BOTANY/ZOOLOGY 410

Evolutionary biology, emphasizing how modern scientists study evolution. Topics include: nature and mechanisms of microevolution, macroevolution, adaptation, speciation; systematics and taxonomy; quantitative genetics and measurement of natural selection; phylogenetic analyses of behavior, physiology, morphology, biochemistry; current controversies in evolution.

BIOCORE 181

Orientation to biology research on campus, work in a research team to investigate a novel research question, and do biology research on a choice of topics: from ecology and physiology to cell biology. Emphasis is on critical thinking required in designing and conducting experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and communicating findings orally and in writing.

BIOCORE 381

Basic principles of ecology and interrelations between individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems and their environment; transmission genetics and introduction to population genetics; origin of life, evolutionary mechanisms, ancestral relationships among species, and the diversity of life.

BIOCORE 384

Writing-intensive with opportunities to generate and test questions utilizing concepts and procedures of cell biology. Includes research projects in subcellular fractionation, protein structure and enzyme catalysis, molecular genetics of C.elegans worms, and signal transduction in yeast.

BIOLOGY/GENETICS 522

Exposure to diverse topics in contemporary evolutionary biology and development of critical thinking and communication skills. Most weeks guest lecturers present their own primary research on a specialized topic in evolutionary biology. Seminars include perspectives from genetics, ecology, geoscience, zoology, botany, microbiology, systematics, molecular biology, and integrative research. Some weeks feature special topics and discussions on pedagogical, legal, outreach, or other issues in evolutionary biology. Includes thinking critically about methodology, experimental design and interpretation, and how conclusions are reached in evolutionary biology by reading primary and secondary literature, attending seminars, discussing topics with speakers and other students, and preparing a written report. The 3-credit version of the course delves deeper into communication of evolutionary biology to researchers, undergraduates, K-12 students, and the general public.