BIOL 300 Biology of Aging reviews the aging process from a broad
perspective. Aging is now being
studies intensely at the cellular level and new findings are being reported on
almost a daily basis. While the focus in on aging humans, aging is studied from a
broad perspective. Aging is
considered from an ecological and evolutionary perspective, aging mechanisms at
the cellular level, aging in animals as diverse as fruitflies and birds is
studied. In humans, the
consequences of aging on all of the major organ systems is reviewed. A minimal background in biology is assumed.
ZOOL
301 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy is one of the oldest
subdisciplines of Zoology. The core
topic is the study of vertebrate evolution through the detailed study of
vertebrate morphology. The course
as I teach it has three major themes. (1) Vertebrate Anatomy- detailed
dissections of the shark, salamander, and cat are carried out in the laboratory
as well as the dissection of selected organs. Rubber gloves are provided. (2)
Evolution of the vertebrates, beginning with a study of chordate ancestry. This is a dynamic area of research with many of the new molecular
techniques from cell development and molecular genetics now being used to
address problems that were formerly studied using only morphological methods. (3) Functional analysis, why are structures shaped as they are,
principles of design are used to determine just what is being selected for in
natural selection.
ZOOL
401 Human Physiology is a rigorous examination of how the human
body works, minimally a good background in cell biology is needed, course work
in biochemistry and physics is helpful. The
focus is on normal function at the cellular, tissue, organ, and organ system
level. The content of the course is
modeled after physiology courses taught in the first year of training in
professional schools. When ever
appropriate, the quantitative understanding of physiological processes is emphasized. Laboratory activities include classical experiments in
physiology, computer simulations, and longer term research investigations. Charts and statistical procedures using Excel are utilized to summarize
and assess data collected in the laboratory.
ZOOL
409 General and Comparative Physiology has a more descriptive
approach than does ZOOL 401. Instead of focusing
on the in depth understanding of physiological processes in a single species,
the focus is much broader. All
animals have to move, sense, eat, breath, circulate, and eliminate and there are
certain commonalities to these processes, hence the term general in the course
title. The term comparative
is used in two ways; phylogenetically and ecologically. Examples from a diverse assemblage of animals, invertebrate and
vertebrate, are used to illustrate common and unique solutions to the problem of
staying alive. Different
habitats pose different challenges as well as new opportunities.
Ecological Physiology This course is new course currently under
development, and will be taught for the first time in the fall of 2003. This course will, as the title suggests, focus on the interaction between
the environment and physiology. Adaptation
at all levels of animal organization will be explored.
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