| source Northwestern (X) |
level |
department BIOL_SCI Biological Sciences (X) |
Citizens of the United States have an obsession with food, are growing fatter each year, but suffer any number of eating disorder. What is up with us? Is what you eat healthy? Are you eating too much or too little? What about those trans fats? Should you buy organic food? Have you ever wondered where the food you eat comes from and what happens to it on the way to your table? We will explore the ecology, physiology, sociology, and business of food using the book ÂThe OmnivoreÂs Dilemma (Pollan, 2006) as our gateway into this fascinating subject.
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The history and diversity of life, with a particular focus on animals.
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"Biodiversity" is a buzzword familiar to most people, but relatively few possess "Biodiversity" is a buzzword familiar to most people, but relatively few possess a clear idea of what it means and why it is important. This course investigates the importance of biological diversity from different standpoints - scientific, practical, and aesthetic. We examine core concepts in ecology and evolution, such as the definition of "species" and recent research on how more diverse ecosystems function better than less diverse ones. We address applied questions such as, "what benefits do humans gain by preserving biological diversity?", and we deal with the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of biodiversity. A field trip to a nearby prairie restoration site enhances our understanding of what biological diversity means in people's everyday lives and how people are working hard to preserve it.
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Topics for discussion and exploration will include (but not necessarily be limited to): The history, ecology and sociopolitical impact of cacao cultivation and chocolate production; the biology and psychology of gustation and olfaction (taste and smell); the biochemistry of the components of chocolate, and their physiological and neurobiological effects; chocolate in fiction/literature.
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Birds are a distinctive, yet familiar, part of the natural world. They dazzle us with their showy plumage, delight us with their songs, and fascinate us with the ease with which they swoop through the air. In this course students will learn how scientists approach questions about the evolution of birds. What are the closest relatives of birds? Through what intermediate stages did flight evolve? What questions are clarified by the newest fossil discoveries? As students learn about avian paleontology, biology, and anatomy, plus some history of science, they will also learn how to effectively analyze and communicate scientific ideas, particularly in writing.
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An intermediate course in biochemistry with emphasis on the structure and function of macromolecules. Topics covered will include protein and nucleic acid structure, enzymology, selected aspects of intermediary metabolism, membrane structure, bioenergetices and control mechanisms. The course emphasizes understanding of principles and concepts that have broad application throughout the area of life sciences.
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This course is designed to provide a strong background for students who pursue nearly any specialty within neuroscience. The focus of the course is on molecular, cellular and systems neuroscience.
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Our brains contain a quadrillion synapses, remarkable molecular machines that mediate the cell-cell signaling from which thought and behavior ultimately emerge. This advanced course focuses on the physiological mechanisms of synaptic signal transduction and the pathologies that give rise to neurological disease. Introductory historical perspective will be followed by consideration of contemporary issues.
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This course is for ISP students only. Several quantitative methods of study in biochemistry and molecular biology will be studied in detail, e.g., immunochemistry, macromolecular structures, prediction of tertiary structures of proteins, secondary structure of DNA, etc. A discussion of the properties of the influenza and AIDS viruses will be included, including models of passive and active immunity.
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Current themes and experimental approaches in cell biology will be discussed through readings of text and original research articles.
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This is an animal physiology course focusing on vertebrates, but the higher levels of invertebrates (mollusks and arthropods) will also be considered at some times. The emphasis will be on the physiological mechanisms used by animals to meet the common challenges of circulation, gas exchange, nutrient supply and metabolism, temperature regulation, water balance, sensation, and locomotion in the context of their environments.
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In this course we will learn how basic evolutionary and genetic principles inform the conservation and management of wildlife, game, and plant populations. We will read and discuss current research in the primary literature. We will examine case studies of current practices, including: managing genetics of native and ex situ and zoo populations, reintroducing and restoring plants and animals to the wild, selection in harvested populations, evaluating genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation, measuring genetic diversity, responses to climate change. To synthesize new concepts and theory we will engage in group problem-solving and computer simulation exercises. Two field trips are planned: Lincoln Park Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden. Each student will make a presentation to the class.
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This course is a project-based approach to molecular biology. The students will be assigned one of three different projects taken from a research laboratory on the Evanston campus. The students will work in small groups to design an experimental strategy for their project. This hands-on course will teach basic laboratory skills and the necessary scientific background for each project. The goal is to have a rich intellectual exchange of ideas combined with practical training in modern molecular biology.
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A detailed study of DNA based technologies and transcription; RNA processing and degradation, protein synthesis and degradation. Emphasis is placed on experimental methodologies, primary literature, and on the application of molecular biology to the study and diagnosis of human disease.
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This course examines human anatomy from primarily regional and systemic perspectives. We begin by examining how anatomy is studied, looking at the types of tissues in the human body, and developing a background in early embryology. We move on to examine the regions and systems of the human body, including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, urogenital system, musculoskeletal system, and the nervous system. The systems are studied by examining the regions of the body that they dominate (e.g., the respiratory system is primarily discussed in regard to the thorax while the digestive system is studied in the abdominal region.) The regions examined include the thorax, abdomen, pelvis, appendages, and the head and neck.
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This course examines the structural, functional, and evolutionary anatomy of humans. Primary focus is on the musculoskeletal system of the postcranium. The regional anatomy of the muscles, bones, and joints in the human body serves as a basis for more general biomechanical principles of anatomical systems. Discussions of the development, evolution and clinical significance of human structure complement the functional emphasis on these anatomical regions.
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This human physiology course begins with an overview of the cell structure and function and the guiding principles that govern all physiological processes to maintain homeostasis/allostasis. The course emphasizes an integrated approach to the study of four major systems of the human body: nervous, endocrine, muscular, and cardiovascular. Lectures include basic anatomical descriptions, followed by a discussion of the structure and function of the organs in each system. Brief discussions on how disease states deviate from the normal anatomy and physiology as well as related research discoveries and novel therapies are included for each body system.
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"Human Cloned!!", "Franken-foods!!", ÂGlobal WarmingÂ: Science makes the headlines almost every day, but how should the average consumer react to these stories? In "Science or Fiction? Science, the Media and Public Perception" we will read a selection of popular press articles as well as journal articles to fuel discussion of what factors influence science reporting and how to interpret and analyze science claims in the media. Students will leave this seminar with a better understanding of the process of scientific scholarship, the influence of media, and how to interpret the impact of scientific findings in their everyday lives.
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What is the cellular basis of cancer, the disease that is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.? Why is there such controversy surrounding stem cell research? How is gene therapy being developed and what is its potential in disease treatment? This course will address these and other current biology topics in a discussion-based seminar. Biological, political, and societal perspectives on these issues will be explored through a variety of contemporary media using cancer biology as a unifying theme. Evaluation will be based on class participation and written assignments including papers and journaling exercises.
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Genetics and evolution are the organizing principles of biology, and possess great explanatory power about why things are they way they are in living systems. This course surveys basic mechanisms in genetics and evolution to provide students with the conceptual tools to critically evaluate hotly-debated modern issues, such as genetically-engineered foods, the appropriate use of information on hereditary diseases, the genetic versus environmental basis of behavior, and the importance of biodiversity to human well-being and survival.
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This course provides an introduction to the principles of cell and molecular biology. The course will emphasize reasoning skills, experimental approaches, and the theories that form the basis of our understanding of biology.
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Our brains contain a quadrillion synapses, remarkable molecular machines that mediate the cell-cell signaling from which thought and behavior ultimately emerge. This advanced course focuses on the physiological mechanisms of synaptic signal transduction and the pathologies that give rise to neurological disease. Introductory historical perspective will be followed by consideration of contemporary issues.
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This is a course designed for upper level undergraduate students. It introduces basic concepts of molecular neuroscience with an emphasis on neural development and genetics. Topics include neurogenesis, migration, differentiation, survival, axon guidance, target recognition and synapse formation. The course will be divided into two parts. The first part will introduce the basic concepts of developmental neurobiology. The second part will be reading, discussion and student presentation from the ORIGINAL literature.
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This course will cover cellular and molecular processes in the generation of precise and selective connections in the developing brain, including the role of activity-dependent plasticity. Diseases resulting from failures of these processes will be discussed.
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Fundamentals of the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics with special emphasis on applications of these laws to biochemical systems. Topics will be chosen from ideal and real gases, thermodynamics of solutions, membrane potentials, the hydrophobic effect, diffusion and molecular transport.
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