Over 70% of the Earth?s surface is covered with the oceans, and nearly all of the life within the

Nearly 70% of Americans are obese or overweight. The distribution of the epidemic correlates strongly with poverty and access to high quality food. Students in this class will engage in directed literature research and discussion. Topics will start by examining risks factors for obesity including genetic, macro genetic/microbiome, societal (commercial, race, poverty). The goal of this course is to examine the obesity pandemic using a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of identifying any evidence for effective approaches to changing obesity rates.

Molecular biology of animal viruses and viral genetic systems; viral disease processes. Emphasis on polio virus, influenza, herpes viruses, the DNA tumor viruses. Prerequisite: background in cell biology, genetics, or biochemistry.

Fundamental concepts of molecular genetics; from the central dogma to recent progress in DNA replication, recombination, and transposition, and mechanisms of gene regulation. Emphasis on design of experiments and interpretation of experimental data in microbial systems. Prerequisite: general background in biochemistry and molecular genetics.

The course covers in depth the most recent cellular and molecular findings related to mammalian fertilization as well as the technical and ethical issues associated with the application of newly developed assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and cloning of animals. The application of these technologies is discussed whether it applies to animals of agricultural importance, wildlife, or humans. In addition, students are required to select a subject from one of the discussed topics in the class.

Understanding how a fetus develops from a single fertilized cell is a question that has perplexed biologists for over 100 years. While the field originally used only a few organisms and experimental techniques to tease out these questions, the last 15 years has seen fundamental shifts in the science of developmental biology. Advances in genetics, molecular biology, imaging and powerful new model organisms have brought the field closer to its goal.

The exploration of the current state of the English language and how it got that way; case studies in language change from Anglo-Saxon to Middle English to Modern English and its regional, national, and cultural variants.