Animals share needs such as eating, breathing, moving and reproducing. Yet their solutions to meeting these needs are incredibly diverse, constrained as they are by each group's evolutionary history and by the specific demands of the environment in which they live. By looking at the range of solutions animals have devised to navigate life on Earth, we will explore fundamental themes in physiology including homeostasis and the relationship between structure and function.

We share planet Earth with an unimaginable number of "invisible" microbial life forms. In this course we will explore the structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology of microbes, most prominently bacteria. Other microbes, including archaea, eukaryotic microbes, and viruses will also be considered. Whenever possible, the relationship between microbes and humans will be highlighted. Other goals will be for students to become comfortable with scientific primary literature and to hone their communication skills through discussions and written assignments.