This colloquium will examine the representations of female genital cutting through literature and film of the African and the Diaspora. Using a variety of documents?literary, films, cartoons, posters, essays, manuals, and legal texts?we will focus especially on the politics and controversies surrounding this issue by posing and answering the following questions: what are the parameters of the discourse of female genital cutting? What is the appropriate way to name and combat the practice? Who is authorized to speak on behalf of African women?

Applications of chemical tools and synthetic molecules to the study of biological systems. Emphasis on emerging strategies to study living systems at the molecular level, primary scientific literature, and critical review of manuscripts. Topics include: bioorthogonal chemistry, synthetic small molecule probes to interrogate biological systems, protein engineering, proteomics, advances in DNA sequencing, genomics, directed evolution, natural product biosynthesis. Prerequisite: 223.

Topics course. This course will examine the impact of infectious diseases on our society. New pathogens have recently been identified, while existing pathogens have warranted increased investigation for multiple reasons, including as causative agents of chronic disease and cancer and as agents of bioterroism. Specific emphasis on the molecular basis of virulence in a variety of organisms will be addressed along with the diseases they cause and the public health measures taken to address these pathogens. Prerequisites: BIO 202, or BIO 204. Recommended: BIO 306

Revenge can be irresistible, as anyone who has been wronged can attest. Ancient Greek and Roman texts often portray revenge as an act of justice. But rather than merely balancing the scales, payback outdoes the original injury, prompting a chain of (often quite creative) retributive actions. What drives an individual to exact vengeance, and can satisfying alternatives to revenge exist? This semester we examine ancient perspectives on revenge in Greek and Roman epic, history, philosophy, and (especially) tragedy.

A study of major patterns of distribution of life and of the environmental and geological factors underlying these patterns. The role of phenomena such as sea level fluctuations, plate tectonics, oceanic currents, biological invasions, and climate change in determining past, present, and future global patterns of biodiversity will be considered. Fundamental differences between terrestrial and marine biogeography will be highlighted. Prerequisite: a course in ecology, evolution, or organismal biology, or permission of the instructor.

Topic: Molecular Pathogenesis of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

A largely anatomical exploration of the evolutionary origins, adaptations, and trends in the biology of vertebrates. Enrollment limited to 20 students. BIO 272 is normally taken with or prior to BIO 273.

A review of the evolutionary origins, adaptations, and trends in the biology of vertebrates. Laboratory (BIO 273) is recommended but not required.

The laboratory explores concepts discussed in lecture by using current approaches in plant physiology. Students gain hands-on experience with instrumentation and techniques used to measure micro-climate, plant-water relations, gas exchange (photosynthetic rate), nutrient allocation, and stable isotope variation. Students will be able to critically evaluate the current literature and concepts in plant physiology and carry out independent projects.

A course dealing with current issues in biology that are important in understanding today's modern world. Many of these issues present important choices that must be made by individuals and by governments. Topics will include cloning of plants and animals, human cloning, stem cell research, genetically modified foods, bioterrorism, emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, SARS and West Nile, gene therapy, DNA diagnostics and forensics, genome projects, human origins, human diversity and others. The course will include guest lectures, outside readings and in-class discussions.