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This writing-intensive course will interrogate ideas around biological essentialism, which is the idea that certain characteristics, such as gender, race, or sexual orientation, are determined by biology or genetics, and not by social, cultural, or environmental factors. Biological essentialism can lead to oversimplifying human identity and diversity, and reinforcing stereotypes and prejudices. Students will analyze case studies, examine research, and communicate their findings.

In this class we will discuss concepts and applications of modern DNA technology including an introduction to the basic concepts pertaining to the emerging field of genomics. We will begin by describing key molecular methods (cloning, sequencing, blotting, PCR) and how they are used in gene analysis. We will then move on to consider how entire genomes are analyzed, and will familiarize ourselves with some of the basic bioinformatics' tools that are commonly used by working biologists. Finally we will consider the methods used to manipulate genomes as a means to determining gene function.

In this class we will discuss concepts and applications of modern DNA technology including an introduction to the basic concepts pertaining to the emerging field of genomics. We will begin by describing key molecular methods (cloning, sequencing, blotting, PCR) and how they are used in gene analysis. We will then move on to consider how entire genomes are analyzed, and will familiarize ourselves with some of the basic bioinformatics' tools that are commonly used by working biologists. Finally we will consider the methods used to manipulate genomes as a means to determining gene function.

Do you ever wonder how your brain is organized? How neurons communicate with one another, and function together, or what goes wrong in different neurological diseases. This course is an introductory survey into neurobiology, from molecular and cellular mechanisms to nervous system organization and animal behavior. We will delve into foundational knowledge about nervous system anatomy, physiology, connectivity, and function that can be built upon in future upper level courses.

Do you ever wonder how your brain is organized? How neurons communicate with one another, and function together, or what goes wrong in different neurological diseases. This course is an introductory survey into neurobiology, from molecular and cellular mechanisms to nervous system organization and animal behavior. We will delve into foundational knowledge about nervous system anatomy, physiology, connectivity, and function that can be built upon in future upper level courses.

We have two goals in this course. The first, and most important, is to introduce Undergraduate Biology students to some of the many fascinating aspects of Plant Biology, especially as these differ from animal biology. For instance, did you know that plants are moving (on a large scale) all the time? It's the truth, but in a very different time scale than we animals use. How do plants do that without the benefit of muscles and skeleton? Have you ever thought about how, in the absence of a pumping heart, plants' circulatory systems work?

Satisfies Junior Year Writing requirement for Biology majors. Students write and revise short papers on subjects likely to be encountered by biologists. Class discussion of papers. Prerequisites: 3 biological science courses, for declared Biology majors only.