This course provides an introduction to Biocultural Anthropology, the integration of biology and culture in the study of humankind. There are many facets of the human experience that are at the same time biological, social, and imbued with cultural meaning. Examples include race and racism, sex and gender, reproduction and birth, health and medicine, global nutrition, obesity, stress and mental health, violence, and trauma, and others.

This course provides an introduction to Biocultural Anthropology, the integration of biology and culture in the study of humankind. There are many facets of the human experience that are at the same time biological, social, and imbued with cultural meaning. Examples include race and racism, sex and gender, reproduction and birth, health and medicine, global nutrition, obesity, stress and mental health, violence, and trauma, and others.

The focus is on presentation of manuscripts highlighting innovative discoveries and technical approaches as well as controversial results that address topics related to development and disease. The topics detail contemporary use of genetically engineered organisms to define cell signaling required to establish cell lineages in developing tissues, the process of gametogenesis and epigenetic imprinting and how these mechanisms are disrupted in diseases such as cancer.

Presentation and critique by students of recent scientific papers in the field of immunology and infectious diseases.

Presentation of research projects and literature review by faculty and graduate students within the department as well as by guest speakers from around the world.

Specific problem in some aspect of animal or biological sciences/area of research interest. Students prepare a contract with their faculty sponsor. Can be used for master's students to review literature on the topic chosen for their laboratory research but this requires an oral presentation.

Specific problem in some aspect of animal or biological sciences/area of research interest. Students prepare a contract with their faculty sponsor. Can be used for master's students to review literature on the topic chosen for their laboratory research but this requires an oral presentation.

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.

Generally this level is used by upper level undergraduates but can be used by beginning graduate students. All faculty.

A systematic introduction to components of the mammalian immune system and how it functions under normal and abnormal conditions. This course will cover both the cellular and molecular principles of innate and adaptive immune responses, including those that protect the host from infections, achieve central and peripheral tolerance, and provide immune surveillance against tumor cells. It also includes discussion of immune system dysfunction, including allergic responses, autoimmunity and immunodeficiency.