Teaching

Scatter ideas like seeds and hope they take root

IB 270: Evolution of molecules and cells 

Semester: Fall 

Offered: every year

Life on earth is characterized by a mind-boggling organismal diversity. Surprisingly, the same core molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) are used to construct all this diversity. This first course in the IB Honors Program, IB270: The Evolution of Molecules and Cells, explores how these fundamental building blocks shape and delves into the technological advances that have helped us uncover, study, and manipulate these processes. Through lectures, readings, and discussions, students will be exposed to diverse research areas including molecular biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and systems biology. Discovery Projects in lab will put concepts and experimental approaches into practice to ask how genotypes influence phenotypes. Throughout the semester, we also touch on the historical and societal context of these concepts and research.

Course website: by enrollment