In this introductory course we explore the fascinating and complex world of cells, the basic structural and
functional unit of life. Throughout this course we work together to answer these fascinating
biological questions: What are the elements of life? What are cells? What are they made of? How do cells acquire energy? How do the various systems of cells work together to help them survive and reproduce? What is the scientific method? How do scientists apply the scientific method to advance knowledge?
Cells are organized into tissues, organs, and organ systems, which carry out functions of energy storage and transformation, transport, signaling, and the regulation of internal conditions. These functions arise from activities and interactions that span different levels of the organizational hierarchy. This sophomore level course will focus on how physiological processes arise and are controlled and why these mechanisms have evolved. This course will also demonstrate how physiology can help bridge understandings between molecular/cellular biology and ecology/evolutionary biology.
In this upper division course we explore how nutrients have fueled the evolution of animal life with a focus on understanding how vertebrate animals meet their nutritional demands from a physiological perspective. The key questions we address are: What are macronutrients and micronutrients? How are nutrients processed, absorbed, and used as cellular fuel? How are organisms of different feeding guilds adapted to capitalize on different nutrients? What role do symbiotic gut microbes play in nutrition? How does nutrition influence human society?