BIO 240 – Function and Development of Organisms

Description
This course provides an understanding of the major unifying principles as they apply to the study of the development and physiological mechanisms utilized by organisms from both animals and plants. In the lectures, a comparative approach will be taken in the examination of reproduction, development, and physiology primarily at the organismal level. In the laboratory, experimental investigations of both animal and plant systems will reinforce the concepts covered in the lectures. Through the lab, students are expected to become proficient in the interpretation and presentation of experimental results through written and oral reports. Taken in addition to the other core courses in the biology curriculum, Biology 240W will help students to integrate concepts ranging from molecular and cellular events through principles governing entire populations and ecosystems. Further, Biology 240W provides the foundation on which students further their study of animal physiology and development – two of the largest options in the biology majors’ curriculum.

Course Goals
• Identify and understand the underlying principles shared by physiological systems, at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels and relate these principles to the physical and thermodynamic laws that influence organismal design.
• Recognize the diversity of physiological systems and understand the interactions of these systems with anatomical structure, especially with regard to similarities and differences between plants and animals and how the two lineages adapted in their transitions to land.
• Use critical thinking and analytical skills when addressing physiological issues to understand organisms’ adaptations to their environments.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.

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