BIOL 321 - Genetics and Development

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SP. How do we explain the vast diversity in form and function among members of a species? How do we explain the vast diversity in form and function among all of earth’s species? Neither question can be addressed effectively without an understanding of genetics and development. This course examines the nature of biological inheritance and the genetic bases of metazoan development, with a particular emphasis on evolutionary influences. Learning activities will focus on understanding genes and genomes from an evolutionary perspective, and will include lectures, class discussions of scientific papers, laboratory investigations of inheritance and development, and an independent research project. Lectures and laboratories Prerequisites: BIOL 161 or BIOL 141, CHEM 115 and CHEM 253 (or CHEM 261 and CHEM 262).