Examines in detail the organization of the eukaryotic genomes and the mechanisms and control of gene expression. Topics include content and arrangement of DNA sequences in the genome, structure of specific genes, mechanisms of RNA synthesis and processing, and the structure, composition, and function of chromatin and chromosomes. Experimental approaches to the understanding of these processes are emphasized. Examines animal behavior from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. Topics include social organization, mating systems, foraging, animal learning, and aggression.
Students also learn quantitative techniques in behavioral biology.
A survey of adaptations to the physical environment, dynamics of natural populations, interactions between species, and human impacts on the environment. Exercises include recombinant DNA and cloning techniques, enzyme assays, gel electrophoresis techniques, nucleic acid hybridization, PCR, and more. This course explores contemporary topics in ecology and evolutionary biology. This graduate survey course is designed to cover the areas that are usually included in courses on evolutionary biology, population genetics, and molecular evolution. The special emphasis is on the impact of modern genetics on our understanding of evolutionary processes.