Evolving Life: Cells

1 Credit · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Full course title: Evolving Life: Cells and Cell Processes. This short course seeks to bridge topics that too often remain separate in students' understanding of biology: the evolution of cells and their biochemical and molecular processes. Specific topics may vary from year to year, but possible topics include the evolution of: genetic material; the genetic code; cells; organelles; multicellular life; cell types; cellular energetics; etc. We’ll pull from advanced textbook readings and reviews before we jump into the primary scientific literature to study both seminal papers from the historical scientific literature and cutting-edge discoveries. Through these readings, you’ll have the opportunity to not only learn more about the evolution of life and life processes but also the evolution of scientific thought. The course will require active intellectual engagement – i.e., thinking, conversing, and writing. The course meets twice a week for 5 weeks for an intensive deep dive into these ideas.