SUPERBUGS, SEX, & DRUGS: WHY MODERN MEDICINE NEEDS EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Explore the new frontier of evolutionary and ecological solutions to public health challenges through analyses and discussions. Evolution is often viewed as a purely historical topic disconnected from modern practical concerns. This view is incomplete: evolution plays a key role in many areas of modern life and underlies many public health challenges like drug resistance in bacteria and cancer, vaccine development, circadian medicine, and the 'spill-over' of pathogens from wildlife to humans (and vice versa). These issues, however, are intricately connected to social drivers like the use of antibiotics to treat viruses or as growth promoters in livestock. More evolutionary-guided solutions to understanding and addressing these challenges are critical for a sustainable and healthy future.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: ( ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 , BOTANY/BIOLOGY 130 , ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY 101 , 102 , or BIOCORE 381 ) and sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Natural Science & Wellness Breadth - Biological Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Investigate the myriad ways in which a new (evolution-informed) way of looking at the world of veterinary and human medicine and public health is beneficial and necessary for modern medicine. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare how goals of personal medicine and public health are similar and dissimilar. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Evaluate case studies to compare how evolutionary principles can be used to improve standard approaches to treating cancer and drug resistant sexually transmitted infections, STIs. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Articulate the consequences of pathogen evolution for disease outbreaks and control. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe the genetic and behavioral reasons why there are increasing numbers of antibiotic resistant infections. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Read and analyze data on the health status of populations. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Critically evaluate and effectively use textbooks, current research literature, online information, as well as information related to scientific and biological issues in the popular press. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Investigate the myriad ways in which a new (evolution-informed) way of looking at the world of veterinary and human medicine and public health is beneficial and necessary for modern medicine. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Compare how goals of personal medicine and public health are similar and dissimilar. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Evaluate case studies to compare how evolutionary principles can be used to improve standard approaches to treating cancer and drug resistant sexually transmitted infections, STIs. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Articulate the consequences of pathogen evolution for disease outbreaks and control. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Describe the genetic and behavioral reasons why there are increasing numbers of antibiotic resistant infections. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Read and analyze data on the health status of populations. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Critically evaluate and effectively use textbooks, current research literature, online information, as well as information related to scientific and biological issues in the popular press. Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027