BIOL 351 Special Topics

Spring 2026

 

BIOL 351: Chemical Ecology with Lab
Instructor: Dr. Nathan Derstine

From the scent trails of ants to the chemical defenses of seaweeds, organisms use chemistry to communicate, compete, and survive. This course explores how chemical signals and toxins shape interactions among insects, plants, and marine life, and how humans can harness this knowledge in areas like agriculture, medicine, and pest management. In the lab, students will gain hands-on experience with chemical ecology techniques and conduct experiments that reveal the hidden chemical language of nature.  Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.

BIOL 351*:  Animal Physiological Ecology

Instructor:  Dr. Allison Cornell

Examination of animal physiological responses to environmental conditions, focusing on mechanisms that enable survival and reproduction across habitats. Comparative coverage of vertebrates and invertebrates highlights evolutionary limits and tradeoffs shaping function. Three lecture hours per week.

BIOL 351*: Cooperation and Animal Societies

Instructor: Dr. Nathan Derstine

Why would an animal risk its own survival to help others? When does it pay to cooperate, and when is it better to cheat? This course tackles the evolutionary puzzle of cooperation, covering kinship, mutualism, reciprocity, and the origins of complex societies across animals from microbes to primates. Through case studies and theory, students will uncover how cooperation and conflict shape the social lives of species, and whether altruism is the paradox it seems.  Three lecture hours per week.

BIOL 351*:  Mechanisms of Emerging Therapeutics in Neurodegeneration

Instructor:  Dr. John Peters

 Neurodegeneration affects millions of people in the United States. Both domestically and internationally, neurodegeneration is burdening healthcare systems as populations in many nations are aging. Fortunately, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of several neurodegenerative diseases is improving. In this course, we will explore the current understanding of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, and Parkinson’s Disease, with a focus on shared mechanisms across these diseases. We will also explore the molecular mechanisms of drug therapies for these diseases. We will consider both approved drugs and drugs in the clinical pipeline. Class sessions will include mini-lectures, discussion of primary literature, and group work, and the course will culminate with students writing a grant proposal.  Three lecture hours per week.

*Courses will have no labs.