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OEB52. Biology of Plants (spring term)
Introduction to the structure, diversity, and physiology of plants with an emphasis on evolutionary relationships and adaptations to life on land. Topics include growth, resource acquisition, interactions with other organisms (i.e. fungi, bacteria, insects), reproduction, and survival in extreme environments. Laboratory sessions provide an overview of plant and diversity and aan introduction to basic physiological processes.
OEB 189. Comparative Cell Morphogenesis (fall term)
A survey of the different modes of cellular development in unicellular organisms and in specialized cells within multicellular organisms. Lectures will cover morphogenesis in bacteria, coccolithophores, diatoms, yeasts, fungal hyphae, ciliates, neurons, and red blood cells among others. The emphasis will be on the molecular and biophysical controls of cell shape. The functional significance of cell shape will also be discussed. Laboratories will introduce the students to the organisms studied in class.
OEB273. Comparative Biomechanics (spring term)
An exploration of how animals and plants contend with their physical environment, considering their biomaterial properties, structural form, and mechanical interaction with the environment. Through lectures, seminar discussions, and student presentations based on readings, students are introduced to topics related to biomechanical performance.
OEB276. Models of Development (spring term)
A lecture and reading course on the modeling of animal and plant development. Topics will include analysis of gene networks, positional signaling, reaction-diffusion systems, mechano-chemistry and tissue mechanics and remodeling. Emphasis will be on models of development that are mechanistic and well supported experimentally.
MCB223. Laboratory in Engineering and Physical Biology (spring term)
A project-oriented laboratory course which will integrate genetic, molecular, biochemical and cytological approaches from the life sciences with optical, magnetic and mechanical approaches from the physical sciences. Interesting and original experiments will be organized around a common theme which, this year, will be: Biomechanics of E. coli.