MCB 31:
Genes, Cells and Creatures
(called Modern Biology in the Schedule of Classes)
Web site:
http://mcb.berkeley.edu/courses/mcb31/
Purpose
This is a course is designed for persons not majoring in the biological sciences, and is intended to satisfy their breadth requirement in biological sciences. Students who have already taken Bio 1A or Bio1B may not take the course for credit. We shall consider three different areas in contemporary biology, ranging from molecules and cells to populations and ecosystems, that are especially important for the personal and civic lives of college graduates. We shall avoid jargon and specialized vocabulary, and trace historical antecedents and the current social impact of new findings in biology. There will be emphasis in the discussion sections on writing and problem solving. The goal is to demystify and personalize the scientific approach, to explore some interesting and important aspects of modern biology, and to acquaint students with the importance of biological science in contemporary every day life.
Format
There are two lectures and 1 required discussion section each week. We will first examine the history of the discovery of genes, what they are, how they work, and their current importance. We shall then explore how cells communicate in order to protect the body from disease. How does the body fight disease; why is there a resurgence of various diseases? Does it affect us here in the U.S.? Finally, we will examine the effects of global warming on biological systems ranging from microbial diseases to coral reefs to tropical forests. How quickly and how much will climate change affect alpine species, plankton in the polar seas, agriculture in the arctic, productivity in salt marshes?
Prof. Wilt will deliver lectures 1-19 and Prof. Beckendorf lectures 20-29.
Lecture: MW, 11-12 159 Mulford
Sections:
001 Tu 2-3 234 Dwinelle
002 Tu 3-4 234 Dwinelle
003 Th 2-3 2308 Tolman
004 Th 3-4 2308 Tolman
Teachers
Prof. Fred Wilt (Cell & Developmental Biology Division, Molecular and Cell Biology)
Office: 569A LSA; Lab 395 LSA
Ph: 642-2807; wilt@socrates.berkeley.edu
Office Hours: Wednesday 1:30-2:30, or by appointment, in 395 A LSA
Prof. Steve Beckendorf (Genetics, Genomics and Development, Molecular and Cell Biology)
Office: 71 Koshland
Ph: 642-7906; beckendo@berkeley.edu
Office Hours: MW, 12-1 or by appointment in 71 Koshland
Announcements