BIOL 11.07 Major Events in the History of Life and the Human Genome
Over the course of the last 4.5 billion years, life has faced a number of challenges, and in response has evolved a number of remarkable innovations. These innovations are written in DNA, and thus molecular fossils for many of the major events in the history of life can be found within our very own genomes. This course will survey the human nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, using a gene or region from a chromosome as a “ticket” to a particularly important event or process in the history of life including the origin of life itself (Chromosome 14), the advent of protein synthesis (Chromosome 22), the invention of DNA (Chromosome 8), the rise of atmospheric oxygen (mitochondrion), the origin of species (Chromosome 2), the origin of animals and the rise of macroecology (Chromosome 12), and the origin of humans and human language (Chromosome 7).
Note: For many students, BIOL 11 will be the entrance course to the major. To help students determine if they are sufficiently prepared to enter a foundation course directly, the Biology department has established an online self-assessment exam for students. Students who have any concerns about their preparedness should take BIOL 11 before enrolling in a foundation course. BIOL 11 may be counted toward the biology major if it is taken either during the first year or as the first biology course counted toward the major. Only one offering of BIOL 11 may be taken for credit.
Instructor
Peterson
Prerequisite
No prerequisites.