Two Current Topics in Biology courses offered Fall Semester 2015


Two new Current Topics in Biology courses are offered as electives for Fall 2015, Animal Behavior and Type 2 Diabetes. Both courses may be used as a health science or a biology elective. Up to two current topics courses may be counted towards electives for the major.

Biology 489.01 or 589.01, Current Topics in Biology: Animal Behavior

Instructor: Dr. Klingerman

This Current Topics in Biology course will focus on behavioral neuroendocrinology, i.e. the regulation of behavior output by the endocrine and central nervous systems.  Topics include a description of hormones and the central nervous system, differences in hormones and brain morphology between males and females, parental behavior, social behavior, energy homeostasis, biological rhythms, and stress.  This course is targeted toward students interested in human or animal behavior, the brain, and/or hormone production and regulation.  Students with career interest in the health sciences or graduate school will learn valuable tools that will enable them to evaluate scientific literature and develop critical thinking skills.  The format of this course involves traditional classroom lectures, group discussions, and student presentations of journal articles.  Journal articles will be historical neuroendocrinology papers retrieved from peer-reviewed journals. Prerequisite: Biology 271, Cell Biology


Biology 489.02 or 589.02, Current Topics in Biology: Type 2 Diabetes

Instructor: Dr. Surmacz

This Current Topics in Biology course will focus on Type 2 Diabetes, a global public health challenge that affects more than 347 million people worldwide (World Health Organization, 2014). This epidemic is fueled by the increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. It is estimated that one in three children in American will develop type 2 diabetes if current trends continue.  Topics discussed will include history and epidemiology, public health implications, diagnosis and classification, risk factors and screening, genetic and environmental factors, normal physiology of plasma glucose control, islet function and insulin action, pathogenesis of insulin resistance, complications, medical management through diet, exercise, and pharmacological intervention, treatment, behavior change strategies, and future directions. These topics will be explored in a lecture/seminar format through group discussions, analysis of scientific papers, student presentations, class projects, preparation of a research paper, and interactions with guest speakers. Prerequisite: Biology 271, Cell Biology

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