Course Description
Examining the principles of biology and science through the lens of entomology. Topics include insect diversity and evolution, interactions of insects with humans in medical and agricultural contexts, and insects as model systems. Major focus on science as a process and evaluation and communication of scientific information.
Athena Title
Life on Six Legs
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The course will focus on entomology, though the aim goes beyond a specific discipline and will help you apply scientific principles and evaluate scientific information in your daily lives. The course has three broad aims which we hope to develop in students: 1) an appreciation for insects and our interactions with them, 2) an understanding of evolution and its central role in the life sciences, and 3) appreciation of the process of science and the ability to evaluate and communicate scientific information.
Topical Outline
1) Biodiversity of insects a. Estimating diversity b. Insect systematics c. Evolutionary innovations of insects d. Drivers of species diversity e. Preserving insect diversity 2) Insects as model systems a. Insect physiology b. Genetics c. Use of insect systems in the study of human biology 3) Insects and agriculture a. Natural selection and pest insects b. Environmental impacts of insect control c. Genetically modified organism d. Colony collapse disorder as a case study for understanding science in the media 4) Vector biology a. Yellow fever and mosquitoes as a case study for experimental design b. Vector-host-parasite interactions c. Vector insect control d. Insect reproductive biology as a case study for vector control strategies 5) Insects and the environment a. Role of insects in ecosystem processes b. Sexual selection in insects c. Co-evolutionary interactions d. Plant-insect interactions e. Pollination and mutualism f. Insect-microbe interactions
General Education Core
CORE II: Life SciencesSyllabus