Comparative study of the anatomy of vertebrates with emphasis on evolutionary change, adaptive and functional significance of structural organization and basic concepts of the comparative approach. Laboratory studies on representative vertebrates involving dissections, models, and demonstrations. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, four hours per week.
An overview of the physiography, geology, soils, hydrology, climate (paleo and recent), vegetation relationships), archaeobotany, and agriculture of Kentucky. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, two hours per week.
Selected topics in biology of special interest to teachers such as biological research experiences related to pharmacological assays, collecting behavioral data, compilation and statistically analysis of data. When the course is offered, a specific title with specific credits, the number of hours in lecture-discussion, will be given. Lecture/ discussion, two-four hours; laboratory, zero-four hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 credit hours.
This course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of vertebrate endocrinology. Course topics will include the various classes of hormones, sources and synthesis of hormones, receptors and target tissues, mechanisms of action and regulation, and methods used in endocrinology and behavioral endocrinology. Details of classical endocrine systems will be explored. The last third of the course will focus on neuroendocrinology and how hormones influence the development and activation of behavior in humans and animal models.
Comparative and Functional Neuroanatomy explores the cellular bases for sensory, integrative and motor neuroscience from an evolutionary perspective, delineating common features of all nervous systems ranging from cnidarian nerve nets to ventral nerve cords of most invertebrates to the chordate/vertebrate central nervous systems. Discovery of the common features of nervous structure in model system organisms with the human brain will provide students a perspective on the value of model systems for future study.
Advanced study on how animals use sensory abilities to communicate, navigate, and detect prey, predators and mates. Focus will be on extreme and unusual sensory systems such as echolocation, electroreception, and magnetoreception, as well as vision, smell, touch, and hearing.
The course will provide students with knowledge from a broad range of topics related to stem cells, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including: an historical perspective of these fields, contemporary use of stem cells in medicine, introduction to different concepts in regenerative medicine, research in tissue engineering and biomaterials, and societal issues surrounding stem cells and regenerative medicine.
A comparative study of chordate development, stressing morphogenesis and reproduction of vertebrate species and evolutionary changes in ontogeny. Laboratory devoted principally to development of the frog, chick and pig. Three lectures and two two-hour laboratories per week.
This course explores the biology of fishes from an evolutionary perspective. Lectures cover physiology, functional morphology, ecology, population biology, behavior, evolutionary relationships, and fisheries biology. Laboratory exercises include development of a fish collection; experiments in fish physiology, behavior and ecology; computer modelling of problems in fisheries biology; and field trips. Lecture, two hours; laboratory, four hours per week.
Animals sense and respond to numerous signals from their environment by using sensory modalities attuned to visual, auditory, chemical, and electromagnetic cues. This course is an in-depth examination of the physiological bases of sensory input and the interactive, motor system-mediated, behavioral repertoires exhibited by different species in response to such inputs.
