A survey of the evolutionary relationships among the major plant groups, concentrating heavily on important families of flowering plants. Issues in contemporary systematics will include analyzing taxonomic data sets. Students will gain practical experience learning the language of descriptive botany and using botanical keys in technical manuals for species identification. Field trips highlight the local spring flora. Lecture, 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours; plus 2 Saturday field trips.

An introduction to computer analysis of macromolecular structure information. This course describes how to access, process, and interpret structural information regarding biological macromolecules as a guide to experiments in biology.

The effect of physical and biotic factors on plants and environment. Physiological, morphological and anatomical adaptations of plants to the physical factors of the environment are emphasized. Some of the laboratory exercises are carried out in the field. Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours.

The principles of animal behavior will be stressed using insects as examples. Physiology, mechanisms, behavioral ecology and evolution of insect behavior will be covered.

Each semester five distinguished scientists visit the UK campus to deliver a series of three formal lectures each and participate in numerous informal contacts with graduate students. The emphasis is on the presentation of the most current advances (often unpublished) in selected topics in molecular and cellular genetics. May be repeated to a maximum of six credits.

This course will develop the student's ability to critically read and evaluate the primary literature in selected areas of molecular biology; various experimental systems and techniques are discussed. While there is some lecture, the time will be predominately spent in class discussions of the primary literature.

A physiological/biochemical treatment of central topics in modern plant physiology. Topics will include: plant hormones, an introduction to plant biotechnology, senescence and abscission, stress physiology, phytochrome-photomorphogenesis- phototropism, nitrogen and sulfur metabolism.

Plant-insect relationships are fundamentally interesting and have important implications for agriculture, forestry, and conservation biology. This course gives an overview of major ideas, historical controversies, and current research on insect-plant relationships. We'll explore the mechanisms and evolution of plant defenses to insect herbivory, insect counter-adaptations, behavioral ecology and interactions across trophic levels, pollination biology, causes of insect outbreaks, and applications to managed systems.

Principles of insect molecular biology. Analysis of insect development, reproduction, behavior, immunity, transgenic insects and insecticide resistance at the molecular level. Hands-on experience with molecular biology techniques.

Peer-led team problem solving. Two-hour workshop offered on a pass-fail basis only. Enrollment in CHE 232 need not be accompanied by enrollment in CHE 297.