Faculty of Arts & Sciences

An integrated approach to the diversity of life, emphasizing how chemical, physical, genetic, ecological and geologic processes contribute to the origin and maintenance of biological diversity. Topics to be covered include the evolution of metabolic pathways, multicellularity and structural complexity; causes and consequences of differences in diversity over space and time; the role of species interactions (including symbioses) as an evolutionary force; and the evolution of humans and their impact on the environment.

Fundamental concepts in genetics and genomics forming a critical foundation for biology approached from two perspectives: (1) as a body of knowledge pertaining to genetic transmission, function, mutation, and evolution in eukaryotes and prokaryotes; and (2) as an experimental approach providing a toolkit for the study of biological processes such as development and behavior. Topics include structure, function, transmission, linkage, mutation, and manipulation of genes; genetic approaches in experimental studies of biological processes; and analysis of genomes in individuals and populations. Related ethical issues also discussed include genetically modified organisms, gene therapy, genetic testing, personalized medicine, and genetic privacy.

Introduction to invertebrate diversity, will cover the development, adult anatomy, biology and evolutionary relationships of the main animal phyla including sponges, mollusks, annelids and arthropods among others. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the broad diversity of animal forms and their adaptations to different ecosystems and how these phenomena shape animal evolution. Lectures will be complemented with a mandatory weekly lab and a field trip to different areas of outstanding marine diversity in the Caribbean.

Introduction to the structure, diversity, and physiology of plants with an emphasis on evolutionary relationships and adaptations to life on land. Topics include growth, resource acquisition, interactions with other organisms (i.e., fungi, bacteria, insects), reproduction, and survival in extreme environments. Laboratory sessions provide an overview of plant and diversity and an introduction to basic physiological processes.

The course covers micro- and macro-evolution, ranging in its focus from population genetics through molecular evolution to the grand patterns of the fossil record. Topics emphasized include both natural and sexual selection, the ecological context of adaptation, genomic and developmental mechanisms of evolutionary innovation, speciation, phylogenetics, and evolutionary approaches to human problems.

This course explores the fascinating diversity of the kingdom fungi, including evolution, ecology and morphology. All of the major groups of fungi, from smuts to molds, will be included. Students use a variety of techniques to learn about these organisms and their activities.

This course examines the relationships of organisms to their environment at the individual, population, and community level. The course covers topics in both pure and applied ecology including: adaptations to the physical environment, population dynamics, competition, predator-prey interactions, community ecology, ecosystem structure, stability, and function, the ecology of infectious diseases, and natural resource management.

Within our solar system, Earth is distinguished as the planet with life. Life was born of planetary processes, has been sustained for some four billion years by planetary processes, and through time has emerged as a set of planetary processes that is important in its own right. In this course we will investigate the ways that Earth and life interact, focusing in particular on the biogeochemical cycles of major elements. This will provide a framework for interpreting the history of life reconstructed from fossils and phylogeny.

A review of the behavior of animals under natural conditions, with emphasis on both mechanistic and evolutionary approaches. Topics include classical ethology; behavioral endocrinology; behavioral genetics; learning and memory; communication; orientation, migration and biological rhythms; optimal foraging; evolutionary stable strategies; sexual selection; parental investment and mating systems; selfishness, altruism, and reciprocity; and sociality in vertebrates and invertebrates.

An introduction to the uses of plants by humans. Topics include the form, structure and genetics of plants related to their use as sources of food, shelter, fiber, flavors, beverages, drugs, and medicines. Plant structure and reproduction are studied in lecture and laboratory with a particular focus on relationships between the plant's structural, chemical, or physiological attributes and the utility plant.

Supervised reading on topics not covered by regular courses. For OEB concentrators, work may be supervised by faculty in other departments, provided it is co-sponsored by an OEB faculty member. For non-concentrators, work must be directed by an OEB faculty member. Students must submit a registration request to the OEB Undergraduate Office before enrollment. Students cannot take OEB 91r and 99r simultaneously with the same director.

Course taken in one or more semesters to obtain credit for independent research, including research toward a senior thesis. Work should be directed by an OEB faculty member or have an OEB faculty sponsor. All students must submit registration materials for OEB 99r at the time of enrollment.

An introduction to the biology of mammals. Lectures and laboratories examine the morphology, systematics, natural history, behavior, ecology, evolutionary relationships, and biogeography of all major taxa.

An introduction to the diversity and evolution of vascular plants. The course focuses mainly on flowering plants because of their dominant role on the earth, but lycophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms are studied as well. A phylogeny of vascular plants provides the framework for their evolution and diversification. Related subjects, including plant habitats, biogeography, phylogenetics, herbaria, nomenclature, and pollination biology are also presented in lecture and laboratory.

This course explores the functional organization and anatomy of motor circuits in the brain and how they control movements, including simple reflex movements, rhythmic movements, and more complex sequences of learned movements.

A comprehensive lecture course on the developmental biology of plants from fertilization through all phases of vegetative and reproductive growth. Material includes both morphological and genetic studies. Although the main focus of the course is angiosperms, examples are drawn from other lineages of land plants as well. Additional topics include control of cell division and elongation, signal transduction, and hormone response.

Origin, evolution, dispersal, paleoecology, and geologic history of the major groups of the plant kingdom. Laboratory study of representative groups, living and fossil.

Viviparity has evolved many times in vertebrate phylogeny. The course reviews the diversity of parental care in vertebrates and explores the selective forces that have favored the evolution of live-bearing. The evidence for intergenerational conflicts is considered.

A lecture course in evolutionary developmental biology. Main principles and mechanisms of development as illustrated on both invertebrate and vertebrate animal model systems. In this course we will discuss how animal embryos develop adult body plans on cellular and molecular level. Particular emphasis will be placed on how knowledge of developmental biology helps us understand major evolutionary transitions and the origin of innovation in animal evolution.

The quantitative basis of evolutionary theory: models of natural selection, mutations, and genetic drift at a single locus; multilocus problems in evolutionary dynamics including topics such as Muller's ratchet, hitchhiking, quasi-linkage equilibrium and strong linkage approximations; evolution of recombination and mutation rates and other modifiers of evolvability; an introduction to genealogical approaches; inference in population genetics; evolution in structured populations; and interactions between ecology, epidemiology, and evolution.

The ocean as an ecological system, with focus on environmental-organismal interactions that regulate plankton production and transfer to higher trophic levels. Specific topics include bloom events, the limits to fish harvest, and the effects of climate change on ocean systems. Plankton demonstrations and optional coastal research vessel day trip.

The oceans contain 97% of Earth's water, and host the most disparate ecosystems on the planet. This course provides an introduction to deep ocean habitats, macrofauna and microorganisms. Emphasis is placed on the physiological adaptations of organisms to their environment, as well the role of microbes in mediating oceanic biogeochemical cycles.

How plants are affected by climate - both spatially across the globe and as climate changes over time - is relevant to understanding patterns of plant evolution, ecosystem structure, and the impact of humans on our planet. This course examines how variation in rainfall, temperature, atmospheric humidity and CO2 affects the growth and productivity of plants. Topics include photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, and vascular transport; experimental approaches and measurement techniques will also be covered.

Introduces students to experimental techniques used to investigate the structure and physiology of animals. Each instructor offers research projects that are undertaken in their laboratory (limit 5 students per instructor). Students meet to introduce their project, discuss their work and progress, and to present their final results. An extensive commitment of time in the laboratory is required. Grades are based on the work completed, the oral presentation, and a short research paper.

An examination of the major aspects of microbial endosymbiosis with emphasis on mutualisms, although some parasitic interactions are covered. Topics include origins of the eukaryotic cell, specificity and recognition of partners, distribution and diversity of associations, and coevolution of host and symbiont. The course covers symbiotic interactions among bacteria and archaea with protists, fungi, plants, and animals, including the human microbiome.

A survey of theory and applications of DNA technologies to the study of evolutionary, ecological and behavioral processes in natural populations. Topics to be covered will span a variety of hierarchical levels, timescales, and taxonomic groups, and will include the evolution of genes, genomes and proteins; the neutral theory of molecular evolution and molecular clocks; population genomics and phylogenetic principles of speciation and phylogeography; metagenomics of microbial communities; relatedness and behavioral ecology; molecular ecology of infectious disease; and conservation genetics.

Fishes inhabit diverse aquatic environments including deep seas, intertidal zones, coral reefs, polar waters, the vast Amazonian basin, and great East African lakes. A single fish species may occupy diverse environments through extraordinary long distance horizontal and vertical migrations. To explore this unparalleled diversity, the course emphasizes bridging traditional academic boundaries with integrative analyses of the biology underlying rapid evolutionary radiations and stasis.

The evolutionary success of animals depends on how effectively they respond to external events with useful behaviors. Neuroethology is the study of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying adaptive behaviors. In this laboratory class we will examine the adaptive behaviors of three organisms: fruit flies, flatworms and cockroaches. By following published experimental protocols, and testing novel student-developed hypotheses, we will explore the transformation of external stimuli to behavioral output, the role of neurotransmitter systems and neuromodulatory states, the effect of genetic mutation and genomic background, and the physiology of locomotion. In culmination, students will develop their own multi-week experimental project.

Biogeography aims to explain distributions of organisms through historical and ecological factors. This course will focus on the history of biogeographic research, developments in the area of historical biogeography, and on ecological processes that affect distributions of whole clades. Topics include plate tectonics and earth history, vicariance and dispersal, areas of endemism, phylogenetic niche conservatism, latitudinal gradients in species richness, and the theory of island biogeography. Software for biogeographical analysis will be discussed and evaluated.

Behavior is inheritable and regulated by genes. This lecture course explores the causal links between the genes encoded in the genome and various behaviors, aiming to provide mechanistic understandings on how gene products control and influence behavioral outputs. The topics of the lectures cover both important findings as well as major research approaches in the field. The behavioral traits in discussion include olfaction, mechanosensation, foraging, circadian rhythm, aggression, courtship, sleep, social recognition, learning and memory, etc. The organisms that we will discuss include invertebrates, vertebrates and humans.

A survey of the evolution and development of major groups of vertebrates, integrating the paleontological record of the origin of chordates, diverse fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals with current understanding of the genetic, cellular and developmental mechanisms that underlie these transformations.

Introduction to probability and statistics, with dual concern for analytical thinking and data analysis.The fundamentals of R will be covered, then this software environment will be used to analyze data and make statistical inferences. Ecological and genetic data will be the primary focus of applications. Analytical thinking modules will cover the theory of probability, statistical distributions, and the principles of statistical inference. You will will learn how to defend your claims and not be fooled by quantitative arguments.

An introduction to the major groups of insects. The life history, morphology, physiology, and ecology of the main taxa are examined through a combination of lecture, lab, and field exercises. Topics include the phylogeny of terrestrial arthropods with a review of the extant orders, an analysis of abiotic and biotic factors regulating populations, including water balance, temperature, migration, parasitism, mutualism, sociality, insect/plant interactions, medical entomology, and the use of insects in biological control.

This course examines how natural and anthropogenic changes in the earth system are affecting the composition and the functioning of the world's land and ocean ecosystems. Topics include: the ecological impacts of natural and anthropogenic changes in the earth's physical environment, and the effects of introduced species, species extinctions, land-use change, agriculture, and fishing.

An introduction to the biology of amphibians and reptiles. Lectures and laboratories examine the morphology, systematics, natural history, behavior, ecology, evolutionary relationships, and biogeography of all major taxa.

A study of the diversity and evolution of plant life cycles, with an emphasis on interactions between the generations. The course this semester will focus on female gametophytes of flowering plants

An exploration of how animals and plants contend with their physical environment, considering their biomaterial properties, structural form, and mechanical interaction with the environment. Through lectures, seminar discussions, and student presentations based on readings, students are introduced to topics related to biomechanical performance.

Theory and practice of systematics, emphasizing issues associated with homology statements and alignments, methods of tree reconstruction, and hypothesis evaluation. The course combines theoretical considerations, paying special attention to algorithmic aspects of phylogenetics, with the use of different computer programs for conducting evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses.

Some genes cheat random inheritance to gain disproportionate representation in progeny. The results for organisms range from beneficial to strongly detrimental; some may even cause extinction. The evolution of selfish elements and their suppressors is a rich drama that unfolds in genomes with important implications for evolution, speciation, human and animal health, and agriculture. This course will explore the mechanisms by which genes or chromosomes cheat, and counterstrategies that evolve to thwart them.

An introduction to the biology of birds. Covers the fossil record and theories for avian origins, physiology and anatomy, higher-level systematics and field characters of the ~27 orders, speciation processes, nesting and courtship behavior, vocalizations, mating systems and sexual selection, cooperative breeding, demography and conservation. Optional field trip during spring break. Laboratories will consist of gross anatomy, bird watching excursions in the Cambridge area, field techniques and specimen preparation, and systematic study of avian groups using the collections of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.

This course examines how microbes and animals have evolved to maintain function throughout the wide range of extant habitats. Emphasis is on physiological/biochemical evolution in response to environmental conditions, including climate change and life in extreme environments. As the first course in the "genomes to biomes" series, we will examine new approaches to interrogating organismal physiology in nature. Those interested can continue the "genomes to biomes" program via LS 100r.

An examination of the evolution of microbes through an integration of lectures and discussion of primary literature. We will focus on a series of broad questions for which we will draw upon knowledge from both lab-based study of experimental microcosms and comparative studies of natural populations. Notably, students will conduct their own experimental evolution projects using 'digital organisms'.

An introduction to laboratory techniques in experimental physiology, this course will utilize a variety of equipment and several model organisms to empirically investigate foundational concepts in physiological and biochemical adaptation. Labs will complement and extend topics discussed in the companion class, OEB191. After demonstrating proficiency with core techniques, students will design independent research projects to explore novel questions in ecological physiology.

In this seminar, we will explore the molecular and physiological interactions between organisms and oxygen, and use these to shed light on the role of oxygen in modulating evolutionary change through Earth history.

You've designed your experiment, made your measurements, and analyzed your data. Now what? How do you write a paper that will not only get accepted, but also get cited? This is a hands-on workshop course targeted at graduate students who are ready to write up their first research paper for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The class will emphasize the idea that your paper should tell a (nonfiction!) story that engages the reader. By the end of the semester you will have a coherent, well-structured, and polished manuscript.

A critical discussion of current research in plant physiology including measurement techniques, modeling, and experimental approaches.

Four principal animal groups (insects, frogs, birds and mammals) sing and call in habitats around the world. We discuss the ecology, evolution and characteristics of such acoustic communities and the hypothesis that their members compete for "bandwidth". We discuss readings on acoustic ecology and evolution, and listen to (and watch, via spectrum analysis) soundscapes from selected tropical and temperate habitats. The capstone will be a fieldtrip to record natural soundscapes.

A discussion based course exploring the physiological processes involved in an organism's interactions with its environment. Readings will focus on adaptation to environmental variability, with an emphasis on responses to climate change and habitat alteration.

Readings (mainly from the scientific literature) and discussion of what defines and theoretically underpins the field of conservation biology - though discussion is on the current version of the field, readings will span its development over the last 50+ years.

This course will prepare graduate students to write NSF-style proposals through in-class exercises, group analysis of writing samples, talks by former NSF panel members, and writing assignments geared towards meeting November proposal deadlines.

Examines the remarkable diversity of the microbial world, "the unseen majority". Physiological, genetic, ecological, and evolutionary characteristics of Bacteria and Archaea are discussed, as well as the relation of phenotype to phylogeny. The course has strong links to fields ranging from geochemistry and climate change to the human microbiome, and will include discussions with experts in microbial biodiversity.

We will discuss current literatures related to genetic effects on neural functions, including: (1) mental illness; (2) neurodegenerative diseases; (3) various behaviors; (4) learning and memory.

This discussion-based course will survey modern ideas about speciation, and how they have changed as a result of genomic approaches. As well as readings and discussions in class, the course will utilize live online video sessions with major players in the field of evolutionary genomics and speciation.

This discussion-based course covers the latest advances in the study of adaptation with a focus on controversial issues and integrative approaches. The course combines readings from recent primary literature with discussion with experts via video conferencing.

Human impacts on marine life and ecosystems of the sea.

Mathematical theory, experimental data, and history of ideas in the field, including analytical methods to study genetic variation with applications to evolution, demographic history, agriculture, health and disease. Includes lectures, problem sets, and student presentations.

Teaches the basic principles of aseptic surgery with emphasis on practicality. Students learn basic "open" surgery as well as newer high-tech videoscopic minimally invasive technique, obtaining hands-on experience in scrubbing, gowning, and sterile technique while serving as anesthetist and surgeon.

The mathematics and computation of ancestral inference in population genetics. Theory relates observable genetic data to factors of evolution such as mutation, genetic drift, migration, natural selection, and population structure.

Readings and discussion of primary literature in population and evolutionary genetics.

A presentation of topics that are of current interest in marine ecosystems. Emphasis on identification and quantification of biological and environmental factors important in the regulation of community structure.

A critical examination of the concepts and methods related to the study of adaptive radiation and macroevolutionary diversification. Evolutionary consequences will be studied from both empirical and theoretical perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on current controversies on applying modern conceptual and analytical approaches to long-standing questions.

This lecture-seminar course will consider how mechanisms of animal developmental genetics help to explain the scope and patterns of animal diversity. Particular emphasis is placed on major evolutionary transitions and the origin of innovations.

A research seminar on how core theories of sustainability science provide a framework for improving the well-being of present and future generations in ways that conserve the planet's life support systems. The seminar will engage in a critical discussion of the underlying theory of the field and evaluate case studies of efforts to manage particular coupled human-environment systems.

This lecture/laboratory covers plant anatomy and development, including the structure and function of cells, tissues, and organs and their developmental origin at the shoot apical meristem. Techniques of histology and microscopy also are covered.

This semester we will explore through readings of the recent literature the ways in which comparative genomics can inform phylogeny and genomic adaptation. In addition to surveying recent methods for harnessing thousands of loci for phylogenetic reconstruction, we will also study how comparing genomes of higher clades can reveal signatures of adaptation, particularly in the noncoding portion of the genome.

Critical review and discussion of current issues in symbiosis. Emphasis is on microbe-eukaryote symbioses ranging from mutualistic to pathogenic associations. In 2011 the course will focus on the human microbiome and topics selected by faculty and students.

Ecological genetics explores the adjustments and adaptations of wild populations to their environment. We will use the primary literature to explore how diverse organisms are actually evolving in nature, and challenge the traditional divide between evolution and ecology.

This course covers microbial metabolism, with a focus on quantitative analyses and modeling. Rather than a laundry list of what different microbes can do, we will focus on thinking about metabolism from the more generic point of view of systems of enzymes, concentrations, and fluxes. We will cover empirical, computational, and theoretical approaches, including concepts such as Flux Balance Analysis and Metabolic Control, and focusing upon the selective pressures that operate on metabolism.

Infectious diseases rapidly evolve to evade our immune systems, drugs, and vaccines, to remain agents of great morbidity and mortality. We will investigate the genome evolution of these pathogens and our intervention strategies for them past and present, with case examples from avian flu, malaria, TB, lassa fever and more. The seminar will design and develop a General Education course on these themes for undergraduates.

This is an interdisciplinary graduate-level and advanced undergraduate-level course in which students explore topics in molecular microbiology, microbial diversity, and microbially-mediated geochemistry in depth. This course will be taught by faculty from the Microbial Sciences Initiative. Topics include the origins of life, biogeochemical cycles, microbial diversity, and ecology.

Designed for students in ecology and evolution. Through readings and discussion we examine the history of the conservation/preservationist movements. We focus on how various constituencies value nature, and the legal system for protecting nature.

Field and laboratory research into the history, biology, ecology, culture, and economic problems of local, regional, and world forests. Individual research projects.

Presents the research interests and experiences of scientists in organismic and evolutionary biology. Specific topics treated vary from year to year.