Listed in: Biology, as BIOL-265 | Physics and Astronomy, as PHYS-265
Ethan D. Clotfelter (Section 01)
William A. Loinaz (Section 01)
(Offered as BIOL 265 and PHYS 265) Functional morphology is the study of relationships between the anatomy and the ecology and behavior of organisms. The course begins by focusing on the fundamental importance of body size and metabolism in governing nearly all aspects of animal biology. We then study the biomechanics of running, jumping, swimming, gliding, and flying, using examples of both living and extinct animals. We will also learn about morphological adaptations underlying unusual movements such as climbing walls, hovering in midair, and walking on water. Finally, we touch on examples of human innovation inspired by animal morphology. The course uses a combination of lectures and discussions of articles from the primary literature. Laboratories focus primarily on comparative anatomy and analyzing animal performance. Three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory per week.
Requisite: BIOL 181. Not open to first-year students. Limited to 16 students. Spring semester. Professors Clotfelter, Goodwin, and Loinaz.
Section 01
Tu 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM SCCE C101
Th 10:00 AM - 11:20 AM SCCE C101
Section 01
Th 02:30 PM - 05:30 PM SCCE A301