BIOL 335
Chronobiology Fall 2021
Division III
This is not the current course catalog

Internal clocks control nearly all aspects of physiology and behavior and allow organisms to anticipate the dramatic environmental changes between day and night. In this course we will focus on the organization of internal clocks at the molecular, organ and physiological levels. We will explore fundamental properties of biological clocks, how internal rhythms are synchronized with the environment and the means by which clocks drive physiological rhythms. Subsequently, we will investigate how endogenous clocks help organisms cope with rhythmic changes in our environment, and how disruption of our internal rhythms compromises health and wellbeing. Lectures will alternate with discussions of primary literature. During laboratory sessions we will explore the characteristics of the circadian system in a group of mice, followed by the design and execution of a research project in a small group of students. Working with mice will require time outside of regular scheduled class times, including the weekends. Grading will be based on 2 reports and 2 presentations of the lab components as well as 2 intermediate and 1 final exam.