Bulletin Archive
This archived information is dated to the 2008-09 academic year only and may no longer be current.
For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.
Registrar's Office
Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09
Stanford Bulletin, Archive 2008-09
Biology Introductory Courses
BIO 13N. Environmental Problems and Solutions
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. Students do independent investigations of current environmental problems, analyzing differing views of them and discussing possible solutions. Each student gives two seminar presentations and leads two seminar discussions. Short, documented position papers are written for policy makers. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Spr (Ehrlich, P)
BIO 14N. Plants and Civilization
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. The role of plants in the development of civilization. Topics: the use of forests, woodlands, and grazing lands; centers of origins and spread of crops; viticulture, and wine and beer making; the spice route and the age of exploration; the use of plants as medicine; the global spread of weeds; engineering plants for the future; the importance of tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, potatoes, natural dyes, and rubber in societal affairs and change. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Win (Mooney, H)
BIO 15N. Environmental Literacy
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. Lack of public understanding of the details of most environmental problems is cited as a cause of environmental deterioration. Good citizenship requires literacy about the elements of the scientific and decision making processes that accompany most environmental issues: what can happen, what are the odds, how can the credibility of sources of expertise be assessed, which components of environmental debates deal with factual and theoretical issues, and which are political value judgments? GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Win (Schneider, S)
BIO 25N. Biogeography of Disease
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. Geographic distribution of disease. Biotic interactions among vectors, hosts, and environment. Influence of climatic and environmental change on spread and virulence of disease. Human and animal diseases. Primary literature. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Aut (Hadly, E)
BIO 25Q. The Molecular Basis of Genetic Disease
(S,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to sophomores. Focus is on two genetic diseases resulting from the production of protein molecules that are unable to fold into their native conformations, called conformational diseases: cystic fibrosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease. Hypotheses and controversies surrounding the molecular basis of these disorders, and implications for novel therapeutics. Readings from research literature. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Spr (Kopito, R)
BIO 26N. Maintenance of the Genome
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. Focus is on DNA repair systems which scan the genome to ensure genomic stability in the face of natural endogenous threats to DNA and those due to radiation and chemicals in the external environment. Redundancy of the genetic message ensured by complementary DNA strands facilitates recovery of information when one of the strands is altered. Predisposition to cancer often implicates a defective DNA repair gene. Relevance for oncology, aging, developmental biology, environmental health, and neurobiology. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Spr (Hanawalt, P)
BIO 31Q. Ants: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution
(S,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to sophomores. Behavior: the organization of colonies, how they operate without central control, how they resemble other complex systems like brains. Ecology: how populations of colonies change, comparing the ecology of a species in SW American desert and invasive Argentine ants. Evolution: why are there so many species of ants; how are they alike, how do they differ, and why? Ants as the theme for exploring how to do research in animal behavior, ecology, and evolution. Research project will be on the invasive Argentine ant: its distribution on campus, foraging trails, and nest structure.
3 units, Spr (Gordon, D)
BIO 33N. Conservation Science and Practice
(F,Sem) Stanford Introductory Seminar. Preference to freshmen. Interdisciplinary. The science and art of conservation today. The forces that are driving change in Earth's atmosphere, lands, waters, and variety of life forms. Which broad dimensions of the biosphere, and which elements of ecosystems, most merit protection? The prospects for, and challenges in, making conservation economically attractive and commonplace. Field trip; project. GER: DB-NatSci
3 units, Spr (Daily, G)
© Stanford University - Office of the Registrar. Archive of the Stanford Bulletin 2008-09. Terms of Use | Copyright Complaints