BIOL1918: Evolutionary Perspectives on Agriculture and Human Health

Crops, humans, pests, and pathogens have evolved and continue to evolve, largely by natural selection (nonrandom differences in reproduction and survival among random genetic variants). Weeds and insect pests readily evolve resistance to our control methods, from crop rotation to chemical pesticides. Human pathogens evolve resistance to antibiotics. Can we slow such harmful evolution? Also, can the evolutionary history of crops help guide plant breeding? Can our own evolutionary history suggest ways to improve health-care in humans? In alternate weeks, students will discuss an assigned article or video and then find a related scientific journal article and explain one figure from the article. Grades will depend in part on courteous and insightful questions and comments among students. This course will be offered remotely via Zoom at a scheduled time. Personal interaction in this course is required through audio and video using Zoom. Short presentations by students will use “Share Screen”.

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