Form and function: Integrative approach to anatomy and physiology

Uses examples from the entire tree of life, and provides an overview of how form and function are intricately linked.

Structure and function have an intimate relationship in Biology. Anatomy and physiology provide a fertile ground to explore this fundamental idea in biology. This course will adopt an integrative approach in at least three respects. First, anatomy and physiology will not be introduced as separate fields, but the relationship between them will be central theme of the course. Secondly, examples and topics will be chosen from the entire tree of life instead of restricting them to particular species or groups of organisms. Finally, form and function will be explored from an evolutionary lens. Most students taking this course will also be enrolled in Evolutionary Biology in the same semester. The two courses will be complementary in nature.