BIO 150-01 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry

4 credits (Fall)

Animal Locomotion. As a way to explore how biologists ask questions and develop answers to them, this class will focus on the biomechanics and physiology of animal locomotion. We will begin at the level of the muscle, and go on to consider how the heart and lungs function during exercise in vertebrates. We will also consider the effects of exercise on mood, stress, and anxiety, and analyze the kinematics of locomotion using digital video. Students will begin learning how to use the scientific literature to study the physical, physiological, and biomechanical principles that cause or result from the ways animals move. The emphasis of the course will be on asking questions, designing experiments to answer those questions, and communicating results of the experiments in a variety of formats. Each class period will combine lab, lecture, and discussion.

Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: Queathem