Meiosis

Meiosis is essential to sexual reproduction and has ancient conservation of mechanism across many taxa. It requires accurate genome duplication, proper cell signaling, chromosome synapsis, crossing over, and segregation and extensive epigenetics. Despite being considerably less efficient than asexual reproduction, meiosis has a somewhat improbably strong foothold in the tree of life. Through critical use of scientific literature and laboratory techniques we will consider meiosis from multiple perspectives and interpret its role in current themes including GMOs, plant speciation, human reproduction, and genetic diversity. 3hrs/wk seminar and 4hrs/wk lab. (BIOL 0140 and 0145; and either BIOL 0314 or CHEM 0242, or approval)