Comparative Vertebrate Biology

We’re all just fish with legs. In this organismal course we will survey all forms of living fish encompassing “fish”, amphibians, reptiles (including avian dinosaurs), and mammals, as well as the many extinct species known only from the fossil record. We will trace the origins of this diverse lineage using evidence from paleontology, genomics, and developmental biology. Through an evolutionary lens, we will explore morphological change over time and examine the roles of selection, ecology, and constraint in shaping the structure of vertebrate bodies. Laboratory exercises and occasional field trips will familiarize students with soft tissue and skeletal systems via micro-CT data, salvaged remains, 3D printing, and museum specimens. Students will deepen their learning through a specimen-based science outreach project. (BIOL 140 or BIOL 145 or ENVS 166 or ECSC 112). 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab