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A little about the course
This website is for BIO365R offered in the Fall of 2009.
Biology 365R is one of two upper division courses that cover general physiology. There are many other physiology courses offered, including comparative vertebrate physiology and a course more suited for nursing majors. The focus of this semester will primarily be the nervous system and some of it's targets such as the muscles and the heart. This web site is dedicated to the section of 365R taught by Dr. Draper.
In addition to the website, there will also be a course blog for interesting tidbits related to the course material, but not required reading. These will include links to podcasts, videocasts, and news items that students submit. The blog will be a place for students to review answers to questions submitted by students via email. Lastly, there will also be a wiki (using the same engine as Wikipedia) for the course. This is a place for students to present their notes and for more detailed coverage of topics.
The scope of the course
BIO365R is essentially about the range of "exciteable" tissues found in a typical vertebrate. These include the nervous system (the brain and the assorted senses), the muscles including the heart, and signalling pathways that link to the endocrine system. Some of the topics covered will include neuronal function, action potentials, function and regulation of the heart, molecular muscle mechanics, the senses, and if time permits, other topics may include learning, memory, and fear.
Discussion sections
The discussion sections are designed to help the students integrate the material from lecture. There are 8 discussion sections each week. Students may attend any discussion section, however space may be limited. Attending discussion sections is optional. Your teaching assistants are here to help you. Students are strongly encouraged to bring questions to either TA. If you need to speak to a TA or me privately, please write or phone to make an appointment. It is not that difficult to find us and we can often step out of our labs briefly to talk. There are links at the top to contact the TAs by email.
Reference Texts
There is textbook assigned for the class. It is: Neuroscience by Purves (the white one, below left). In the past, we have not used a textbook, but this semester we are going to try it with one book. There are several copies of each of the books below on reserve in the life sciences library. And there are others that can serve as reference sources, the lectures are the primary source of course (and examination) content.
