EVOLUTION IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Course Goals:
Ever wondered:
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how do we develop vaccines when diseases keep changing?
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why are some diseases so much more harmful than others?
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why do I have to take Organic Evolution when what I want is to be a doctor?
This is your chance to find out! In this course, we will read from
a recent book, and from journal articles, to see how evolutionary principles
are applied to the area of medicine. We will explore the growing
field of "Darwinian Medicine," which uses evolutionary principles
to help understand why we get sick, why diseases have the properties they
do, and how we can use such information to prevent and treat diseases.
Areas covered in the book include: health and disease susceptibility related
to human evolutionary history; evolutionary explanations of human genetic
diseases; the evolution of harmful and less harmful disease organisms;
use of evolutionary principles in vaccine development; evolution and mental
illness; human genetic variation and public health; evolution and senescence
(why we deteriorate as we get old), and more -- students will be able to
shape the course by selection which chapters we discuss.
Readings:
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Required text: Stearns, Stephen C. 1999. Evolution in Health and
Disease. Oxford University Press.
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In addition, each student will present a seminar based on a recent published
primary research paper, which you will select, on a topic in the area of
evolution and health and disease.
What you have to do in the course:
We will start the semester with a brief review of main evolutionary
principles (which Dr. Irwin will lead; this means you don't have to have
taken, or remember, Organic Evolution before taking this course.)
We will then spend the first half of the semester discussing chapters from
the text. Each student will lead at least one discussion; the leader
of the discussion will present a one-page handout outlining key points
and questions for discussion. All students are expected to read the chapters
that are being discussed. Halfway through the semester, students
will take a midterm exam over the chapters that have been discussed; questions
will be based on the main points that have been brought out in the handouts
and in discussion. For the second half of the semester, each student
will find a recent primary research paper and give a 20-25 minute presentation
on the paper.
Your grade will be based on:
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leading discussions of book chapters, and preparing associated handouts
(30 points)
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presenting a 20-25 minute seminar over a primary research paper on the
topic of evolution and health and disease (30 points)
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a short (2 page maximum) paper summarizing the key points in the research
paper you present (10 points)
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a midterm exam over the book chapters that have been discussed (20 points)
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participating in discussions of book chapters and asking questions after
seminar presentations (10 points)
Attendance Policy: Three strikes and you're out!
That is, if you miss three (or more) seminar periods, you will receive
a grade of "F" for the course. Also, if you miss a seminar period
during which you were scheduled to lead a discussion or present a seminar,
without a very good excuse that I approve ahead of time, you will fail
the course!