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M. Readey: Courses Taught:
BIO-104. The Changing Natural Environment. 3 Hours.
Catalog Description: A biological approach to understanding the natural environment. This course introduces basic ecological principles including biogeochemical cycling, energy flow, the origins of biodiversity, and population growth; considers how humans interact with natural systems; examines the origins of contemporary environmental issues, including the role of humans in contributing to environmental changes; and explores potential solutions to environmental issues that are based on biological and ecological principles. Lecture only. (Does not fulfill major or minor requirements in biology.).
Note: I love teaching this class. It focuses on understanding the relevance of the core principles of environmental science in fields outside the life sciences. These include units on environmental justice, agriculture, and understanding the spread of diseases as ecological issues.
Previous Syllabus (Fall 2023)
BIO-320. Animal Kingdom. 4 Hours.
The animal kingdom will be explored through the anatomy, physiology, and developmental histories of the major animal clades. Students will examine the ecological significance of select clades and the niches and adaptations found among the major animal phyla. Our dynamic understanding of the relationships between the branches of the animal kingdom will be investigated through both cladistics and the traditional Linnaean approach. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIO-201 with a minimum grade of C and BIO-202 with a minimum grade of C and (BIO-250 with a minimum grade of C or BIO-150 with a minimum grade of C).
Note: I typically teach this class during the fall semester. Animal Kingdom focuses on understanding the cladistic (evolutionary/tree of life) relationships among the major phyla. In addition to cladistic skills, the production of an insect collection develops traditional taxonomic skills.
Animal Kingdom: Prior Syllabus, Fall 2021
Welcome to the Animal Kingdom (Video)
BIO-322. Invertebrate Zoology. 4 Hours.
This course surveys the diversity of invertebrates, which are the vast majority of animal life. Students will examine the development, physiology, reproduction, and evolutionary relationships among the invertebrate animals and our evolving understanding of invertebrate anatomy and physiology. The class will investigate the diverse biomechanical adaptations of animal life and use select phyla to explore their potential for biomimetic applications in medicine, industry, and design. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIO-201 with a minimum grade of C and BIO-202 with a minimum grade of C and (BIO-250 with a minimum grade of C or BIO-150 with a minimum grade of C).
Note: I usually teach this class in the spring semester. As we cover the cladistics, we investigate the “superpowers” that make each phylum unique. Invertebrate zoology explores the basic mechanics of how the body plans functions without getting bogged down in mathematics. (That’s what graduate school is for.) The principles of biomimicry/bio-inspiration are explored.
Invertebrate Zoology: Prior Syllabus 2022
BIO-323. Entomology. 4 Hours.
Insects, their identification, classification, habits and ecological relationships are examined, with special emphasis on insects common to the Chicago area. Materials are introduced for a foundation in forensic, medical, agricultural, and environmental entomology. It includes an exploration of insects as disease vectors, the mechanisms of insect control, and integrated pest management. Lecture, laboratory, and fieldwork. Prerequisite: BIO-201 with a minimum grade of C and BIO-202 with a minimum grade of C and (BIO-250 with a minimum grade of C or BIO-150 with a minimum grade of C).
Note: When I first taught this class, it had not been offered for many years, and I surveyed the initial cohort of students to help design the course. It took directions I did not expect. The students requested the addition of the forensics unit. Thanks to the kind aid of North Park Village Nature Center, we have had the opportunity to set up mock crime scenes off the beaten path, using chickens as our cadavers. Students have collected the larvae from these “corpses,” reared them, and, over the course of the semester, calculated the time of “first exposure,” a traditional estimate for the time of death. (So far, everyone’s been able to do it.)
Entomology: Prior Syllabus, 2018
BIO-326. Animal Parasitology. 4 Hours.
Taxonomy, anatomy, physiology and significance of parasitic and parasitoid organisms and their hosts are explored. The course examines host-parasite interactions, distribution of parasites across ecosystems, and effects of their presence and life cycles and on the surrounding environment. The class also explores the diversity of human parasitic infections, their impact on the economy, and our changing understanding of what constitutes a “parasite.” Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisite: BIO-201 with a minimum grade of C and BIO-202 with a minimum grade of C and (BIO-250 with a minimum grade of C or BIO-150 with a minimum grade of C).
Note: This overview course focuses on the eukaryotic invaders traditionally known as “parasites,” but also explores their similarities to prokaryotic and viral pathogens. The class extends beyond medical and veterinary applications to look at the principles. I focus on parasitism as a niche, the adaptations that support a parasitic lifestyle, and the often-ignored role that parasites play in the environment. Far from being the bad guys of a James Bond movie, many parasites contribute to their ecosystem, and some are critical to its survival.
Animal Parasitology: Prior Syllabus, Fall, 2022
BIO-328. Animal Behavior. 3 Hours.
Comparative ethology with an emphasis on understanding the impact of adaptation, evolutionary history, anatomy, physiology, and developmental processes on the behaviors of animals. Topics include learning, intelligence and emotional impacts, social organization, and physiological integrating mechanisms. Prerequisite: BIO-201 with a minimum grade of C and BIO-202 with a minimum grade of C.
Note: I wish to start with a warning. Many students take this class because the name leads them to believe it will be an easy class to complement their molecular biology class. It is a 300-level course in ethology (animal behavior), and I treat it as such. We cover animals in the broad sense, from sponges to birds and mammals, taking an adaptationist approach that links behavior, physiology, sociobiology, and environment.
Animal Behavior: Prior Syllabus, Spring, 2022
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