Metabolism Across Biological Scales: Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology

Catalog description

Every breath you take, every meal you eat, and every disease you fight all revolve around metabolism. This advanced course challenges you to see metabolism as the core process behind all human biology and disease, from nutrient processing and energy balance to exercise and the trillions of microorganisms that function as a hidden metabolic organ shaping your health. Since metabolism is disrupted in every known human disease, this course prepares you to understand the biochemical underpinnings of how and why these diseases develop. Through four immersive modules, including lectures, primary research paper discussions, a scientist-authored book club, and an original research project, you will build critical thinking, scientific writing, and communication skills that prepare you for a career in science and beyond. By the end of the semester, metabolism will become a lens through which you understand the living world.