What is Life?

Catalog description

How do we know what we know about living things? The scientific study of biology has undergone dramatic transformations since its origins in the late 18th century. Far from monolithic, biology today is made up of diverse theories and practices that have been shaped by broader changes in social, cultural, technological, and economic history. In this course, we will explore how biology has developed and ask how its history can inform contemporary research and vice versa. Reading historical and modern scientific literature together, each week we will unpack a key topic in the field—ranging from cell theory, evolution, development, ecology, and genetics to recent advances in genomics, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Readings and discussion will be accompanied by labs and workshops to emphasize the central role practice-based inquiry has played in the making of biological knowledge.