Biology of Cats and Dogs: No Woof and Meow About It

Catalog description

This course introduces students to core principles of animal biology through cat and dog evolution, domestication, genetics, and physiology. We’ll discuss how dogs and cats evolved in divergent ways, shaping adaptation to human environments. We’ll explore the quirky world of feline and canine genetics and uncover why dogs display incredible diversity in size and shape, including maladaptive morphology or deleterious mutations associated with breeding. Species-specific adaptations influencing reproductive and physical traits, such as dogs’ exceptional scent perception and feline reproduction, the most efficient among placental carnivorans, will be discussed. This course blends lectures, interactive discussions, and student-led case studies, encouraging students to apply knowledge to real-world scenarios. Designed for non-life sciences majors, this class offers a fun, accessible way to explore the fascinating biology behind our favorite four-legged companions.