Biology of Sex: Diversity and Evolution

Catalog description

This course examines the origin, molecular mechanisms, and ultimate consequences of sex through the lens of evolutionary biology. We will focus on demystifying the questions about sex that evolutionary biologists seek to answer, why these questions matter, and what specific insights can be gained from them. Each week, we will broach a different question or set of related questions, and combine an introductory lecture with a discussion based on specific empirical findings. The course will emphasize critical thinking and engagement with the scientific literature while also developing a foundational knowledge of the processes that drive evolution in relation to sex.