BIOL 3330 - Extreme Physiology

3 Credit(s)

This course will examine the interrelations between homeostatic, compensatory mechanisms and specific features of environmental stress. The effects of external body temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and gravity, on basic physiologic processes such as external and internal gas exchange, obligate water loss, blood circulation, etc. will be examined in some detail. Building off of the concept of gradients, the course will explore how specific alterations in normal gradients would be expected to alter physiologic function. Students will choose an extreme environment and research answers revealing if and how the human body could adapt and acclimate to the specific suite of environmental challenges presented by that particular environment. The limits of human physiology will be compared and contrasted with other animals’ adaptations (if any) to specific components of those extreme environments.

Selective
Advance biology selective and writing intensive.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 2231 and CHEM 2314 or CHEM 1232 with a C- or better.