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Class number:
3362
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Title: Diverse Biology of Sex |
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Department: Biology |
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Career: Undergraduate |
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Component: Seminar |
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Session: Regular |
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Instructor's Permission Required: No |
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Grading Basis: Regular |
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Units: 1.00 |
| Enrollment limited to 14 |
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Current enrollment: 9 |
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Available seats: 5 |
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Start date: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 |
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End date: Wednesday, December 23, 2026 |
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Mode of Instruction: In Person |
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Schedule: M: 1:30PM-4:10PM, LSC - 135 |
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Instructor(s): Keeffe, Rachel |
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Prerequisite(s): Prerequisite: C- or better in Biology 182, Biology 183, Biology 205 and Biology 315. |
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Distribution Requirement: Meets Natural Science Requirement |
Course Description:
Biological sex is extraordinarily complex and plastic in nature. No single trait can unambiguously assign sex in all individuals of any species. Biological sex involves the intricate interplay of genetics, gonads, hormones, genitalia, and the environment. In addition, just like any other biological phenotype, these traits are not binary. They exist on a continuous distribution that often defies categorization. In this class, we will examine the diverse sexual strategies that have occurred over 500 million years of evolutionary history; from fungi with thousands of mating types, to birds with four sexes, to sequential hermaphroditism in fishes, to intersex snakes. We will explore the origin of the sexual binary, its strengths and weaknesses, and discuss better ways to approach the nuances of biological complexity. Students will engage with these ideas by reading classic and modern scientific literature, keeping an inquiry journal to record their questions and insights, participating in class discussions, and giving a short presentation on a topic of their choosing at the end of the semester. |