History of Biology

What is life? This course looks at how scientists have answered that question since 1750, while considering the cultural context and social impact of the biological knowledge they generated. We will pay particular attention to how specific organisms, materials, and instruments have altered the course of research into and conceptions of life. Topics include natural history, cell theory, eugenics and its relationship to genetics, evolution and Darwin's contribution of natural selection, the changing understanding of race in life science, ecology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and genomics/proteomics.