[Neuropostdocs] Evolutionary Neuroscience -- course announcement

[Samuel Beshers]

> Evolutionary Neuroscience (4 credits) Psych 496
>
> Fall 2007 MW 3:30-4:45   Instructor: Justin Rhodes
>
> Introduces the theory of evolution, with an emphasis on how the theory 
> can be applied toward understanding the origins of human and animal 
> behavior (with an emphasis on vertebrate animals).  The first part 
> introduces prominent philosophies of evolutionary biology including 
> readings from Richard Dawkins, Stephen Jay Gould, and Elliott Sober.  
> The second part explains basic features of several useful biological 
> methods to explore evolutionary changes in behavior including 
> selective breeding, the comparative approach, gene mapping, and 
> genetic engineering.  The third part takes a critical look at current 
> trends in psychology to interpret behaviors as products of natural 
> selection, pointing out potential pitfalls from not considering known 
> biological mechanisms (e.g., genetic drift, sex determination, 
> inter-gender hitchhiking, among others).  The last part focuses on 
> sex, sexual selection, mate choice, sexual dimorphism, sex differences 
> in the brain, and the evolution of sex with respect to the popular 
> philosophy that natural selection occurs most prominently at the level 
> of the gene or individual as compared to the group. Requirements are 
> weekly readings, 2 exams and a 10-15 page NSF proposal (encouraged to 
> be based on your current research). Please contact Justin Rhodes for 
> more information jrhodes at uiuc.edu. 


-- 
Samuel Beshers, Ph.D.
Neuroscience Program Coordinator
Research Associate, Department of Entomology
318B Morrill Hall
505 South Goodwin Ave
Urbana, IL  61801
217-333-4971
217-244-3499 fax