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Description:
Sex evolved multiple times in nature and is the most common way to reproduce in eukaryotes. This class will explore the diversity of sexual strategies that have resulted in over 500 million years of evolutionary history, diving deeply into mechanisms of sexual differentiation, and the resulting phenotypes. The second half of the class will focus on an exploration of sexual systems that rely primarily on two mating types: female and male. We will discuss the origin of this sexual binary, its usefulness and limitations, the common misunderstandings that are pervasive in modern culture, and how we can better engage with the nuance of biological complexity. We will discuss sex and gender and how they are viewed across disciplinary boundaries. Students will take weekly quizzes on the reading material, keep a journal with their questions and insights, and prepare a capstone presentation on a topic of their choosing.
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