Hands-on approach to exploration of evolutionary forces affecting the frequency and distribution of genetic variation in natural populations. Wet lab techniques include DNA extraction, restriction enzyme digestion, PCR, DNA fragment size-selection. Computational skills include high-throughput sequencing data control, identifying allelic variants, and generation of population genetic summary statistics. One semester of genetics and one semester of statistics recommended.

Mechanisms of genetic change in plant evolution, both in nature and under human influence. Topics include neo-Darwinian theory; speciation and hybridization; origins and co-evolution of nuclear and organelle genomes; gene and genome evolution; transposable elements; chromosome rearrangements; polyploidy; genetic modification. Lab introduces methods in information gathering, bioinformatics, genome analysis, plant breeding, and genetic manipulation. One semester of genetics recommended prior to taking this course. Lab.

Introduces human-environment relations as a central focus of geography, spanning social and environmental sciences. Considers mapping, natural resource use, commons and markets, hazards, political ecology, and land use change. Case studies link core concepts with examples from local to international scales.

Why do people live, work, and play differently in different places? How are our realities shaped by local to global influences, both social and environmental? What does this mean in terms of "place" and lived landscapes? This course provides an overview of human geography as a social science, including the "why of where" and human-environment relationships. Topics may include urban, rural, and suburban development, globalization and governance, borders and migration, conservation and development, and different understandings of knowledge, economy, technology, race, gender, and class.