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.

Examines the rich diversity of human life in the following world regions: North America; Middle and South America; Europe; Russia and the post- Soviet states; and Oceania. We will examine the geography of these regions focusing on the following thematic concepts: Environment; Globalization and development; power and politics; urbanization; and population patterns. This course also serves as an introduction to geography.

Basic principles of weather phenomena and the physical processes underlying these phenomena. Emphasis on weather patterns of New England. Lab.

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.