BIOEE 3690 - Chemical Ecology

(crosslisted)
(also BIONB 3690, ENTOM 3690)

Spring. 3 credits. S–U or letter grade option.

Prerequisite: one majors-level biology course and one semester introductory chemistry for majors or nonmajors or equivalents, or permission of instructor.

A. Agrawal, A. Kessler, R. Raguso, and J. Thaler.

Why are chilies so spicy? This course examines the chemical basis of interactions between species and is intended for students with a basic knowledge of chemistry and biology. Focuses on the ecology and chemistry of plants, animals, and microbes. Stresses chemical signals used in diverse ecosystems, using Darwinian natural selection as a framework. Topics include plant defenses, microbial warfare, communication in marine organisms, and human pheromones.