654-203 Animal Physiology

Experiments involving animals are an essential part of this subject; exemption is not possible.

Biology 600-141 and 600-142; or 600-131 and 600-132. Plus 25 points of 100-level chemistry.

The subject deals with basic physiological processes in animals, and the physiological adaptations of animals to diverse and changing environments. Emphasis will be placed on the comparison of examples drawn from across the animal kingdom. At the completion of the practical component, students should understand the design of experiments, and have developed by first-hand experience an insight into the collection of data like those dealt with in lectures.

This subject builds upon generic skills developed in first-year subjects, including an ability to approach and assimilate new knowledge and an ability to use that knowledge to evaluate and communicate the ideas. Students should learn how to observe critically and to use the results of their observations to pose and answer theoretical questions and to solve practical problems. They should gain experience in mastering the terminology of a scientific field and then in using that mastery to access an established body of scientific literature and material and to develop the ability to critically evaluate questions and issues in that scientific field. In the practical component, students should acquire skills in dissection and the use of laboratory equipment, develop first hand experience in design and execution of experiments, and learn how to interpret data and write this up as a scientific report.

A 2-hour end of semester written examination (70%); up to 15 pages of practical assignments (30%).