MSL 693—Metabolic Physiology (3 cr.)
Course Goals
The primary goals of this course are to firstly provide graduate students with a fundamental and integrative understanding of metabolism and, secondarily, have students assimilate these concepts into their individual research foci. In the beginning of the course, I lecture and lead discussions on various aspects of metabolic physiology. This information serves as a platform for student led presentations and discussions in the second portion of the semester. My lectures and discussions are relatively general in nature as compared to student led presentations which are much more specific and centered on their own research interests and application of tools and concepts.
Course Description
Metabolic physiology is designed as a graduate level course that integrates organismal, sub-organismal and cellular aspects of vertebrate metabolism—thus it represents an amalgam of biochemistry, cellular physiology and comparative animal physiology. Its design is both rigid and plastic in that fundamental concepts of metabolism and physiology of metabolism will be covered, but the detail and intensity devoted to the various topics will be tailored to the research interests of the students that are enrolled. The course begins with a thorough overview of the biochemistry of metabolism and its controls, limits and constraints. The finale of the course is ‘seminar style’ with student led discussions of recent peer reviewed literature pertinent to both the course and the individual student’s interest.
The majority of this course takes place via distance delivery video conference. I have experience with this format and understand that there are frustrations and limitations associated with remote video technology. Unfortunately, this is the format that most cost effectively allows 2-way communication and visuals.