The Biology of Sex
BIOL 106
Fall 2025
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01
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This course is featured as a general education course within the Department of Biology. Serving to complement courses currently offered within biology that only touch upon the subject of sex, this course will dive into specifics regarding sexual behavior and will serve to highlight new discoveries that have been facilitated by novel scientific techniques and approaches. As we study the biology of sex in the animal world, it becomes apparent that sex is achieved in a multitude of ways, many appearing rather bizarre and flamboyant. Yet under these guises, animals are still able to mate and reproduce. Sex is often defined according to sexual reproduction, whereby an egg is fertilized by a sperm, and offspring arise. However, many organisms engage in asexual reproduction and/or a combination of the two reproductive strategies. Reproductive anatomy and behavior will be addressed as we explore a variety of organisms, ranging from marine clown fish and their ability to produce both sperm and eggs along with the male chimeric marmoset (monkey) that mates with his brother's sperm. As an organism pursues reproduction, what are the mating strategies? What are the chemicals of sex (pheromones and hormones)? By examining the biology of reproduction, we will debate the competing strategies of males and females, and whether human cultural displays are yet another way to decipher quality in a potential mate. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM BIOL |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Less than 50% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice for All Creation by Olivia Judson
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Examinations and Assignments:
3 Exams, Oral Presentation of a Scientific Research Paper, Writing a Dr. Tatiana Style Letter (similar to our textbook), Classroom Discussion |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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| Instructor(s): Powzyk,Joyce Times: ...W.F. 10:50AM-12:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 5 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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