Courses Taught

ABG 200B. Integrated Animal Biology

(3 units) II. Delany. Lecture-3 hours. Natural history, management, historical and current uses and specialized disciplinary features of model, novel and/or production animal systems used in research. Development of conceptual approaches in organismal biology to improve experimental design and interpretation of interdisciplinary research studies. Heavy emphasis on student communication, both oral and written formats.

ANG 101. Animal Cytogenetics

(3 units) III. Delany. Discussion-1 hour and Laboratory-6 hours. Principles and techniques of cytogenetics applied to animal systems; chromosome harvest techniques, analysis of mitosis and meiosis, karyotyping, chromosome banding, cytogenetic mapping, chromosome structure and function, comparative cytogenetics.

AVS 103. Delany. Avian Development and Genetics

(3 units) I. Delany. Lecture-2 hours and Laboratory-3 hours. Unique features of avian development and genetics. Development topics: gametogenesis, fertilization, pre- and post oviposital development, morphogenesis, sex differentiation, specialized organ systems, incubation, hatching. Genetic topics: genome organization, inheritance, sex determination, avian models. Laboratory exercises: embryology, genetics, model systems.

HNR 94  Honors Seminar 2005: Medical Marijuana: Truth or Dare for a Healthy Society?

"There is not a shred of scientific evidence that smoked marijuana is useful or needed." -- U.S. Drug Czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, Aug. 16, 1996

"Marijuana is the safest therapeutically active substance known to man... safer than many foods we commonly consume." -- DEA Judge Francis L. Young, Sept. 6, 1988

What is the truth? Is marijuana of medicinal value to those experiencing chronic pain, dealing with daily ravage and incapacity from cancer, AIDS, or grand mal seizures? Is the dare to our society too great to allow for medicinal use of what is largely considered the "gateway" drug down a slippery slope of drug abuse? Many segments of society are grappling with this issue at a variety of levels: local (Davis City Council voted against a local dispensary), state (California is one of many states that allow medical marijuana use and seeks to prevent federal intervention), and federal (declared illegal). The Supreme Court has a case on its docket involving California. Many of us have an opinion, but what are the facts regarding medical use of marijuana? Does it have medicinal value? What are the implications of its use for the general health of our society? This seminar will explore this highly controversial topic.
 

HNR 94 Honors Seminar 2004: Games Academic Institutions Play: How Should They?

Myles Brand, head of the NCAA, argues that college athletics is at a crossroads resulting from the harmful consequences of big money in college sports. UCD is moving to NCAA Division I athletics with full eligibility to begin 2007-08. The move was controversial: campus administration was for it, the students voted to fund the move by raising student fees, the faculty voted against it (2:1).

Will the Division I status take us to the envisioned higher tier of academia /scholarship /athletics? Think a minute: Ohio State, University of Minnesota, University of Washington, Baylor, Michigan State, just to name a few. Wow: what happened? What are the positives (improved sense of community, values of teamwork /citizenship, more money for other sports programs, greater campus visibility, etc.) and what are the negatives (booster fraud, financial mismanagement, gambling, violence, poor graduate rates, etc.) for the individual student-athletes and the campus body? Is our athletic program engaged in developing the collegiate model or the professional model of student athleticism or not preparing at all? Can we develop useful guidelines for implementation for our campus? (And will the Aggie Band-Uh be changed forever by network TV contracts?) Come prepared to explore the issues - the good, the bad, the ugly - and to contribute your insight.
 

 HNR 94 Honors Seminar 2003: The Science of Kissing

Displays of affection and interest come in several forms, e.g., in the Western world handshaking, hugging, kissing; each form possesses various meanings depending on context and intensity. Different cultures and religions have different “signals and rules” regarding routine forms of affection involving public physical contact, from strongly encouraged to taboo. This seminar will seek to explore the scientific aspects behind or underpinning one form of affection, kissing, including its evolution, psychology, physiology, and impact on culture, society and politics. Consider, for example: How did kissing evolve, does it or something like it exist in all cultures (do all primates kiss?), what role does such affection have in child development and for aged individuals, is it medicinal, what neurochemical signaling pathways are invoked upon kissing, what role does kissing have in cultural development and on politics and society (why was Al & Tipper Gore’s kiss at the Democratic National Convention in 2000 such big news?).