Module: Animal Models of Human Conditions

CSB1021H/S, Teaching Section LEC 0155

Coordinator: Professor Laura Corbit

Offered: Winter 2025 session in March and April for a total of six meetings.

Weight: One module (0.25 FCE)

Time: TBA, likely Monday afternoons or Thursday mornings

Location: St. George campus, Ramsay Wright Building, Room TBA

Enrolment: Limited to 10 students

Description:

Animal models can be a powerful way to study both basic mechanisms and pathologies related to human capabilities and diseases.  But the data produced are only as good as the model used to generate them. This course will cover what makes a good animal model, some of the common frameworks used for generating models, as well as limitations of this research approach.  In addition to these general principles, students will have the opportunity to focus on a model of a specific process (cortical development, learned fear) or disease (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease) though their work related to an in-class presentation and paper that critically evaluate the strengths and weakness of a specific model of their choice.  The topic relate to their own research, but does not have to be. Attendance and participation in class discussions are an important component of the class.

*Specific Topics will be decided in an organizational meeting based on student interests

Evaluation:

Paper proposal: 10%

Presentation (of a research article): 30%

Paper (critical evaluation of an animal model): 50%

Participation: 10%

Prerequisites for module: None

Reading materials: Readings (journal articles) will be assigned throughout the course, some based on student topic selections

Website: Quercus

Last updated on August 9th, 2024