This is the 2002-03 archive. For current courses and information see www.extension.harvard.edu.

Courses: Biology:

The Biology of Aging

BIOL E-179 The Biology of Aging (21906)
(Syllabus/Website)
Robert Lue, PhD, Senior Lecturer on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University.
Graduate seminar. 4 units. Graduate credit $1,375. Limited enrollment.
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 5:30-7:30 pm, Biological Laboratories, Room 1075. Spring term
Students need proof of registration to be admitted to Science Center classrooms above the first floor.

Aging is a fundamental and universal property of living systems. This seminar will review diverse models of the aging process, to better understand the biological mechanisms that underlie and bring about the expression of the aging phenotype. Topic coverage will combine primary research on the biology of aging with the broader social implications of each development. Reading material will be drawn primarily from current scientific journals as well as other sociological and popular sources. Students will confront the molecular and physiological processes that underlie the aging process, and how changes in longevity affect the social structure of society. Prerequisites: introductory biology required; molecular biology, cell biology, or immunology recommended.