FRS 002E — Sec. 001 — (2 unit) — CRN 65524 — R 3:10-5:00 pm — 158 Briggs
Symbiosis, Coevolution, and the Evolution of Cooperation: An Interdisciplinary Perspective

Instructors: Harry K. Kaya, Professor, Department of Entomology, College of
Agricultural & Environmental Sciences and
Surindar Paracer, Visiting Professor, Department of Nematology, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. On sabbatical leave from: Massachusetts State College at Worcester.

Description: This Freshman Seminar is designed to present a unique opportunity to explore the biological diversity, both positive and negative, that exist between two different organisms in close association with each other. This co-existence termed ‘symbiosis’ means the living together of different species of organisms. Life is complex and often involves a delicate balancing act between hosts (the larger species) and symbionts (the smaller species) in associations that range from parasitism to mutualism. In the long history of life on earth, symbionts in their attempts to overcome a host’s defenses have evolved many protective strategies, including molecular camouflage, deception, mimicry, and subversion. Advances in DNA biology have provided new sights into molecular mechanisms that are involved in symbioses. The general plan and format of instruction will involve the presentation and understanding of mutualistic relationships and of microbial pathogenesis and how diseases have evolved. The impact of symbiosis on modern biology has been revolutionary and we believe that an understanding of symbiosis should be part of the broad education of undergraduates. Symbiosis embraces the entire biological world and is a unifying theme that links together all living forms. In recent years, symbiotic relationships have reached new status in biology with their own postulates, generalizations and shared molecular mechanisms. On a number of occasions, plants and animals have acquired novel metabolic pathways through symbiotic union with prokaryotes or fungi. With examples, we will explore topics such as coevolution, evolution of cooperation, common themes in microbial pathogenesis, and symbiosis in the origin of agriculture in insects and human societies.

Format: The seminar will meet for two hours each week. The instructors will introduce the overall themes of the course in the first two introductory lectures and for the remaining six sessions, students will present short oral (15 -20 minutes)and written reports on selected topics. Various symbiotic relationships will be demonstrated in class, short field trips, and videos to provide examples to the students. Weekly, selected students will be required to contribute 5-8 discussion questions along with 1-2 page-bulleted summary on the assigned readings. Text: Paracer, Surindar and Ahmadjian, Vernon (2000) “Symbiosis: An Introduction to Biological Associations.” New York: Oxford University Press. Grading: Students will be required to prepare a short paper (5 double-spaced pages; 12 point font) on a topic (assigned and/or selected by the student with the instructors’ approval) and give an oral presentation on the topic. The course grade (60%) will be based on the quality of their written and oral presentation. The remaining 40% of the course grade will be based on each student’s 1-2 page topic report on the assigned readings, along with 5 questions and on class participation.

About the Instructors: Professor Harry Kaya is a faculty member of the two departments, Entomology and Nematology. His research interests are in the area of insect pathology, nematode behavior, fungal pathogens of insects, and symbiotic relationships between nematodes and bacteria. Current research projects include the understanding of mechanisms of fungal infection to insects, sexually transmitted diseases of insects, and behavior of scavenger ants to insect cadavers. He is the co-author of “Insect Pathology” (Academic Press, 1993), co-editor of the journal “Biological Control” and President of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology, an international organization composed of scientists conducting research on invertebrate pathogens.
Professor Surindar Paracer is a visiting professor on a sabbatical leave in the Department of Nematology. He teaches at Massachusetts State College at Worcester and is a co-author of “Symbiosis” (Oxford, 2000). His research interests include lichens, pitcher-plant symbiosis and history of symbiosis.