The famous evolutionary biologist Theodore Dobzhansky stated "Nothing in
biology make sense except in the light of evolution". This is certainly
true for physiology. In the discipline of comparative physiology we try
to understand how animals work and why they work the way they do. The
comparative approach, i.e. comparing how different animals solve
physiological problems, give us information on how physiological
mechanisms have evolved and made adaptation to widely different
enviromnents and life styles possible. This gives a deeper understanding
of physiological mechanisms, knowledge needed for management of
domesticated animals as well as for understanding of the effects of
challenges induced by enviromnental contaminations, global warming etc.
In this course the main focus will be on vertebrates even though we will
include examples from invertebrates when appropriate for the
understanding of specific physiological mechanisms. The course will
consist of several themes including: energy metabolism, biochemical
adaptation, respiration, circulatory system, osmoregulation, nervous
system and sensory physiology, movement, living in extreme enviromnents
( e.g. living without oxygen, low temperature, etc).
The course is carried out with lectures and seminars. The course is
mainly given as campus teaching with the possibility of participation
via zoom/video. Invited lecturers will in some cases lecture via Zoom.
Lectures and seminars are held once a week every two weeks.
Prerequisites
PhD-students in biology, veterinary medicine, medicine, pharmacology,
biomedicine, animal science, or similar.