This course focuses on the relationship between biology and society since the late 18th century. It explores how biology has interacted with physics, chemistry, industry, ethics, politics, law, and religion during the past 200-plus years. It also examines the ways that biology and society have evolved together, both in the United States and around the world, and have become increasingly dependent on one another in the process. Some topics covered include: late 18th century attempts to explain life processes in terms of physics and chemistry; the Darwinian Revolution; the rise of experimentalism in biology; the scientific purpose and morality of animal experimentation in 19th century physiology; the history of genetics and eugenics; the impact of atomic weapons on biology; the rise of molecular biology and biotechnology; and ecology and environmentalism.
