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Human Diseases and Drugs (BIOL 1226)

Total Credits: 3
Lecture Credits: 3

Description: This course uses active-learning and interactive strategies to introduce principles of common human diseases and their pharmaceutical treatments and examine social influences on diseases and treatment. You will predict how genetic and lifestyle choices injure structures to change functions to cause diseases, compare and contrast the most commonly prescribed drugs, and calculate dosages. You will also apply the scientific process by making predictions/forming hypotheses, collecting data to test predictions/hypotheses, and analyzing and communicating results. This course includes a laboratory-like experience.

Topical Outline:
1. Genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle causes of injury to structures and functions leading to diseases of the gastrointestinal, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and reproductive systems
2. Most-commonly prescribed drugs and pharmacogenetics of drug election and class
3. Social issues related to diseases and drugs
4. Scientific process
5. Dosage calculations
6. Learning strategies

Learning Outcomes:
1. Predict how genetic and lifestyle choices (including epigenetics) injure molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and organ system structures to change functions (including signaling and reflex-response loops) to cause disruptions to homeostasis and diseases
2. Compare and contrast the most commonly prescribed drugs (from a list of the 200 most prescribed drugs) including drug class, mechanism of action, diseases to treat, major side effects, and pharmacogenetics of drug selection and dosages
3. Apply the scientific process: form hypotheses, collect data to test hypotheses, and analyze and communicate results
4. Practice dosage calculations
5. Practice a wide variety of learning strategies
6. Analyze data and debate on social topics (e.g., social influences on diseases, insurance practices, privacy laws, health disparities)

Prerequisites:  Placement into MATH 0006

MnTC:
  • Goal 3: Natural Sciences
  • Goal 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility