Universität Wien
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300099 SE Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Reproductive Biology (2023S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 30 - Biologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 12 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 07.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 14.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 21.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 28.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 18.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 25.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 02.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 09.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 16.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 23.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 06.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 13.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 20.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1
  • Tuesday 27.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Seminarraum 1.5, Biologie Djerassiplatz 1, 1.012, Ebene 1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

SS 23: The Evolutionary Biology of Menstruation
Instructor: Günter P. Wagner

Background: menstruation is a major factor in the life of women during their fertile years, yet we neither understand what it is good for nor why it evolved. These questions become even more perplexing when one realizes that menstruation is a rare phenomenon among mammals, yet has never the less evolved multiple times. The latter suggests that there has to be, in some circumstances, a selective pressure to evolve menstruation; or is menstruation only a byproduct of something else?

What will we be discussing?
• What is the physiology of human menstruation?
• How comparable are menstruating animals?
• Is there a common theme to the biology of menstruation?
• What are the evolutionary reasons for the evolution of menstruation?

Structure of the Seminar:

1. Introduction
2. How? Basic biology of the menstrual cycle and menstruation
3. What? Comparative biology of menstruation (homology and convergence)
4. What? Menstruation in the spiny mouse model
5. What? Analogy between menstruation and parturition (serial homology)
6. Why? Colin Finn’s theory of M
7. Why/how? Experimental models of menstruation in a non-menstruating species
8. Why? Profet’s theory of infection prevention
9. Why? Strassmann’s theory of Energy preservation
10. Why? Brosens: Embryo selection
11. Why? Goyette: extended receptivity
12. Consequences: clinical perspectives
13. Clough 2002 conceptual structure of theories of M
14. Summary assessment of the field and new ideas

Students are expected to choose a topic and present the paper and lead the discussion in one week of the seminar (weeks 2 to 13).

Assessment and permitted materials

the students are expected to present one paper and lead the discussion in one of the meetings of the seminar. If there are not enough slots for this available the student will be expected to write a short essay of his/her choice in consultation with the seminar leader.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

see above

Examination topics

see above

Reading list

Papers will be posted at the begin of the semester. The participants of the seminar will be able to propose literature for discussion in addition to that offered by the seminar lead.

Association in the course directory

MES5, MZO W3, MZO W-5, MZO4

Last modified: Tu 14.03.2023 12:09