A few First-Year Seminars give preference during the first round of enrolment to students with membership in the college offering the course - if this is the case, the college name will be listed beside the course title. During the second round of enrolment, first-year students at any college may enroll if space is available.
LTE 199Y1Y: Living Things and Their Environment (4)
| Section | Title | College | Time |
| L0121 | Plants as We See Them | - | Timetable |
| L0122 | Ecology of Trees and Forests | - | Timetable |
| L0421 | Biology in the Movies: Fact or Fancy | - | Timetable |
LTE 199Y1 Living Things and their Environment: Category 4
LTE 199Y1Y
Section: L0121
Timetable
Plants As We See Them
The intent of this seminar is to overcome the animal perceptual bias that leads us to see plants simply as part of the landscape, the background upon which the seemingly more interesting animals play out their lives. In the process, students will learn about how plants are put together and how they interact with the physical environment, animals, and each other, and will discover that the lives of plants are eminently suited to their spectacular success on Earth.
Instructor: J. Eckenwalder, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Breadth Requirement: 4 Living Things and Their Environment
LTE 199Y1Y
Section: L0122
Timetable
Ecology of Trees and Forests
As the global human population increases beyond six and a half billion, trees and forests are disappearing at an accelerating rate. This course will cover the ecological, economic, aesthetic and recreational services provided by trees and forests. We will then explore how forest ecosystems function and change with time and how they respond to disturbance. The fall session will focus on tree species identification and individual species biology. Part or all of each class will be held outdoors examining trees. Seminars will explore how tree species reproduce, disperse, grow and form forest plant communities. The indoor winter session will focus on forest ecology at the community, ecosystem, and landscape levels.
Instructor: T.J. Carleton, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Breadth Requirement: 4 Living Things and Their Environment
Section L0421
Biology in the Movies: Fact or Fancy
In The Fly, a scientist is transformed into part fly because of a mistake in an experiment. In Star Trek, humans turn into alien life forms by being inoculated with their genetic material. The hero of Spiderman gains his powers from a spider bite, and swings for great distances on spider silk shot from his wrists. Huge animals are a recurrent theme in movies such as King Kong and Godzilla. Are these things possible? How accurate a picture of modern biological knowledge do these stories represent? How can we find out? In this seminar course, we will investigate and discuss a range of biological ideas as presented in movies and on TV, and try to dissect fact from fiction, science from nonsense. With guidance, the student will be expected to contribute his/her own examples, research the topics involved, and present critiques to the class.
Instructor: TBA, Cell and Systems Biology
Breadth category: 4 Living Things and Their Environment