BIOL 317 - Economic and Medical Botany

This course provides a survey of the major plants that have impacted human society. In addition to providing oxygen, food, and shelter, plants have played a major role in the development of human civilizations, impacting such areas as medicine, religion, art, literature, industry, and politics. From both botanical and historical perspectives, we study the major plants that provide humans with such important products as coffee, sugar, chocolate, spices, oils, and fibers (and many others). Particular emphasis is placed on plants that have played a direct or indirect role in human medicine. Though there is no prerequisites for this course, it is strongly recommended to have BIOL 107 - Cells, Molecules, and Genes and BIOL 104 - Ecology and Evolution of the Organism.

Credit(s): 3
When Offered: Fall Only, Alternate Years