A&S300  Biology of Aging Syllabus
Fall 2008

Lecture MWF 11-11:50AM, Rm116 Morgan Biology building

Instructor:	
	Jim Lund	
	jiml@uky.edu	
	311 Morgan Building, 0225	
	257-1034	
	Office hours: 10-11am Fri	
	Available after class	

Course Description
	This class is an introduction to the biology of aging.  Why do animals age and what is aging?  This course covers the demographics, the physiology, and the cellular and molecular biology of aging.  Aging in humans is compared to aging in long and short lived vertebrates.  Recent insights into the basic mechanisms of aging from studies of model organisms are discussed.  Prereq: BIO 150/BIO 152 or consent of instructor.

Textbook
No textbook is required.  Readings from books and journal articles will be made available on the class website. 

Grading
Exam I:  30%
Exam II: 30%
Final: 	   40%

Exams are to be done individually.  Inappropriate contact during an exam will be considered cheating and will be prosecuted as such via normal UK channels!  The minimum penalty for cheating is a disciplinary E, which cannot be removed from one’s transcript by a repeat option.

Student Learning Outcomes:
· Identify and analyze biological aspects of aging
· Understand the junk science and myths of aging. 
· Recognize and discuss the methods used to study aging.
· Gain an understanding of current aging demographics. 
· Understand the theories of aging and the supporting evidence.
· Be able to distinguish between physiological (intrinsic) and environmental (extrinsic) factors in the aging process. 
· Understand the major diseases and disorders of aging.
· Understand the contribution of model organism studies to understanding aging.

Lecture	Topic	
1	Introduction to aging.	
2	Human lifespan demographics.	
3	Evolutionary and comparative aspects of longevity and aging.	
4	The aging phenotype I, organism, and organ systems.	
5	The aging phenotype I, organ systems and physiology.	
6	The aging phenotype III, cellular and molecular.	
7	Comparison to aging in other organisms I, organism and physiology.	
8	Comparison to aging in other organisms II, cellular and molecular.	
9	Universal aspects of aging, the synthesis.	
10	Premature human aging: the progerias.	
11	Insights into aging from studies of premature aging.	
12	Diseases of aging: cancer, heart disease, diabetes.	
13	Diseases of aging and senescence.	
14	Review session.	
Exam I		
15	Effects of environment and lifestyle on aging	
16	Junk science and reversing the course of aging: from monkey pills to health books.	
17	Human genetics of aging: the centenarians.	
18	Diseases of aging and their treatment, effects on the demographics of aging.	
19	Interventions known experimentally to modify longevity and aging.	
20	Theories of aging, thinking about aging throughout history.	
21	Theories of aging: senescence and telomeres.	
22	Biology of telomeres, cancer, and aging.	
23	Theories of aging: DNA damage.	
24	Theories of aging: free radicals and oxidative damage.	
25	Free radicals and mitochondria: live fast, die young.	
26	Model organisms, aging goes genetic: the daf genes.	
27	The insulin-like signaling pathway.	
28	Review session	
Exam II		
29	Caloric restriction and lifespan.	
30	Caloric restriction and lifespan, mechanisms.	
31	Converging aging pathways	
32	Current discoveries about aging.	
33	Other molecular aspects of aging.	
34	Stem cell depletion and aging.	
35	Senescence and healing.	
36	Senescence and prospects for treatment.	
37	Prospects for lifespan extension.	
38	Review session	
Final exam	Fri. 12/19/08 1-3PM