BIO 393 Special Topics in Biology
Topics vary semester to semester. A prior Statistics course is preferred but not required.
The Biology and Epidemiology of COVID-19
How did COVID-19 come to ravage the world and bring it to its knees in just a few months? What is happening now, and what will happen next? As of mid-July, 2020, there were over 13 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, and 570,000 deaths (World Health Organization). Over 3.2 million of those cases and 135,000 deaths were in the United States. All of these numbers are increasing. Students in this class have the unique opportunity to study this pandemic as it is happening. Topics will include the biology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the COVID-19 disease, and factors that affect the outcome of the disease. Testing and vaccine development will be covered. The epidemiology of the disease will be discussed, including the disproportionate effects of the disease in people of color.