BE 152: Membranes to Motion

Instructors:Michael Dickinson flyman@caltech.eduScott Fraser sefraser@caltech.edu

TA: Marie Suver suver.marie@gmail.com

Tuesdays&Thursdays 2:30-3:55, 200 Broad

Texts: The Physiology of Excitable Cells, Aidley 4th edition Prnciples of Animal Locomotion, Alexander Grading: Two exams (33% each), one paper (33%)

Lecture 1: Overview on Animal Locomotion

Lecture 2: Physiology of Membranes

Lecture 3: Action Potentials

Lecture 4: Ion Channels

Lecture 5: Muscle Mechanics

Lecture 6: Electromechanical Coupling

Lecture 7: Molecular Motors

Lecture 8: Synapses

Lecture 9: Sensory Modalities

Lecture 10: Sensory Transduction

Lecture 11: Central Pattern Generators

Lecture 12: Skeletal Mechanics Work Loops

Lecture 13: Walking and Running

Lecture 14: Energetics of Locomotion

Lecture 15: Biofoils and Gliding

Lecture 16: Active Flight

Lecture 17: Swimming