Professor Andrew Loudon (BA, PhD) - teaching

I run two final year courses.

The Chronobiology course is taught jointly with other MANCHESTER-based scientists with an research interest in clocks (Professors Hugh Piggins, Rob Lucas, and Drs Nick Glossop and Sue Crosthwaite). This course provides an overview of biological timing systems and biological rhythms, their evolution and the implications of biological clocks in matching the behaviour of animals to daily, tidal and seasonal rhythms in the environment. We emphasise current understanding of physiological and molecular process regulating biological rhythmicity, as well as a knowledge of how chronobiology is relevant to wild organisms and humans. Our intention is to produce an integrated course with extends from ecology and neurobiology through to an understanding of the genetic and cellular processes involved in biological timing. This one of the fastest moving and exciting areas of biology, and requires integration of knowledge across different species models and cellular/physiological systems.

The Hormones and Behaviour course is now one of the largest and most popular final year courses in the Faculty, and is attended by students from many different degrees. I teach the entire course myself. The course focuses on how hormones and primary genetic mechanisms drive behavioural pathways in vertebrates, with a focus on mammals. Initially, wWe focus on sexual differentiation of the brain, and how steroids modify brain structures. I then move to how olfactory pathways are involved and the role of oxytocin and vasopressin, and the evolution of monogamy and polygyny and brain peptide pathways. Other topics include genomic and behavioural imprinting. Model systems include sexual mimicry in African Hyenas, evolution of weapons and antlers, marsupial biology, and man and the great apes.

I also deliver tutorials in Zoology and Neuroscience.

Each year we take 3-5 undergraduate or Master-level stydents into the laboratory to project work. We also provide opportunities for overseas students (ie Erasmus exchange) to work with us for periods of 3-9 months.