HRT-235 Cannabis: Biology to Industrial Application
This course will survey the history of cannabis (Cannabis sativa) as well as its biology, breeding, chemistry, pharmacology, and downstream uses from biofuel and pulp feedstocks to medicinal application. Upon completion of the course, students will have developed in-depth knowledge of cannabis and, to either a scientist or layperson, be able to articulate present perspectives on its production and utility in human society and agriculture.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Explain the history and cultivation of different forms of cannabis spanning 10,000 years across western and eastern cultures.
- Examine the complex phyto-biochemical pathways involved in cannabinoid synthesis and the interactions of these compounds with animal physiology (e.g. neuromodulation).
- Integrate broad themes across plant physiology and chemistry as well as animal cell biology and neurology.
- Assess and critique contemporary research into the benefits and/or penalties of the chemical constituents of cannabis, including non-cannabinoid compounds such as essential oils and hemp oil.
- Describe the physiological properties and cultivation practices of hemp.