An integrative view of biology using a single environmental factor-light- as the unifying theme. Light is critical to organisms from all the kingdoms of life, and we will examine its effects at ecological, organismic and cellular levels. We will consider how organisms use light as an energy source and as an information source, how light can damage living organisms and how it may be used in medicine. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 106, BIOL106L, CHEM 106, or consent of the instructor.