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BIOL 425

BIOL 425
ADVANCED EVOLUTION

Catalog Entry

Biology 425. Advanced Evolution
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in BIOL 111, BIOL 112, and BIOL 222  ; or a grade of "C" or better in BIOL 131, 132, 231, and 232.

Semester offered: Every Spring

Advanced exploration and application of modern hypotheses on the mechanisms of genetic change in populations, speciation, extinction, and modern approaches to classification. Concepts will be applied to a discussion of human evolution, extinct species, and conservation.

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

  1. Mechanisms of change at the population level, including mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural and sexual selection.
  2. Mechanisms of speciation, including allopatric and sympatric models, and current species concepts.
  3. Major transitions such as the evolution of the eukaryotic cell, multicellularity, terrestriality, flight, etc.
  4. Origin of complex traits.
  5. Overview of mass extinctions.
  6. Comparative phylogenetics.
  7. Biogeography and phylogeography.
  8. Human evolution.
  9. Conservation of species.

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Classes are a mixture of lecture, discussion, and problem solving. The instructor provides supplementary information and questions to guide student reading and facilitates small group and whole class discussions by questioning, clarifying, and helping students summarize their ideas. Analyses with real data will be conducted both in and out of class, resulting in oral and visual presentations.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

On completing this course students should be able to:

  1. Students will be able to identify within-population level processes when presented with several types of data.
  2. Students will be able to use phylogenetic trees, and other data, to differentiate among competing evolutionary hypotheses.
  3. Students will describe various modes of speciation and provide an explanation of the types of evidence necessary to distinguish among them.
  4. Students will construct an argument in support of evolution that applies evidence from biology sub-disciplines.

 

Assessment Measures

Graded assignments include examinations largely through essays and short answers test knowledge of concepts, terms, history, evidence, arguments, etc., and ability to solve genetics problems and interpret graphs and phylogenetic trees. A series of short papers test ability to apply course information and analyze/evaluate scientific arguments. Both examinations and papers assess understanding of methods of testing historical hypotheses. Students may also be evaluated on their contributions to discussions and presentations to the class.

 

Other Course Information

Computer programs will be used to practice analyzing complex datasets and manipulating parameters to see how results differ.

 

Review and Approval

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
September 2001 Dr. Charles M. Neal, Chair

February 27, 2024

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