Course
Discontinued
No
Course Code
BIOL 3700
Descriptive
Evolution
Department
Biology
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
201910
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours
Lecture 4 hours per week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Learning Activities
- Lecture
- Discussion groups
- Reading assignments
- Term projects
Course Description
This course investigates the processes and mechanisms of biological evolution and their influence on the patterns of biological diversity that have arisen during the history of life on Earth. Evolutionary analysis is applied to topics such as adaptation, speciation, the origins of life, reproduction, parasitism, mutualism, human medicine and environmental issues.
Course Content
History of evolutionary thought
- Early history
- Darwin
- The modern synthesis
- Contemporary views
The evidence for evolution
- Phylogenetic trees
- Homology and analogy
- The fossil record
- Biogeography
- Measurement of evolutionary change
- Cell and molecular biology
Mechanisms of evolution
- Sources of variation
- Natural selection
- Genetic drift
- Gene flow
Population genetics
- Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
- Selection on dominant and recessive alleles
- Mutation-selection balance
- Non-random mating
- Linkage equilibrium and disequilibrium
Natural selection and the levels of selection
- Requirements for natural selection
- Causes of selection
- Measurement of selection
- Levels of selection
Origins of life
- Miller-Urey experiment
- RNA world
- Protobionts
- Common origin of all organisms
Molecular evolution and the evolution of genetic systems
- Evolution of the genetic code
- DNA sequence evolution
- Natural selection on DNA sequences
- Transposable elements
- Organelle genomes
Evolution of life histories
- Life history traits
- Major evolutionary trade-offs
- Evolution of aging
Evolution of sexual reproduction
- Sexual vs. asexual reproduction
- Female choice
- Sexual selection
- Evolution of mating systems
Evolution of sociality
- Kin selection
- Eusociality
- Evolution of sex ratio
- Parent-offspring conflict
- Reciprocal altruism
Speciation and extinction
- Mechanisms of reproductive isolation and hybrid zones
- Adaptive radiation
- Macroevolution and the history of life
Human evolution
- Origin of modern humans
- Evolution of human behaviour
Darwinian medicine
- Evolution of human pathogens
- Evolution of human response to disease
Evolution and the environment
- Evolutionary ecology
- Biological diversity & biological invasions
- Global warming and adaptation
- Drug and pesticide resistance
Learning Outcomes
- To understand the mechanisms and processes of biological evolution
- To develop an appreciation of the development of evolutionary thought in the biological sciences
- To explain the major lines of evidence for biological evolution
- To understand the population genetics underlying evolutionary theory
- To understand the requirements for and causes of natural selection and the biological levels at which selection can act
- To explain current theories of the origins of life and evolution of cellular organisms and the genetic code
- To apply evolutionary analysis to the study of life histories, sexual reproduction, sociality, speciation, extinction, human evolution, human medicine, environmental issues and other biological topics
Means of Assessment
| In-class assignments and tests | 15-25% |
| Term project | 15-25% |
| Midterm examination | 20-25% |
| Final examination | 30-35% |
| Total | 100% |
Textbook Materials
Will be decided by course instructors. Potential resources include:
S. Freeman & J.C. Herron, (2004), Evolutionary Analysis, 3rd or current edition. Pearson Education, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.