| CODE | BIO3030 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Evolutionary Biology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Topics to be discussed include: Part 1 - Background The concept of evolution History and development of evolutionary thought. Part 2 - Basic concepts Microevolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, the evolution of sex Macroevolution and speciation Constructing and Interpreting Phylogenetic Trees. Part 3 - The History of Life The geological time scale The Ediacara Biota The Cambrian Explosion The Fish-Tetrapod Transition The Late Devonian Extinction The Permian-Triassic Boundary The KT Boundary Evolution of various vertebrate groups. Study-unit Aims: This course is designed to give a general overview of the: a. causes and consequences of biological evolution; b. Interpretation and construction of phylogenetic trees; c. The history of life. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the principal developments in the history of studies on evolution; - Describe the geological time scale; - Describe the principal processes that bring about evolutionary change and speciation; - Describe the principal evolutionary trends in a number of major groups; - Distinguish between natural selection and genetic drift; - Recognise different forms of natural selection; - Construct phylogenetic trees from first principles. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically appraise various points of view when explaining the same phenomenon; - Explain complex processes by starting from the basic principles of science; - Interpret the geological time scale; - Interpret environmental conditions as indicated by strata of sedimentary rock; - Interpret all biological phenomena in terms of evolutionary and selection pressures; - Prepare a poster presentation summarising a research topic. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Baum, D. & Smith, S. (2013). Tree Thinking: An Introduction to Phylogenetic Biology. W. H. Freeman; First Edition. - Futuyma, DJ. & Kirkpatrick, M. (2017). Evolution 4th Edition. Sinauer Associates. - Stearns, S. C., & Hoekstra, R. F. (2005). Evolution, an introduction. Oxford University Press. - Zimmer, C., & Kingsolver, J. G. (2010). The tangled bank: an introduction to evolution. Roberts. Other texts and readings may be indicated during the course itself. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year and 2nd Year Study-Units or equivalent. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sandro Lanfranco |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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