Course Description
An introduction to biological evolution from the level of genes to populations to species.
Athena Title
Honors Evolutionary Biology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in GENE 3000, GENE 3000E
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or BIOL 2107H) and permission of Honors
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Evolution is the major organizing principle of all the life sciences. The National Science Foundation identifies evolution as one of only five “core concepts for biological literacy.” Current research in evolutionary biology is very active, with applications to agriculture, medicine, conservation, computer science, and industry, among others. Darwin's description of evolution by natural selection is one of the key intellectual achievements of humanity, and all educated people should understand the basic concepts of evolution. The course objectives are for students to: A. Be able to explain evolutionary concepts and apply them to new situations, including: • The origin and role of genetic variation in populations • Adaptive genetic change in populations • Non-adaptive genetic change in populations • A basic mathematical description of the changes of gene frequencies in a population • How evolutionary relationships can be understood using phylogenies • Origin and extinction of species and biodiversity • Human evolution • Evidence for evolution and how evolution is studied B. Demonstrate skills in scientific reasoning and problem-solving, including: • Reason about scientific principles, theories, and models • Analyze and evaluate scientific explanations and predictions • Design novel experimental approaches to research questions C. Find and use reputable sources of information to help you learn concepts and principles in evolutionary biology. D. Read and critically evaluate primary literature. E. Be able to explain evolution concepts to non-biologists. F. Explain the benefits of research in evolutionary biology to other fields of inquiry. G. Explain the benefits of research in evolutionary biology to society, and how it helps us solve problems in our lives. H. Environmental Awareness: Evolutionary biology is a key scientific discipline in understanding the impact of humans on a key element of the environment: biodiversity. The course explicitly details the processes that lead to the origin and maintenance of biodiversity on the planet. Through a number of case studies and examples embedded throughout the course, we investigate the impact of human activity on biodiversity, including the maintenance of genetic variation in populations, the concept of gene flow (captive breeding programs in zoos) in maintaining genetic diversity, the effects of inbreeding and genetic drift on genetic diversity, how humans impact the genetic structure of natural populations and how human activity impacts speciation and extinction.
Topical Outline
Variation Genotype and Environment Genetics of Complex Traits Mutation Adaptation Population Genetics Natural Selection Sexual Selection Mating System Inbreeding Genetic Drift Molecular Evolution Migration History of Life Biogeography Macroevolution Phylogeny and Classification Speciation
Syllabus