PCB 4674 - Evolutionary Biology

College of Natural Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2022 (610)

Requisites

(Prerequisite PCB 3043 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite PCB 3043L with a minimum grade of C) and
(Prerequisite PCB 3063 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite PCB 3063L with a minimum grade of C)

Course Description

This lecture course is designed to teach the mechanisms of evolutionary change and the resulting patterns of microevolution, speciation and macroevolution. Students explore the sources of genetic variation, “evo-devo”, and their roles in evolution. Students will investigate evidence of evolution and the relevance of evolution throughout biological disciplines. The course will emphasize the environmental pressures that drive adaptation and will investigate the molecular, morphological, physiological, behavioral and demographic adaptations resulting from specific environmental pressures.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will explore the evidence for evolution and the relevance of evolutionary theory throughout biology and everyday life by:
    1. interpreting data on artificial selection, microevolution, speciation, macroevolution and common ancestry.
    2. analyzing the relationships of evolutionary biology to other fields of biology.
    3. performing simulations on the evolution of resistance and investigating the impacts of understanding evolution on medicine, agriculture and human biology.
    4. writing a scientific review that critiques an area of controversy within the field of evolutionary biology.
  2. The student will explain the significance of variation to evolution and categorize the underlying processes that introduce, maintain and eliminate variation in populations by
    1. summarizing types of variation, how they are measured, and how they influence fitness.
    2. determining sources of variation.
    3. predicting and simulating the fate of new alleles in a population and the conditions under which alleles are maintained or eliminated.
    4. assessing the effects of sex linkage, recombination, quantitative genetics and development on evolutionary processes.
  3. The student will outline the conditions for genetic equilibrium and characterize the mechanisms of evolution by:
    1. summarizing genetic equilibrium and solving problems using Hardy-Weinberg principles.
    2. stating the Hardy-Weinberg assumptions and illustrating their connection to the mechanisms of evolution.
    3. simulating and analyzing the role of mutation, gene flow, non-random reproduction, genetic drift and natural selection in generating evolutionary change.
    4. characterizing, comparing and contrasting the major modes of selection.
  4. The student will investigate and apply methods for studying evolutionary processes by:
    1. distinguishing between types of studies used by evolutionary biologists.
    2. reviewing and analyzing current literature in evolutionary biology.
    3. conducting simulations and analyzing results.
  5. The student will investigate underlying concepts of adaptation by:
    1. exploring and analyzing sexual selection and parental investment.
    2. exploring and analyzing kin selection and social behavior.
    3. exploring and analyzing aging and other life-history traits.
  6. The student will correlate microevolutionary processes with macroevolutionary patterns by:
    1. summarizing the history of life on earth.
    2. providing evidence for the origin of life
    3. explaining mechanisms of speciation and diversification.
    4. describing the nature of the fossil record and taxonomic diversity over time.
    5. interpreting and creating phylogenetic trees.
    6. explaining the evidence and implications of Evo-Devo.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 9/24/02, BOT 11/12/02, Effective 20031. C&I 9/28/04, BOT 11/16/04, Effective 20042(0345). C&I 5/26/2009, BOT 7/21/2009, Effective 20091(0415). C&I 10/27/2009, BOT 12/15/2009, Effective 20092(0420). C&I Approval: 05/16/2014, BOT Approval: 10/21/2014, Effective Term: Spring 2015 (495).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2022 (610)

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