Biology 251
Evolution Theory
Fall, 2000
Dr. Kristina A. Schierenbeck
Holt 118
Office Hours: MW 8:30-11:00 am
Phone: 898-6410
Email: kschierenbeck@csuchico.edu
Class Web Page: http://www.csuchico.edu/~kschieren/evolve
Required Text: Freeman, Scott and Jon C. Herron. 2000. Evolutionary Analysis. (2nd Edition). Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
Grading:
Midterm #1
100
Midterm #2
100
Final Exam
150
Term Paper
100
Problem Sets
75
Total
525
The course total of 525 points will be broken down as follows: 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, 59% and below=F.
Exams: The exams will be in essay format and will include definition, short and long essays. The exams will include material from both the lectures and reading, although they will emphasize lecture material. The exam answers should be written in a clear, concise manner and cover material at the level addressed in lecture.
Term Paper: Please read these directions carefully. You will be required to complete a ten page (double-spaced, 12 pt. type, 1 inch margins, typewritten, including references) term paper on a topic of your choice (related to evolution, of course). The topic must be selected and turned into me by 20 October. Five points will be taken off your final grade if the topic is not turned in by this date. Each paper must include at least ten references. At least seven references must be from the primary literature in scientific journals. All literature must be cited within the text [for example (Smith 1979)]. Format the literature cited section as found in the journal, Evolution. The first complete draft of the term paper will be due 17 November and reduced 5 points for every day late. I will correct the draft and return it to you by 1 December. The final draft (with corrected first draft) will be due at the final on 11 December and reduced 5 points for every day late. Electronic Sources: APA Style of Citation
|
Evolution for majors |
|
Syllabus |
Fall 2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date |
|
Lecture Topic |
Reading |
|
August |
21 |
Introduction |
Chapter 1 & 2 |
|
|
23 |
History and the rise of evolutionary biology |
Chapter 2 |
|
|
25 |
The new synthesis |
Chapter 2 |
|
|
28 |
The molecular basis of evolution (basic genetics review) |
your genetics or intro. bio. txt. |
|
|
30 |
Natural Selection: Basic Theory |
Chapters 4 & 5 |
|
September |
1 |
Natural Selection: Selection, Mutation |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
6 |
Natural Selection: Mutation |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
8 |
Natural Selection: Migration, Fitness |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
11 |
Natural Selection: Fitness |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
13 |
Random events, genetic drift, bottlenecks |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
15 |
Evol. at more than locus: Wright's shifting balance |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
18 |
Exam Review - Problem Set #1 Due |
|
|
|
20 |
Midterm #1 |
|
|
|
22 |
Evol. at more than one locus: Quantitative genetics |
Chp. 6, exc. bx 6.1, sct. 6.2 |
|
|
25 |
Evol. at more than one locus: Quantitative genetics |
Chapter 6 & box 9.3 |
|
|
27 |
Neutralist vs. Selectionist theory |
Chapter 7 |
|
|
29 |
Genome evolution, concerted evolution, selfish DNA |
Chapter 7 |
|
October |
2 |
Adaptation and the unit of selection |
Chapter 8 |
|
|
4 |
Evolution of sex |
Box 6.1, Sect. 6.2 |
|
|
6 |
Evolution of sex |
Chapter 15 |
|
|
9 |
Kin and Group Selection |
Chapter 16 |
|
|
11 |
The species concept |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
13 |
Speciation |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
16 |
Speciation |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
18 |
Organismal Classification |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
20 |
Phenetics and Cladistics - Paper topic due |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
23 |
Phylogenetics |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
25 |
Exam Review - Problem set #2 due |
|
|
|
27 |
Midterm #2 |
|
|
|
30 |
The origin of life and Precambrian evolution |
Chapter 11 |
|
November |
1 |
Macroevolutionary change & trends |
Chapter 12 |
|
|
3 |
Biogeography |
Chapter 12 |
|
|
6 |
The fossil record |
Chapter 12 |
|
|
8 |
The fossil record |
Chapter 12 |
|
|
10 |
The fossil record & Extinction |
Chapters 12 & 13 |
|
|
13 |
Extinction |
Chapter 13 |
|
|
15 |
Primate evolution |
Chapter 14 |
|
|
17 |
Primate evolution - Paper draft due |
Chapter 14 |
|
|
|
THANKSGIVING WEEK BREAK |
|
|
|
27 |
Cultural/Social "evolution" |
Chapter 18 |
|
|
29 |
Cultural/Social "evolution" |
Chapter 18 |
|
December |
1 |
Biodiversity and Conservation |
Chapter 19 |
|
|
4 |
Biodiversity and Conservation |
Chapter 19 |
|
|
6 |
Current topics in Evolution - Problem Set #3 due |
|
|
|
8 |
Exam Review |
|