Biology 305, Biological Seminar

Dr. Kristina A. Schierenbeck
Holt 118
Office Hours: Tues. 2-5; Fri. 9-11
Phone: 898-5063
Email: kschierenbeck@csuchico.edu

The goal of this course is to give the student a strong understanding of methods associated with population genetics and systematic biology. Each student will give at least one presentation on a recently (1996-1998) published paper in population genetics or systematic biology (this will be the primary focus of the presentation) and one related paper. The related paper will be on some aspect (theoretical or experimental ) of the methods used in the first paper. Please contact me at least two weeks prior to your presentation to determine if the papers are appropriate.

 Grades: Participation and presentation will each contribute to one half of your grade. Please see my comments below regarding seminar presentations. If you miss more than two class meetings your grade will be reduced by at least one letter grade.

Acceptable journals are: American Journal of Botany, Cladistics, Conservation Biology,Evolution, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science, Systematic Botany, Systematic Zoology.

How to give an effective seminar presentation:

Your seminar presentation topic is defined by the article selected - it is not a regurgiation of the article! Hopefully, the seminar participants will have read the article and do not need to be told what they have read. Your job as a seminar leader is to put the reading in a broader perspective , provide an analysis of the work, and stimulate a discussion. This will require that you do a little sleuthing and read related articles or texts.

The seminar you will be leading should include (in addition to a summary outline of the assigned reading): the context of the article, historical perspective, and contrasting opinions. As seminar leader, it is your responsibility to lead the discussion, interject questions, keep a focus, and summarize the presentation. It is the responsibility of the seminar participants to have done the reading!