BIOEE 1780 - An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology and Diversity

(BIO-AG, PBS-AS)

Fall, Spring, Summer. 4-5 credits, variable. Student option grading.

Forbidden Overlap: due to an overlap in content, students will not receive credit for both BIOEE 1780 and BIOEE 1781.
Enrollment limited to: 300 students. Enrollment preference given to: freshmen, sophomores, and transfer students. One field trip. Biological sciences majors must take course for a letter grade. Four credits with 3 lectures and 1 discussion section per week; 5 credits with 3 lectures per week and a Writing in the Majors discussion section that meets twice per week. Students taking 5-credit option read additional materials from primary literature and write essays in place of regular exams. (Students may not preregister for 5-credit option; interested students complete application form on first day of class.) 5-credit option limited to 15 students per section each semester. Students enrolled in the Galapagos/Writing curriculum will travel to the Galapagos Islands over Spring Break.

Fall, M. Vitousek; Spring, C. Specht.

Considers explanations for pattern of diversity and the apparent good fit of organisms to the environment. Topics include the diversity of life, the genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, evolution by natural selection, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, origin of humans.

Outcome 1: Students will understand the underlying causal principles of evolutionary diversification.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to apply these principles to understand historical and contemporary evolutionary scenarios.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to identify ~100 core taxa in the tree of life, their characteristics, and understand the relationships among them.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to use basic conceptual and analytical tools to describe complex relationships within the tree of life.

Outcome 5: Students will be familiar with a number of experimental and synthetic approaches to analyzing and discovering evolutionary processes (microevolution) and establishing evolutionary patterns (macroevolution).

Outcome 6: Students will write and discuss knowledgeably about the dimensions of evolutionary issues that require decisions in our society.