NEFU/UoA-BIOSCI729-Evolutionary Biology-2021 Spring
An Introduction to Evolutionary Biology
This is an introductory graduate course in evolutionary biology. It will provide you with an opportunity to review a wide range of primary literature, from philosophical papers to technical articles.
It is important for you to understand that each of the modules we will cover is a whole course in itself! However, we will not be able to cover each topic to your (or our) satisfaction. Therefore, we encourage you to read widely because we think that evolutionary biology is such an important discipline. In fact, Theodosius Dobzhansky, an eminent evolutionary biologist, once wrote that “Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution”.
The main objectives of this paper are to teach you to interpret the evolutionary literature in depth, to identify significant intellectual problems posed by this literature, and to discuss and write about this literature perceptively and persuasively. We will meet every week for a discussion of the seminar material. We hope you will ask questions if there is anything you don’t understand.
We hope that you enjoy this course, and you come to understand why evolutionary biology is so fundamental to the biological sciences, across all scales of enquiry!
[1] Dobzhansky, T. 1973. Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. American Biology Teacher 35:125-129
Learning outcomes:
- Be able to detail a range of key issues in evolutionary biology
- The ability to critically evaluate your own and opposing arguments
- The ability to articulate and formulate original arguments
- Development and refinement of written and verbal skills
Assessment:
The majority of your marks will come from your written work. At Masters/Honours, merely reciting facts, however complete these may be, only guarantees that you pass (i.e., obtain 50%). You will get good marks if:
- you are able to articulate your ideas clearly
- you are able to develop a logical, insightful and convincing argument
- you have drawn on sources beyond the material given to you
-
You will be assessed as follows:
- Eight assignments, one associated with each module of the course. Each assignment will be worth 8%.
- A final exam, worth 36%.
In addition, you will be assessed on your participation during the discussions, and if, in any seminar:
- you show no evidence of reading the material given, or
- you show no evidence that you have thought about the material
then 1 % will be deducted, for a maximum of 8 % over the 8 modules.
Final exam (36%):
You will have to answer four EITHER/OR questions[1].. Each question will be worth 9%. The questions will require an understanding of the topics you have covered in the course, but may not be directly related to these topics.
[1] An EITHER/OR question consists of two of question options. You are only required to answer one of the two options. Here is an example of an EITHER/OR question:
“Answer only one of the following questions:
EITHER
a. Describe and discuss the evidence that Darwin provided for descent from common ancestry.
OR
b. Discuss the similarities and differences of maximum-likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction.”