evolution syllabus2012tgrt 2

8/2/2019 Evolution Syllabus2012TGRT 2

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University of Puerto Rico – Rio PiedrasDepartment of BiologyEvolution – Biol 4345

Spring 2012

Professor: Tugrul Giray/Richard ThomasOffice: JGD 202/FB230e-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00-12:00 (RT) or by appointment

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10-12 (TG) or by appointment

Lectures: Monday and Wednesday, 2:00-3:20, CNL-A-231Quizzes: in class

Textbook: Futuyma, D. J. 2009. Evolution, Second Edition. Sinauer Associates,Sunderland, MA.Lectures: Available on Blackboard

Midterms: 1st Midterm: Wednesday, Feb 152nd Midterm: Wednesday, Mar 28

Final: Finals week TBA

Course overview: Biol 4345 is an in-depth introduction to evolution. Evolution is a heritablechange over time that has given rise to life’s rich diversity. Evolution itself is the result of manydifferent processes at the micro- and macro-evolutionary level. Understanding these evolutionaryprocesses is fundamental to understanding all aspects of biology. In the course of the semester we will study the mechanisms of the evolutionary process, and resultant patterns of biologicaldiversity. Throughout the course we will discuss major questions in evolutionary biology and howscientists ask and answer those questions. We will also focus on the impact of evolutionarybiology on modern issues of health, agriculture, and conservation. A central aspect of the courseis working through details of evolutionary theory and quantitative modeling.

Of all the biological sciences, evolution is inherently the most integrative and comprehensive. It is

the unifying theory of biology. By the end of the course we hope you will fully appreciate thefamous statement by Theodosius Dobzhansky “Nothing in biology makes sense, except in thelight of evolution.”

By the end of this course you will be able to:

1 Learn to apply rigorous evolutionary thinking to any question in biology.

2 Understand how to ask and answer questions in evolutionary biology.

3 Understand how different mechanisms of evolution (natural selection, drift, mutation

and gene flow), individually and combined, affect changes in allele frequencies inpopulations.

4 Appreciate how evolution has, and is, influencing issues in social sciences, medicine,

conservation and agriculture.

5Understand how new species originate and the factors that influence speciesdiversity.

Reading: Each week there will be chapters or parts of chapters to read from the textbook. Youare expected to have read these before coming to class. A class may start with a brief quizregarding the subject of the class, and such quizzes count towards your final grade. Some weeksthere will also be additional material to read. About eight quizzes are expected to be given duringthe semester, and the best five of these quizzes will be used toward your final grade.

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Exercises/assignments: There will a few assignments (quantitative problem sets/reading) thatwill give you opportunities to spend quality time thinking about concepts learned in lecture. Weencourage students to work together on exercise problems. However, written responses need tobe composed individually, and will be evaluated in the midterm and final tests.

Exams: There are two exams in the class, one midterm and one final. The exams will cover material from lectures, discussion readings and assigned readings, and quantitative problems.The final exam will concentrate on material from the last third of the semester, but will includesome cumulative general questions. Exams will be curved.

Quizzes: 20% of totalAssignments: 10% of totalMidterm Exams: 40% of totalFinal Exam: 30% of totalCourse participation/prof. evaluation 5% additional.

Final Grades will be as follows:

A: 90 – 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: below 60

Receiving or making phone calls during class will not be tolerated. You will be asked to leave theclass, and you will get a zero (0) for that week’s quiz. Receiving or making phone calls duringexams or quizzes will result in an immediate dismissal from the exam room and a score of zero(0) for that test.

The university strictly follows the policies of the “Ley 51”. If your case qualifies under theprovisions of this law, please come and talk to me as soon as possible so that we can makeappropriate accommodations.

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Week Date Theme Chapter

1 TG/RT Jan 18 Introduction Futuyma 1

2 TG

TG

Jan 23

Jan 25

What is evolution? and what is it not? Adaptationand natural selection, Classification, phylogeny

and the tree of life,Evidence for evolution; Evolution in our lifetimeEvidence for Evolution; Darwin’s Finches

Futuyma 1, 2,11

Futuyma 2, 3,11

3 RT

RT

Jan 30

Feb 1

Fossil recordHistory of life on EarthEvolution of Biodiversity

Futuyma 4, 5

Futuyma 7

4 RT

TG

Feb 6

Feb 8

Macroevolution, trends, progress and evolutionarydead endsGenetic variation, phenotypic variationHardy-Weinberg equilibrium; Natural Selection

Futuyma 22

Futuyma 8-9

5 TG

RT/TG

Feb 13

Feb 15

Population genetics models

Midterm I

Futuyma 9

6TG

Feb 20Feb 22

No Class: President’s dayNatural Selection: Long term effects of Selection;Maintenance of genetic variation

Futuyma 9-10

7 TGTG

Feb 27Feb 29

Genetic Drift2-locus population genetics : LinkageDisequilibrium; Quantitative genetics; Molecular Evolution: neutral theory, molecular clock,detecting selection

Futuyma 10Futuyma 12

8 RTRT

Mar 5Mar 7

Speciation: genetics & ratesSpecies & Speciation: Modes of speciation


9 RTRT

Mar 12Mar 14

Species & Speciation: Modes of speciation (cont.)Shared evolutionary histories: Biogeography

Futuyma 18Futuyma 6

10TG

RT

Mar 19

Mar 21

Molecular Evolution: Genome evolution, origin of new genesShared evolutionary histories: coevolution

Futuyma 20

Futuyma 19

11 TGRT/TG

Mar 26Mar 28

Evolution and developmentMidtermII

Futuyma 21

12 RTRT

Apr 2Apr 4

Why sex? Sex and sexual selectionLife History Evolution (mating systems, parentalcare, and group living)


13 TGTG

Apr 9Apr 11

Evolution of cooperation and Kin recognitionEvolution of Sociality & Multilevel selection


14

TG

Apr 16

Apr 18

No Class (Jose De Diego)

Phenotypic Evolution Futuyma 13 (11)15 RT

RT

Apr 23

Apr 25

Phylogenetic applications, testing adaptation,phylogeny and conservationEvolution & Human Health/ Darwinian Medicine Futuyma 23

16TG/RTRT/TG

Apr 30May 2

Discussion about the role of evolution in our livesEvolution, society and religion Dobzhansky 1973

17RT/TG May 7 Review

FINALS Final Exam

Note: This schedule is subject to change

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