Principles of Evolution

Biology 3330 – Spring 2015

James F. Thompson, Ph.D.

James F. Thompson, Ph.D.

• Office: Sundquist SC B210 • Office Hours: MWF 2:30 – 3:15 PM

and By Appointment• Phone: 931-221-6286• E-mail: thompsonj@apsu.edu• Web Page:

http://www.apsu.edu/thompsonj/

Principlesof Evolution:OBJECTIVES

• Required for biology majors, sophomore to senior status 

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and principles of organic evolution as the unifying theory of all biological science

Principlesof Evolution:OBJECTIVES

• Demonstrate an understanding of major evolutionary processes including heredity, diversity of life, natural selection, adaptation, speciation, extinction, social evolution, and human evolution; the history of evolutionary thinking and the major thinkers

Required Text

Brian K. Hall

Evolution: Principles and Processes

1st edition, 2011

Ordering Evolution: Principles and Processes through Jones & Bartlett

Learning Discounted Price

Call Jones & Bartlett Customer Call Jones & Bartlett Customer Service at (800) 832-0034, Service at (800) 832-0034,

ext. 8197ext. 8197

Give the Customer Service Give the Customer Service Representative the ISBN: Representative the ISBN:

97814496518799781449651879You cannot order through the website.

The ISBN is only offered to schools currently using the text.

Natural History Magazine

• Highly Recommended• http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/

• Special Introductory Rate of $25 in 2015

• Special On-Line Features on Darwin & Evolution

• Link to American Museum of Natural History Darwin Exhibition

Attendance• Required - Sign the roll sheet each class

period

• Punctuality will be appreciated

• Any material missed will be the responsibility of the student

• It is the student’s responsibility to report absences and the reasons for any absences, before the fact when possible, when they occur

• No one may be present in the classroom or lab who is not enrolled in the course 

Communication Devices

• All beepers, cell phones, and other outside communication devices must be turned to silent or off during class

• They are disruptive to the lecture and to the learning process for your fellow students

Students with Disabilities

• Any student who has a disability that may affect his/her academic performance is encouraged to make an appointment with the instructor or the Coordinator of Disability Issues (details in syllabus)

Communication with Dr. T.

• Please ask questions whenever you have any problems with the material of the course

• If you need extra help or have a question outside of class, please send me an E-mail or make a phone call or an appointment with me

Grading• Grade = numerical average of 3

scheduled exams (15% each), 1 final exam (15%), a laboratory (reports) grade (15%) a minor and a major student PPT presentation (8% and 17% respectively)

• The Final Exam is comprehensive

• Lecture Exams include at least 10% additional “bonus points”

Academic and Classroom Misconduct• Students are expected to conduct themselves

appropriately at all times.  Academic and classroom misconduct will not be tolerated.

• Students must read the Code of Student Conduct in the new Student Handbook for an understanding of what will be expected of them within the academic setting.

• Any use of electronic devices during examinations will be considered as cheating and such use will warrant an F in the course.

Make-up exams

• Make-up exams are permitted for only those students with excused absences

• It is the student's obligation to arrange for make-up exams within 48 hours

• Make-up exams will not receive the benefit of bonus points

• Failure "to be prepared" is not a valid excuse

Laboratory Exercises

• Labs will meet on certain Fridays

• Most of our labs are computer simulations

• Each lab experience will include a written report to be handed in to be graded

• Any missed labs must be made up on your own time

My Expectations and Your Responsibilities

• Prepare Before Each Class Period Read the Assigned Chapter before it is discussed

in class

If you cannot read the text before class, then you should at least inspect the figures

If you cannot read the text before class, then you should at least inspect the on-line PowerPoint presentations

My Expectations and Your Responsibilities

• Prepare for the Examinations Read the Assigned Chapters well before

the day of the exam. Ask questions of me in or outside of

class if you need assistance in understanding the material.

Do not ask me “What will be on the exam?”

The exams will consist of objective questions, definitions, short answer and discussion questions.

My Expectations and Your Responsibilities

• Be courteous to your classmatesNo talking among yourselves which disturbs

other students

• You may interrupt me to ask a question at any time – raise your hand

• You are welcome to seek additional help from me outside of class

• You should take advantage of the additional support materials available to you

Web Resources

• Dr. Thompson’s Web Site• http://www.apsu.edu/thompsonj/

• Text Student Companion Website• www.biology.jbpub.com/hall/evolutionprinciples/

Using the Web Resources

• If you have difficulty accessing the various web resources, please let me know

• You are not to use the computers and printers in the classroom/lab to print out copies of the PowerPoint presentations

• You may print them at APSU student computer labs – be sure to print in such a way as to conserve paper

Welcome toPrinciples of Evolution

• Any Questions?

• Let’s Start a Definition for Evolution.

Principles of Evolution

• What does the term Evolution mean?

Principles of Evolution

• What does the term Evolution mean?

• Change . . . in

Principles of Evolution

• What does the term Evolution mean?

• Change in allele frequencies . . . over

Principles of Evolution

• What does the term Evolution mean?

• Change in allele frequencies over generations . . . within?

Principles of Evolution

• What does the term Evolution mean?

• Change in allele frequencies over generations within a population’s gene pool.

Principles of Evolution

• Evolution means a change in allele frequencies over generations within a population’s gene pool.

• What is the unit of selection? What things can be affected by selective forces?

Principles of Evolution

• What is the unit of selection?

a)geneb)individualc)deme/populationd)speciese)all of the above

Principles of Evolution

• What is the unit of selection?

a)geneb)individualc)deme/populationd)speciese)all of the above

Principles of Evolution

• Before we start exploring the principles of evolution in our text, we will take some time to examine the Nature of Science

• After that prologue, we will start exploring the history and the evidence for Darwin’s Theory following the topics in the text