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Academic Year 2000/2001

Advanced Evolutionary Concepts
BIOL 359 SP

This half-course seminar is designed to examine in-depth concepts critical to our understanding of the evolutionary process. Issues to be covered include origins of evolutionary novelty, identifying the target of natural selection, the relation of genotype to phenotype, constraints on adaptive evolution, the concept of fitness, and the ecological complexity of gene flow. Readings will include recent as well as classic papers drawn from the primary literature of the past two decades.

MAJOR READINGS

Key review articles and book chapters from the primary literature, including Gould and Lewontin (1978), "The Spandrels of San Marco," Scharloo (1987), "Constraints in selection response," Slatkin (1985), "Gene flow in natural populations," etc., as well as relevent empirical studies from recent evolutionary journals.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Biweekly reading assignments. There will be one two-hour, open-book examination. Course grade will be based equally on class participation and exam performance.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Concurrent enrollement in BIOL349. Class will meet biweekly through the semester.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: .5    Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: BIOL207 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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