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BIOLOGY 131: INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION “There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers having originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed laws of gravity, from so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved” -­‐ Charles Darwin (1859) On the Origin of Species INSTRUCTOR: Jason Pienaar, PhD (Klamath 373A, [email protected], office hours: 9am – 11 am Wednesdays.) COURSE DESCRIPTION: Evolutionary theory is the unifying thread of the modern biological sciences. An understanding of the evolutionary process allows us to pursue fundamental questions such as where did life (including us) come from, how are different life forms related to each other and what can a deep understanding of one life form tell us about other life forms. In this introductory course, we will cover four main aspects required to understand evolutionary theory: geological history of the earth; history of life on earth; mechanisms of evolutionary change; and genetics and developmental biology. For each topic, we will explore the ideas of the great thinkers throughout recorded human history as well as our modern understanding of evolution through the scientific method. TEXT: The majority of reading for class consists of links to freely available websites. For some of the Discussion sessions though, you will be required to purchase six online tutorials and labs at a cost of $5.00 each ($30.00 total). These will be announced in class. CLICKERS: iClickers will be required for this class – your class participation points depend on it. SCHEDULE WINTER 2014 DATE UNIT 01/07 Lecture 01/09 Lecture Earth’s Origins 01/10 Disc. 01/14 Lecture 01/16 Lecture 01/17 Disc. 01/21 Lecture 01/23 Lecture Life’s 01/24 Disc. 01/28 Lecture history 01/30 Lecture 01/31 Disc. 02/04 Lecture 02/06 Lecture Mechanism 02/07 Disc. 02/11 Lecture of evolution 02/13 Lecture 02/14 Disc. 02/18 MIDTERM EXAM 02/20 Lecture 02/21 Disc. 02/25 Lecture 02/27 Lecture 02/28 Disc. 03/04 Lecture Genetics & 03/06 Lecture developme
nt 03/07 Disc 03/11 Lecture 03/13 Lecture 03/14 Disc. 03/20 FINAL EXAM (8 AM) TOPIC Earth’s history Earth’s history READING Deep time Climate change Intro + Plant seeds Extinction Fossils Bio molecules Miller exp. First life part I Molecules to life First Life Cells Symbiosis Measuring plants Early life forms Living fossil Phylogenies Tree of Life EvoBeaker trees Early concepts Ideas Natural selection Gems EvoBeaker snails Modern synthesis Synthesis Modern synthesis Synthesis EvoBeaker evidence ASSIGNMENT Speciation EvoBeaker HW lab Mitosis & Meiosis DNA & Proteins Plant f2 & Meiosis First life part II Evo Devo EvoBeaker pigs Human origins Human evolution Measure f2 plants Prob set 3 Prob Set 4 Speciation Mutation EvoDevo Out of Africa Lactose Prob. Set 1 Prob. Set 2 ASSESSMENT Lecture participation Discussion participation Problem sets Discussion assignments Mid term exam Final exam % OF FINAL GRADE 10 % 5 % 25 % 20 % 20 % 20 % STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: The University of Oregon is working to create inclusive learning environments. Please notify us if there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that results in barriers to your participation. You may also wish to contact the Accessible Education Center in 164 Oregon Hall at 346-­‐1155 or [email protected]. If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please talk to you instructors during the first week of class. Please request that the Counselor for Students with Disabilities send a letter verifying your disability.