| CODE | BIO3030 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Evolution, Phylogeny and Adaptation | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Topics to be discussed include: 1. The concept of evolution 2. History and development of evolutionary thought 3. The geological time scale 4. The origin of life 5. Mechanisms of evolution 6. Speciation 7. Evolution & systematics in some of the principal taxonomic groups including plants, birds, mammals, plants and humans. The study-unit includes an integrated programme of site visits covering the topics relevant to those discussed in lectures. Students will be required to write site visit reports. Important note: This study-unit is partly based on practical experience. Therefore, the fieldwork, which is part of the course, is considered as essential for the understanding of the basic principles discussed during the formal lectures. As such, attendance for fieldwork and a satisfactory report on the fieldwork component, is obligatory. Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical/site visit reports is a minimum of 45%. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for the examination component of the study-unit assessment and be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practicals, including fieldwork, and have submitted all assignments and satisfied all study-unit requirements. Study-unit Aims: This unit is designed to give a general overview of the processes of evolution and of phylogenetic systematics. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Appreciate that the concept of evolution is not a recent development and has taken many forms throughout history. (2) Describe the principal developments in the history of studies on evolution. (3) Describe and appreciate the significance of the geological time scale. (4) Compare and contrast various theories explaining the origin of life. (5) Describe the principal processes that bring about evolutionary change and speciation. (6) Describe and appreciate the principal evolutionary trends in a number of major groups. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Critically appraise various points of view when explaining the same phenomenon. (2) Explain complex processes by starting from the basic principles of science. (3) Interpret the geological time scale. (4) Interpret environmental conditions as indicated by strata of sedimentary rock. (5) Interpret all biological phenomena in terms of evolutionary and selection pressures. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: BARTON NH, BRIGGS DEG, EISEN JA, GOLDSTEIN DB, PATEL NH (2007) Evolution. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. FUTUYMA, D (2009) Evolution. [Second Edition] Sinauer Associates. HALL BK & HALLGRIMSSON B (2007). Strickberger's Evolution. [Fourth Edition] Jones and Bartlett. WILLIS KJ & McELWAIN JC (2002). The Evolution of Plants. Oxford University Press. Other texts and readings will be indicated throughout the duration of the study-unit. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year and 2nd Year Study-Units or equivalent. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Sandro Lanfranco |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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