Cameron University

Department of Biological Sciences

Evolution: BIOL-3044    Fall 2004

 

              Meeting times:        TR         9:00-10:45       SC-101           

<>                                                                                        Lab:         R      2:00-4:50         SC-128                                   
                                                                                                      4 Credit hours

 

Instructor:      Dr. Michael T. Dunn

Office:   Science Complex-138D

Phone:    581-2287

e-mail:     michaeld@cameron.edu

Office Hours:  11:00 - 12:00 M-F or by appointment.

 

Take Attendance:

 

 

Required Text:              Freeman, S. and J. C. Herron. 2004.  Evolutionary Analysis, Pearson Prentice Hall: 3rd ed.

 

 

Lab Manual:                             Handouts:

 

 

 

Course Description:      This is an upper division course for biology majors that includes lecture and laboratory components.  The course is designed to provide the evolutionary background necessary for Biology Majors to understand Biology as a whole discipline and to prepare you for a more in depth understanding of evolution as it relates to your chosen sub-discipline.

 

 

 

Course Objectives:       The goal of this course is to explain, at Biology Majors level, the concept of organic evolution.  Evolution is the unifying concept of Biology and therefore you cannot understand Biology without understanding the modes and tempo of evolution. 

 

Grading:                                   Exams: Three mid-term exams, 100 points each.  Comprehensive final exam, 200 points.  Exams are a combination of multiple choice, matching, short answer, and essay from material covered in lecture and lab.

 

Exams are held in SC128 during lab time so you have plenty of time, and there will be a lab practical component set up around the room.

 

Lecture quizzes: 5 X 10 = 50 points. 

 

Announced quizzes will be given during lecture time to give students examples of the types of questions that can be expected on the exams.  And it forces you to study as you go, and not wait until the night before the test.

 

 

Review paper: 100 Points. Each student will write scientific paper on an approved topic related to Evolution. Each student will then provide an anonymous peer review of a classmates paper.  We will discuss this in greater detail in lab.

 

Paper = 100 points; Peer review = 50 points.

 

Presentation: 50 Points. Each student will give a five minute presentation summarizing their paper.  Any common media can be used (i.e. PowerPoint, Slides, Overheads).

 

Additional exercises: 50 points

 

800 points total:           

 

Grading scale:

90% - 100%     =         A

80% - 89%       =         B

70% - 79%       =         C

60% - 69%       =         D

0%   - 59%       =         F

 

 

 

Personal Grade Record

 

Quizzes

 

 

Exams

 

Ex.

 

Paper

 

Review

 

Talk

 

Total

 

Grade

 

10

 

10

 

10

 

10

 

10

 

100

 

100

 

100

 

200

 

50

 

100

 

50

 

50

 

8000

 

A-F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do not come to see me and ask what your grade is!!

 

It is your responsibility to keep track of your own progress.

 

 

Policies:                                    Attendance will not be taken after the first day of class.  You are adults who can manage your own time.  However, it must be stated up front that experience has shown that for the vast majority of students, success in the classroom is directly correlated to attendance.  Therefore you are STRONGLY encouraged to attend every class.

 

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated and will be punished following Cameron University policy (sections 4.08 and 4.09 of the Student Code of Conduct).

 

Make-up Exams will be given with a valid excuse.  However, you must contact me within 24 hours after the missed exam to arrange a time.  

 

Labs cannot be made up.

 

Safety Regulations:

 

1) No food or drink in the lab

2) No guests in the classroom

3) No electronic devices in the classroom

 

 

Course Schedule

 

Date

 

Lecture (Reading assignment)

 

Lab

 

T-24 Aug

 

1) Introduction

 

 

 

R-26 Aug

 

2) Evidence; Geologic Time: Ch. 2

 

No Lab

 

T-31 Aug

 

3) Pre-Darwin-Darwin Modern Synthesis: Ch. 3

 

 

 

R-2 Sept

 

4) Pre-Darwin-Darwin Modern Synthesis: Ch. 3

 

1) Dating Geologic Time

 

T-7 Sept

 

5)Mutation and genetic variation: Ch 4

 

 

 

R-9 Sept

 

6)Mutation and genetic variation: Ch 4

 

2) Mutation

 

T-14 Sept

 

7) Selection and Mutation: Ch. 5

 

 

 

R-16 Sept

 

8) Selection and Mutation: Ch. 5

 

3) Hardy-Weinberg, Mating

 

T-21 Sept

 

9) Migration, Drift, Mating: Ch. 6

 

 

 

R-23 Sept

 

Review

 

Test I

 

T-28 Sept

 

10) Linkage: Ch. 7

 

 

 

R-30 Sept

 

11) Linkage: Ch. 7

 

4) No Lab

 

T-5 Oct

 

12) Pop Gen: Ch. 8

 

 

 

R-7 Oct

 

13) Adaptation: Ch. 9

 

5) Adaptation

 

T-12 Oct

 

14) Sexual Selection: Ch. 10

 

 

 

R-14 Oct

 

15) Sexual Selection: Ch. 10

 

6) Selection

 

T-19 Oct

 

16) Kin Selection: Ch. 11

 

 

 

R-21 Oct

 

Fall Break: No Class            

 

T-26 Oct

 

17) Kin Selection: Ch. 11

 

 

 

R-28 Oct

 

Review

 

Test II

 

T-2 Nov

 

18)Life Histories: Ch. 12

 

Papers Due

 

R-4 Nov

 

19) Speciation: Ch. 15

 

7) Speciation

 

T-9 Nov

 

20)Evolutionary Trees: Ch. 14

 

 

 

R-11 Nov

 

21)Life on Earth: Ch. 16, 17

 

8) Fossils

 

T-16 Nov

 

22) Human Evolution: Ch. 19

 

Reviews Due

 

R-18 Nov

 

Review

 

Test III

 

T-23 Nov

 

23) Development and Evolution: Ch: 18

 

 

 

R-25 Nov

 

Thanksgiving: No Class    

 

T-30 Nov

 

24) Development and Evolution: Ch: 18

 

 

 

R-2 Dec

 

25) Molecular Evolution: Assigned Reading

 

10) Presentations

 

T-7 Dec

 

26) Human Health: Ch. 13

 

 

 

R-9 Dec

 

Review

 

Review

 

F-17 Dec

 

Final 8:00-10:00