| Unit name | Evolutionary Biology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL20212 |
| Credit points | 10 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Jones |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Understanding evolution by natural selection is central to all aspects of biology, and evolution is one of the key intellectual pursuits in science. This course will cover the origin of life, patterns in the history of life, and the evolution of biological diversity. We will describe studies from palaeontology, biogeography through to molecular genetics. Topics include: mutation, selection and adaptation, the origin of life, the evolution of eukaryotes, the evolution of sex, patterns in the history of life, population genetics, genome evolution, the nature of species, speciation, adaptive radiation, microevolution in action, phylogeny and classification, evolutionary biogeography, patterns in the evolution of biological diversity, evolution of the human condition and molecular approaches to understanding evolution.
Aim:
The aims of the unit are to ask interesting questions about evolution, to evaluate the evidence that evolution is a fact, and to read and critically evaluate papers from the primary literature about evolution.
Attendance at the practical sessions for this unit is required.
You should be able to evaluate the evidence that evolution is a fact, and to read and critically evaluate papers from the primary literature about evolution.
Lectures, directed reading, research and/or problem-solving activities; practical exercises and independent study.
Coursework (40%) plus summative written assessment (60%) with one essay question to be selected from a choice of two.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOL20212).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
