BIO 270 - Evolution

An investigation of the history, processes and theories of biological evolution. Emphasis will be placed on evidence provided by paleontology, comparative morphology, molecular biology, developmental biology, ecology and biogeography. The overriding theme of the course will be to examine evolution as the unifying concept that integrates all of biology. The beginning of the course will focus on the important evolutionary mechanisms at the population level with particular emphasis on the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, natural selection and genetic drift. The course will then examine the process of speciation through analysis of species concepts and contemporary examples. The course will conclude with a discussion of the mechanisms of macroevolution and phylogenetic systematics. An accompanying laboratory will allow for a first hand opportunity to collect and analyze data used in the inference of evolutionary relationships. 2 hours lecture and 4 hours of laboratory per week.
Lecture
Credits: 4
Prerequisites: BIO 101 & BIO 102 or permission of department chair