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PRIMARY TEXT: No primary text is required for this course. Sometimes students ask for textbook recommendations, even though a text is not required . The following books are recommended. However, both of these books contain much more material than required for this course..
Futuyma, Douglas J. Evolution (2nd edition). 2009, Sinauer Associates. Bergstrom & Dugatin Evolution.
2011 Univ. (Online versions are available at discounted price at the
publisher’s websites.
You will also find some of the topics discussed in this course in any good General Biology textbook, e.g. chapters on meiosis, Mendelian genetics, molecular genetics etc. Many topics in evolution are also introduced at varying levels of complexity, and often with excellent graphics, in these textbooks.
You are REQUIRED to read the hypertext links on the Lecture Schedule. Most of the information presented in lectures could also be supplemented by some other websites on the internet. For a general review of many topics including genes, Mendelian genetics, recombination etc, check out KIMBALL'S Biology Pages. You should be very careful with the evolution websites you read however, as not all of them are scientifically solid, or even scientifically oriented. A good place to start is the page Evolution on the Web for Biology Students.
From time to time, course notes or other materials relating to specific topics may be distributed or made available on the web page.
Additional texts (Recommended But Not Required):
Coyne, Jerry A., Why Evolution Is True, 2009. Viking The best, non-technical overview of Evolution, written by as famous practitioner of the science. Extremely readable, strongly recommended. Not at text book, but a great non-technical survey of the entire field of evolution.
Carroll, Sean B., The Making of the Fittest, 2006. W.W. Norton A terrific introduction to the evolution of genes, development, macroevolution etc. Strongly recommended.
This is an abridged version of Dawkins, Richard, TheGreatest Show on Earth, 2010. Free Press
(Paper) A MUST
READ if you are interested in the evidence for evolution, not just from
biology, but also from other sciences.
Biology students should be aware of this information, but
unfortunately, we do not have time to cover most of it in class.
Quammen, David, The Reluctant Mr. Darwin, 2006. W.W. Norton An excellent and very readable introduction to Charles Darwin, and his world. Strongly recommended.
Judson, Olivia, Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation. 2002. Owl Books Humorous treatment of sex and sexual selection in the animal kingdom.
Additional readings:
You are responsible for the following additional readings. These include magazine or journal articles which may be assigned, or hyperlinks in the schedule.
New York Times Tuesday Science Section - You must read and be prepared to discuss articles relating to evolution and ecology. This material may be included in exams.
Introductory Essays Available on the Web: What is Evolution - by Lawrence Moran. An excellent discussion of the meaning of the term evolution for biology. Introduction to Evolutionary Biology - by Chris Colby. A good general introduction to evolution. Evolution is a fact and a theory - by Lawrence Moran Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution
- by Mark Isaak HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS Study Notes & Home Work - Lecture 1a
Science in General
1. Based on your knowledge from other sources, links in the web page, or other sources, review and be prepared to discuss :
The nature of science and the scientific method
The scientific meaning of ‘hypothesis’ and ‘theory’ (note that ‘theory’ as commonly used has a different meaning in science, e.g. the theory of relativity, germ theory, theory of evolution)
For a general review check out the web page: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_03 (see other links in the course web page)
There are misconception about what science is and
is and isn’t. See the
What constitutes a fair test in science? Read: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/fair_tests_01
What is the nature of ‘proof’? Is it possible to prove something to be true?
2. What is the role of experimentation in science?
3. How do scientist regard the supernatural?
Evolution
1. Is evolution the same as Darwinism?
2. Things dating, archaea, epigenetics, ribozymes, Hox genes to name a few. Can you make a list of 4 or 5 more?
4.
What role did Mendel play in
Natural Selection
1. What is the difference between Natural Selection, Evolution and Darwinism?
2. observations and 2 deductions:
Obs. 1 – Organisms exist as ‘populations.’ All populations have the potential to increase exponentially in population size
Obs. 2 – In general, population size varies over time but populations never continue to grow exponentially.
Ded . 1 – Natural environmental factors limit exponential growth by causing mortality (limited habitat, disease, starvation, crowding, competition etc).
Obs. 3 - In general, organisms are unique, each varying from other others in a range of measurable characteristics; many of these variations are heritable: traits which can be passed onto offspring, i.e. inherited.
Ded. 2 - Individuals who inherit a trait which confers even a slight advantage over other individuals in the struggle for existence are more likely to survive and reproduce than other individuals, and the trait which provided the benefit will be passed on to the next generation (natural selection). Over time, the favorable trait(s) will increase in the population as less beneficial traits decline and disappear. This is evolution.
5. The only requirements for natural selection are: (1) the trait under selection must be heritable (2) The trait must provide a benefit which ultimately results in *relatively greater lifetime reproductive success than other individuals which do not inherit the trait (3) The organisms bearing the trait must be capable of reproduction
6. periods. Complex structure could devolve from simpler structures as long as each step conferred a fitness benefit.
Note that selection acts
on the individual phenotype – a term unknown to
*fitness
Lecture 1b Study Notes -HOMEWORK –
Lecture 1b “MODERN SYNTHESIS’ What is “the Modern Synthesis” How does it differ from Using the internet or any other sources, read some biographical
information on the following: Alfred
Russell Wallace, Charles Lyell, Lamarck, Dobzhansky,
Asa Gray, Thomas Hunt Morgan, Ronald Fisher, J.B.S.
Haldane. Who were they and what role
did they play in the development of the Modern Synthesis For your information only; not to be turned in. _______________________________________________________ THE HUMAN MN LOCUS AS EXAMPLE OF HARDY WEINBERG EQUILIBRIUM A.
N = 320 people in the Sicilian MM = 187 (Note that the 3 genotypes can be detected using a MN = 114 simple blood agglutination test) NN = 19 320 B. Observed Genotypes Frequencies MM = 187/320 = 0.584 MN = 114/320 = 0.356 NN = 19 /320 = 0.059 C. Observed Gene (Allele) Frequencies There are 320 people in the sample; Each person carries two copies. Therefore, the total number of gene copies = 320 x 2 = 640 gene copies. The 187 MM individuals carry a total of (187 x 2) copies of the M gene The 114 MN individuals carry a total of (114 x 1) copies of the M allele Therefore, the total number of copies of the M allele = (187 x 2) + (114 x 1) = 488 488/640 = 0.763
= Freq. of M allele The frequency of the N allele = (114 x 1) + (19 x 2) = 152 152/640 = 0.237 = Freq. of N allele D. The expected Genotype Frequencies under Hardy-Weinberg = MM = p2 = (0.763)2 = 0.582 MN = 2pq = 2(0.763)(0.237) = 0.362 NN = q2 = (0.237)2 = 0.056 E. Note that these expected genotype frequencies are very close to the observed genotype frequencies, indicating that the MN locus in the sample is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium ________________________________________________________________ SAMPLE QUESTION FOR FINAL EXAM FROM PROF. FRANZ One answer per question. __________________________________________________________________
evolution of eusociality? a. Division of labor b. Hymenoptera c. Overlapping generatijons d. Cooperative rearing of young e. Non-reproducing worker castes
fortis), beak size is variable (a bell-shaped distribution) but under drought conditions, the availability of buried seeds selects against birds with intermediate beak sizes. This is an example of: a. transformation speciation or anagenesis b. cladogenesis c. parapatric speciation d. allopolyploidy e. disruptive (or diversifying) selection 3. The most definitive characteristic of HOX genes is: a. Presence of a DNA sequence called the homeobox b. Associated with development of the eye in Drosophila c. Genes which code for toolkit genes d. Always occur in groups of 8 genes d. Found only in vertebrates 4. In Belding’s Ground Squirrels, individuals
often whistle to warn other squirrels of danger, even though this behavior
increases the probability that the
squirrel giving the warning will be killed by a predator. This
phenomenon is an example of: a.
Alchemy b.
Altruism c.
Anisogamy d.
Allopatry e.
Allometry 5. In contrasts to selection as (Choose the best answer) a. operating at a number of biotic levels b. restricted to sexually reproducing organisms c. a process of continuous change d. an entirely random process e. a process which inevitably had to produce humans 6. Which term - Adaptation or Exaptation - best explains the following structures? Answer with either ‘A’ or ‘E’ a. Human forebrain [_____] b. Bats Wings [_____] c. Vertebrate Eye [_____] d. Feathers [_____] e. Eye Lens [_____]
and humans are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor about 6 million years ago. Evidence in support of this hypothesis is provided by: a. Humans and chimps engage in monkey business whenever possible b. Chimp and Human DNA is identical c. Six million year old fossils with chimp and human features are well known d. Chimps, Humans, Gorillas and Orangutans form similar social groups and are capable of interbreeding e. Beside DNA similarities, chimps and humans share identical pseudogenes
a. exaptation b. co-option c. natural selection d. atavism e. convergent evolution 9. According to _________, the inequality Br-C >0 defines the conditions required for the evolution of altruism between relatives. a. Fill in the blank above (Name of a person) b. Define B c. Define C d. In the Florida Scrub Jays, what is the value of ‘r’ between siblings? ______________ 10. In ants, the genetic relatedness between sisters (assuming that they all share the same father) is 0.75 This is the result of a unique mode of sex determination in called : ____________ 11. Rhagoletis pomonella is best known in relation to: a. Founding species of b. rapid speciation in c. Only native species of fruit fly exploiting crabapples d. First insect to have its entire genome decoded e. example of sympatric speciation 12. Polyethism describes a. division of labor b. sequence of activites in relation to age c. activities assoiciated with scouting for a new nest d. foraging for food e. variety of workers in ant colonies 13. Honeybee queens may choose not to fertilize their eggs, in which case their eggs: a. fail to develop further b. develop into virgin queens c. develop into haploid drones d. develop into sterile males e. are destroyed by female workers 14. The Prisoner’s Dilemma model has been a roadblock to evolutionary biologist in understanding: a. the socioevolutionary basis of criminal activity a. evolution of the family b. evolution of eusociality c. evolution of cooperation between relatives d. altruism between non-relatives 15. Florida Scrub Jays are of interest to evolutionary biologists because: a. They are eusocial b. They support the ‘good genes hypothesis’ c. They are altruistic d. They exemplify reciprocal altruism e. Their colonies act like ‘superorganisms’ 16. The evolution of the vertebrate eye lens is an example of: a. genetic drift b. adaptation c. neutral mutation d. exaptation e. gene conversion 17.
Small groups of vampire bats which roost together but are not related
to each other
are known to share food (blood extracted from cattle). This phenomenon is best explained by a. kin-selection b. nepotism c. reciprocal altruism d. haplodiploidy e. inclusive fitness 18. In Gray Tree Frogs, offspring of long callers showed better juvenile survival than offspring of short callers. These data provide support for: (Choose the best answer) a. survival of the fittest b. good genes hypothesis c. heterosexual selection d. deceptive divergence hypothesis e. haplodiploidy 19. In Sedge Warblers, females tend to participate in extra-pair copulations with males which are: a. older and more experienced b. are in control of larger territories c. sing more complex songs d. sing more frequently e. immigrants from other populations 20. Human society meets some of the criteria for Eusociality. What is the most important criterion for being eusocial which is not generally characteristic of humans? _____________________________________ 21. The differences between the reproductive strategies of male and female Orangutans is an example of: a. Runaway selection b. Mullers Rachet c. Asymmetric reproductive effort d. Homosexual childhood experiences e. Adaptive Rdaition 22. J.B.S. Haldane once remarked that he would lay down his life for two brothers or eight cousins. If true, this would best be explained by: a. insanity b. inclusive fitness c. direct fitness d. allometric selection e. good genes hypothesis 23. William Donald Hamilton is primarily known as: a. the founder of sociobiology b.
First Secretary of the c. Captain of the ship HMS Beagle d.
Co-Discoverer of the e. Genetic basis for kin selection 24. Naked Mole Rats are of particular interests to evolutionary biologists because: a. They are haplodiploid b. The are eusoscial c. They are parthengenic d. They are hermaphroditic e. They are naked 25. Haplodiplopidy (circle the correct answer) a. occurs only in eusocial Hymenoptera b. occurs in termites c. allows unmated females to lay eggs which develop into males d. can entirely explain eusociality e. occurs in the ancestors of eusocial insects but was later lost 26. Reciprocal Altruism is a model which: (circle the best answer) a. can explain altruism in Florida Jays b. has been proposed to account for altruism between relatives c. has been proposed to account for altruism between non-relatives d. is more likely to evolve when encounters between individuals are rare e. is a disease which is fairly common in vampires 27. In some bruchid beetles, male beetles offer females a large ejaculate, from which females can absorb water from the seminal fluid. Research also showed that thirsty females mated 40% more often than non-thirsty females. This is an example of: a. indirect female choice b. battle of the sexes c. male-male competition d. nuptial flight e. direct benefit female choice 28. In the example from question 1, males offering the watery ejaculate gain a benefit because: a. Females will only mate with males offering a gift b. Non-thirsty females mate less often, thus providing more time for fertilization by the male’s sperm to take place c. Males offering a gift signal higher genetic quality d. Gift-bearing males are more likely to have recently mated e. Willingness by females to accept the ejaculate is a Mate Recognition System 29. In field crickets, females readily mate with close relates, but seem not to suffer the effects of inbreeding. This is because: a. Field crickets are haploid species b. Male Field Crickets avoid mating with sisters c. Females are able to discriminate against sperm from brothers within the female reproductive track d. Field Crickets have virtually no harmful recessive genes e. Inbred Crickets are rapidly eliminated by selection 30. In stalk-eyed flies, females prefer to mate with male with the longest eye stalks. Which of the following best explains the ‘indirect benefit’ gained by these female. a. They produce more sons than females who mate with shorter-stalked males b. They produce more daughters than females who mate with shorted- stalked males c. Long eyestalks in males is correlated with disease resistance d. Daughters of Long-stalked males produce more offspring than daughters of shorter-stalked males 31. Amundsen and Forsgren’s research on Two-Spotted Gobies (as discussed in Houde’s Commentary) provides experimental evidence, for the first time that: a. Female ornamentation occurs on in cases of sex reversal b. Sexual selection for ornamentation occurs by way of female mate choice for males c. Male select female mates based on indications of mating availability only e. Female ornamentation may evolve to influence male mate choice f. Female ornamentation has evolved for reasons unrelated to sexual selection 32. Which of the following is not a defining characteristic of Eusociality? a. Overlapping generations b. One (or a few) reproductive females c. Most females are functionally or behaviorally sterile d. Adults cooperate in nest building and brood are e. Restricted to the insect order Hymenoptera 33. The PAX6 gene is a conserved master control gene which determines: a. limb development in insects b. linear organization of the embryo in fruit flies c. specification of morphoglken secretion in development of fingers and toes d. eye development in humans e. none of the above Answers 1 b 2 e 3 a 4 b 5 a 6 A, E, A, E, E 7 e 8 e 9 10 haplodiploidy 11 e 12 b 13 c 14 d 15 c 16 b 17 c 18 b 19 c 20 What do you think? 21 c 22 b 23 e 24 b 25 c 26 c 27 e 28 b 29 c 30 a 31 e 32 e 33 d |
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