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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 ________________________________________________________________ |
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