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BI1012: DIVERSITY OF LIFE 1 (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:34


Course Overview

A walk through the evolutionary tree of life, examining the amazing diversity of major groups of organisms from plants through fungi to invertebrates.

Learn about how each group of organisms arose, their characteristics, and how they achieved success.

Practical activities provide hands on experience of materials demonstrating the diversity of plants and invertebrates. 

You will be assessed by a combination of laboratory reports, on which you will get detailed feedback to help you develop your skills, and an exam.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Sarah Woodin
  • Dr Catherine Jones

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • One of BSc Biology (Studied) or BSc Conservation Biology (Studied) or BSc Biology-Environmental Humanities (Studied) or BSc Plant Biology (Studied) or BSc Zoology (Studied) or BSc Animal Ecology (Studied) or BSc Marine Biology (Studied) or BSc Parasitology (Studied) or BSc Animal Behaviour (Studied) or BSc Behavioural Biology (Studied) or MSci Biological Sciences (Studied) or BSc Biological Sciences (Honours) (Studied) or BSc Plant and Soil Sciences (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Primary) (Studied) or BSc Ecology (Studied) or BSc Wildlife Management (Studied) or BSc Forestry (Studied) or BSc Forest Sciences (Studied) or BSc Environmental Science (Studied) or BSc Biology - Education (Secondary) (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 1 or Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Over approximately 3.7 billion years, living organisms on the Earth have diversified and adapted to every possible environment. This course will introduce the clues used to reconstruct the evolutionary tree of life and examine the amazing diversity of life through time, focusing on major lineages of organisms from plants, through fungi to invertebrates.

Practicals will illustrate a wide range of organisms, address important biological principles and encourage the development of basic scientific skills including observation, interpretation and recording of biological material and construction of keys.

Associated Costs

Course practicals require the use of a lab coat which can be purchased locally for £15

Further Information & Notes

In 2015/16, only School of Biological Sciences students may register for this course.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt

Six practical hand-ins (40%) plus exam (60%). Exam will be MCQ and 'fill in the answer'.


Resit

Similar to first attempt, with continuous assessment marks and /or exam mark carried forward and an opportunity to complete either appropriate alternative pieces of coursework or a resit exam, or both, depending on what was failed in the first attempt.

Formative Assessment

There is no formal formative assessment but students will have opportunity to engage in discussions with other students, staff and demonstrators during practical classes which will allow them to assess their own understanding of the course content.

Feedback

Students will receive regular written feedback on each practical report before the start of the next practical class. Students will have opportunity to discuss their work with staff and demonstrators during practical classes.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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