ANIMAL EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY

ANIMAL EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY
Course Code
ZO 3010
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr S Piertney

Pre-requisites

BI 2002

Notes

(i) This course extends over 6 weeks only. (ii) Available only to students in Programme Year 3 or above.

Overview

Origin of life, DNA structure; historical perspective of development of evolutionary theory; the principles of biodiversity; microevolution, molecular markers; speciation; fossil record; phylogenetics; key evolutionary transitions; human evolution; co-evolution, creationism; Darwininism.

Structure

5 lectures per week, 6 hours of tutorials/practicals/seminars per week. total contact time approximately 58 hours.

6 week course (thread 1, weeks 12-17).

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%), and in-course assessment based upon essay (1,000 words), practical write-up and oral presentation (50%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%), this may contain material from both the practical and lecture components of the course.

Formative Assessment

A strong emphasis will be made throughout the course on informal verbal feedback during seminar and workshop sessions.

Feedback

Each student will receive individual feedback and a mark for each task. Feedback will be provided as written comments. Groups will also be given generic feedback.