Syllabus 3330 Fall 2008

PRINCIPLES OF EVOLUTION Biology 3330-03/3331-05 Fall 2008 - Syllabus

Instructor: James F. Thompson, Ph.D., MT(ASCP)

3330-03 M-W 9:05 - 11:05 AM Room: SSC A129
3331-05 F 9:05 - 11:05 AM Room: SSC A129

Office Hours:          W                11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
                                   M-W           1:25 - 2:20 AM               Office: SSC B210
                                 And by appointment

“Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” Theodosius Dobzhansky (1973)

The Principles of Evolution course (4 credit hours) is designed to impart an understanding of the core concepts in modern evolutionary theory, and an appreciation of the central position that theory holds as a theme unifying all subdisciplines of biology. Due to its subject matter, this course does not provide a traditional laboratory experience. Instead, there will be discussion, independent reading, study, and interaction with Internet resources including a specific companion website developed by the authors and publisher to accompany the textbook. While it is not essential that each student have Internet access from home, it will be more convenient if home Internet access is available. Please inform the instructor if you cannot access the web from home.

Course Description: Designed to impart an understanding of the core concepts in modern evolutionary theory, and an appreciation of the central position that theory holds as a theme unifying all subdisciplines of biology. Prerequisite: Biology 1010/1011 or permission of the instructor.

Class Periods:

Lecture - Mondays, Wednesdays and some Fridays, 9:05 AM to 11:05 AM, Sunquist SC A129

Lab - some Fridays, 9:05 AM to 11:05 AM, Sunquist SC A129

Textbook: Kenneth Kardong, An Introduction to Biological Evolution, 2005, McGraw-Hill.

McGraw-Hill Course Website: Go to www.mhhe.com/evolution.

This website contains supplemental materials, some of which will be used in the course.

Please ask questions whenever you have any problems with the material of the course. If you need extra help or have a question outside of class, please send an E-mail or make a phone call or an appointment. Be proactive; don't wait until the week of the exam to discover you need assistance.

Information which is not in the text may be introduced in lectures or laboratories. Students will be responsible for this information on exams.

Electronic Devices: All beepers, cell phones, and other outside communication devices MUST be turned off during class. Their intrusion and use during class are disruptive to the course activities and to the learning process for your fellow students. You may have a laptop computer in class, but if so, it may only be used for purposes associated with the course. No other computing activities are permitted.

Students with Disabilities: Any student who has a condition that may affect his/her academic performance is encouraged to make an appointment with the coordinator of Disability Services, Beulah Oldham, Clement 140, 221-6230 or (V/TTY) 221-6278 to discuss this matter.

APSU Policy on Minors on Campus: According to APSU policy #3:032, minors (defined as those under the age of 18) are not allowed in classrooms. While I recognize that extenuating circumstances occur and make it difficult for some students to attend without bringing children with them on occasion, I must enforce University policy and thus will deny any request for a child in my classroom. You should also be aware that minors are not allowed in academic labs, computer labs, science labs, or the library. Further, children cannot be left in halls outside classrooms. Please be aware that the policy on unattended minors is for the purpose of ensuring that our classrooms are conducive to learning and for the safety and protection of minors. For additional information on minors on campus, contact the Office of Student Affairs in the Morgan University Center.

Tutoring: Free tutoring is available for all students for a variety of classes including Human Anatomy & Physiology in the Academic Support Center, ( http://www.apsu.edu/academic_support/ ) - Marks Building, Room 122 and phone 931-221-6553. Call to check tutoring schedules. Some students may also meet eligibility requirements to receive academic assistance from Student Support Services ( http://www.apsu.edu/sss/ ) . For more information contact: Student Support Services Program, Ellington, Room 337, (931) 221-6142.

GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS

1. To develop skills of inquiry, abstract and logical thinking, and critical analysis.

2. To develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

3. To develop an understanding of the scientific method.

4. To develop skills in mathematics, computation, and statistics.

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this course in Principles of Evolution, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history and principles of organic evolution as the unifying theory of all biological science.

2. Demonstrate the relationships between basic principles of genetics and of molecular biology and their fundamental relationship to evolutionary processes.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of major evolutionary processes including mutation, variation, natural selection, adaptation, genetic drift, migration, speciation, sexual selection, kin selection, and extinction.

4. Demonstrate the relationships between micro-evolutionary and macro-evolutionary processes.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Format: Two or three periods of lecture/discussion/presentations/per week. In some weeks, lab simulations on select Fridays. Please ask questions whenever you have any problems with the material of the course. If you need extra help or have a question outside of class, please send an E-mail or make a phone call or an appointment.

Attendance: Required for all sessions. Punctuality will be appreciated. Any material missed will be the responsibility of the student. It is the responsibility of the student to report absences and the reasons for any absences, before the fact when possible, when they occur. No one may be present in the classroom or lab who is not enrolled in the course.

Grading:

Homework, Lab Reports and Quizzes ........................ 20%
Three exams ............................................................... 45%
Comprehensive final exam .......................................... 20%
Student PowerPoint Presentation ................................15%

Grading Scale: 0-59% = F; 60-69% = D; 70-79% = C; 80-89% = B; and 90-100% = A. (Note: Most exams will include approximately 10% additional "bonus points.")

The final grade will be computed as defined above and awarded in both lecture and lab.

Make-up lecture exams will be permitted for only those students with excused absences. It is the student's obligation to arrange for make-up exams within 48 hours. Make-up exams will not receive the benefit of bonus points. Part of your obligation in this course is "to be prepared" to take the exam on the assigned day. Absence from an exam must be covered by appropriate documentation or it will be counted as unexcused. It is the student's responsibility to complete the appropriate paperwork to obtain excused absence status. Failure "to be prepared" is not a valid excuse.

The student is expected to have read the material assigned before coming to each class session. Then following the class session one should re-read the material and coordinate it with the notes. A short, unscheduled, quiz may be given during any class period.

(1) Each student must select a topic related to the subject matter of the course. Obtain approval for the topic from the instructor. Feel free to inquire of the instructor about appropriate topics. You may not use a presentation on a topic which you have or are using for another class as a paper, project, or presentation.

(2) Prepare a PowerPoint presentation on the topic. Include a title slide with the title, your name, “Prepared for Principles of Evolution,” and “Austin Peay State University Biology Department” at the beginning of the presentation. Include a second slide with brief abstract which summarizes the presentation. Include a slide or slides with a list of 5 (minimum) current references which provide additional information on the subject at the end of the presentation. (Professional journal articles, books and Internet sites are examples of appropriate references.)

(3) Prepare a one to two page handout to accompany the presentation which can be distributed to your classmates on the day of your presentation. The handout should contain appropriate information on the topic, including your abstract and your list of references, so that the handout may be used as summary of your presentation. (The instructor will make copies of your handout for you if you submit them a week in advance of your presentation.)

(4) On the day of the Student Presentations, be prepared to make a 15 to 20 minute oral presentation which summarizes the information contained in your presentation to your classmates. Presentations which are too short or too long will receive a lower grade.

Computer Assisted Learning: The biology courses at APSU provide computers and numerous computer based tools to help students learn the central concepts of this discipline. You will find additional course review material and useful links elsewhere on Dr. Thompson's web site. I urge you to explore those links.

Remember that you have access to printing at all university computer labs. However, you are not to use the computers in the biology labs to print anything unrelated to biology course laboratory assignments. This means you may not print Principles of Evolution lecture Power Point presentations in the biology labs because the laboratory budget does not cover that type of expense (use of paper and ink cartridges).

Tutoring: Free tutoring is available for all students for a variety of classes in the Academic Support Center, University Center Room 114, Ph. (931) 221-6550. There may or may not be tutors for Principles of Evolution, since it is only taught in alternate years. Call to check tutoring schedules. Some students may also meet eligibility requirements to receive academic assistance from Student Support Services. For more information contact: Student Support Services Program, Ellington, Room 337, (931) 221-6142.

Withdrawals: Withdrawals will be handled in the manner outlined in the APSU Undergraduate Bulletin.

Each Student is Expected to Read the Assignment in the Text Before it is Presented in Class.

The following lecture topics are proposed. At the discretion of the instructor the topic and/or sequence may be changed. Such changes will be announced prior to the change.

Principles of Evolution Fall 2008 Biology 3330-03/3331-05

Day Date Topic Chapter to Read

M    8/25       Introduction to the Principles of Evolution Course
W    8/27      Evolution of Evolution                                                                1
   F    8/29      Evolution of Evolution continued/Time                                       2

M    9/01      * * * Labor Day Holiday -- No Classes * * *
W    9/03       Time continued
   F    9/05       Heredity                                                                                    3

M    9/08       Heredity continued
W    9/10      Emergence of Life                                                                     4
   F    9/12       Lab 1: Forensic EA

M    9/15      Diversity of Life                                                                          5
W    9/17      Diversity of Life continued
   F    9/19      Lab 2: Phylostrat

M    9/22      Evidence of Evolution                                                                 6
W    9/24      Evidence of Evolution continued
   F    9/26      Selection                                                                                     7

M    9/29      Exam 1: Chapters 1 - 6
W   10/01     Selection continued/Variation: Spice of Life                             8
   F   10/03      Lab 3: Evodots

M   10/06      Speciation                                                                                  9
W   10/08      Speciation continued
   F    10/10      Lab 4: Frogpond

M   10/13      * * * Fall Break -- No Classes * * *
W   10/15      Co-Evolution                                                                           10
   F   10/17      Co-Evolution continued

M   10/20       Life History Strategies                                                            11
W   10/22      Life in Groups                                                                          12
   F   10/24      Lab 5: Popcycle

M   10/27       Life in Groups continued
W   10/29      Exam 2: Chapters 7 - 11
   F   10/31      Extinctions                                                                               13

M    11/03      Extinctions continued
W    11/05     Human Evolution: The Early Years                                        14
   F    11/07      Lab 6:Popcycle Allele Simulation

M    11/10      Human Evolution: The Early Years continued
T     11/11      * * * Veterans Day -- No Classes * * *
  W    11/12     Human Evolution: Building Modern Humans                          15
   F    11/14      Lab 7: Bugsville

M    11/17     Human Evolution: Building Modern Humans continued
W    11/19    Evolutionary Biology: Today and Beyond                              16
   F    11/21      Lab 8: Forensic EA Lite

M    11/24      Evolutionary Biology: Today and Beyond continued
W    11/26      Exam 3: Chapters 12 - 16
   F    11/28      * * * Thanksgiving Day Holidays -- No Classes * * *

M    12/01      Student PowerPoint Presentations
W    12/03      Student PowerPoint Presentations Continued
Th   12/04      No Classes: Study Day

Th 12/11      Final Exam: Comprehensive -- 8:00 - 10:00 AM (Finals Week)