Syllabus for Dr. Thompson's Principles of Evolution Class 2006

PRINCIPLES OF EVOLUTION   Biology 3330-06/3331-08      Fall 2006 - Syllabus

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

Office Hours: MWF 10-11 AM and By Appointment

Office: Sunquist SC B210

Phone: 931-221-6286

E-mail: thompsonj@apsu.edu

Web Page: http://www.apsu.edu/thompsonj/

“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.

Credit Hours: Biology 2010 (lecture) = 3, Biology 2011 (lab) = 1. You may register for lecture without registering for lab and vice versa, but if this is the first time you are taking the course you must register for both.

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: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:35 AM to 12:35 PM, Sunquist SC C205

Textbook: Freeman, Scott & Herron, Jon C., Evolutionary Analysis. 3rd ed., 2004 , Prentice-Hall.

Prentice-Hall Course Website: Go to Evolutionary Analysis home page and click on Enter Site.

On your first visit to the publisher’s course website, choose the Profile link at the top tool bar and enter your profile at the Profile (linked) screen. (1) Enter your name and E-mail address at Personal Information. (2) Enter James F. Thompson and thompsonj@apsu.edu at Instructor. (3) At “Send Quiz Results to:” check “me” and “instructor.” Also select, using the drop down menus, the format used to send the Quiz Results, and for “instructor,” select “As HTML.”

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, University Center ( http://www.apsu.edu/academic_support/ )- Room 114, Ph. (931) 221-6550. 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 periods of lecture/discussion/presentations/lab simulations twice per week. 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 ........................ 12%
Two exams ..................................................................... 50%
Comprehensive final exam ........................................... 25%
Student PowerPoint Presentation ................................13%

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.

Student PowerPoint Presentation: 

(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 2006 Biology 3330-08

Day  Date         Topic                                                                                 Chapter to Read

T       Aug 29      Introduction
                            A Case for Evolutionary Thinking: Understanding HIV                1
Th     Aug 31      The Evidence for Evolution                                                             2

M      Sep  4       * * * Labor Day Holiday - No Classes * * *
T       Sep  5       Continued
Th     Sep  7       Darwinian Natural Selection                                                           3

T       Sep 12      Continued
Th     Sep 14      Mutation and Genetic Variation                                                     4

T       Sep 19      Continued
Th     Sep 21      Mendelian Genetics in Populations I:
                            Selection and Mutation as Mechanisms of Evolution                  5

T       Sep 26      Continued
Th     Sep 28      Mendelian Genetics in Populations II:
                            Migration, Genetic Drift and Nonrandom Mating                         6

T       Oct   3         Evolution at Multiple Loci:  Linkage and Sex                              7
Th     Oct   5         Evolution at Multiple Loci:  Quantitative Genetics                      8

T       Oct  10        Studying Adaptation:
                              Evolutionary Analysis of Form and Function                              9
Th     Oct  12        * * * EXAM 1: Chapters 1 - 6 * * *

M      Oct  16        * * * Fall Break – No Classes * * *
T       Oct  17        * * * Fall Break – No Classes * * *
Th     Oct  19        Sexual Selection                                                                          10

T       Oct  24        Kin Selection and Social Behavior                                            11
Th     Oct  26        Aging and Other Life History Characters                                  12

T       Oct  31        Continued
Th     Nov   2        Evolution and Human Health                                                       13

T       Nov   7        Reconstructing Evolutionary Trees                                             14
Th     Nov   9        Mechanisms of Speciation                                                          15
F       Nov 10        * * * Veteran’s Day – No Classes * * *

T       Nov  14       The Origin of Life and Precambrian Evolution                           16
Th     Nov  16       The Cambrian Explosion and Beyond                                        17

T       Nov  21       Development and Evolution                                                         18
Th     Nov  23       * * * Thanksgiving Holiday – No Classes * * *

T       Nov  28       * * * EXAM 2: Chapters 7 -12 * * *
Th     Nov  30       Student PowerPoint Presentations

T       Dec  5         Student PowerPoint Presentations Continued
Th     Dec  7          * * * No Classes - Study Day * * *

[M  Dec 11 *** FINAL EXAMINATION - 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM *** ]
Final W Dec 13 *** FINAL EXAMINATION - 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM ***