This course contains two parts, the second is Biological Evolution.
Aim
The aim of the course is to provide students with a deeper insight into the evolutionary processes. This course provides an overview of the mechanisms and processes of change at the population, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels.
Objectives
- Gain a fundamental understanding of the evolutionary processes within populations and species.
- To show how natural selection ultimately underpins all biological processes.
- Recognize selection, mutation, population genetics, and genetic drift as the forces to drive this process.
Learning outcomes
- At the end of the course you should:
- Have an enhanced knowledge and appreciation of evolutionary biology
- understand that natural selection is one of several processes that can bring about evolution, although it can also promote stability rather than change
- understand that the four propositions underlying Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection are: (1) more individuals are produced than can survive; (2) there is therefore a struggle for existence; (3) individuals within a species show variation; and (4) offspring tend to inherit their parents’ characters
- explain the consequence of violating each of the assumptions of the Hardy-Weinberg law and explain when a population is in equilibrium.
- give examples of adaptation and of both allopatric and sympatric speciation.