COURSE OBJECTIVES
The goal of this course is to enable you:
·
to describe several lines of
evidence for biological evolution.
·
to explain how natural selection
leads to genetic changes in populations, and how natural selection has
contributed to the evolution of various traits.
·
to explain how mutation, migration,
genetic drift, natural selection, and non-random mating can interact to cause
genetic changes in population and can contribute to the evolution of genes and
traits.
·
to explain how new species are
formed, to interpret relationships among species, and to discuss processes that
have contributed to the diversity of life.
·
to read scientific journal articles
critically and evaluate the authors’ conclusions.
·
to write a research proposal
describing a research project that you could use to address an interesting
question in evolutionary biology.
·
to use computations to describe
evolutionary changes in populations, and use computer simulations to
investigate natural selection, population genetics, and speciation.
COURSE
POLICIES
***NEW***
Assignments must be turned in on time for full
credit. Late assignments will lose 5% of
the total possible points for the first 12 hours. After that, assignments will lose 10% of the
total possible points for each day the assignment is late. NO points will be given for assignments
turned in after the assignment is discussed in class, handed back, or a key
posted.
Attendance – Your
attendance at every class meeting is expected. To perform well on exams, you will need to
pay attention in lectures. Additionally,
important information about how to complete class assignments and prepare for
exams will be given in class. Finally,
your participation in discussions and the proposal review panel will be graded,
and unexcused absences from these activities will forfeit participation
points. If you must miss class, consult
me in advance.
Technology – E-mail and a course website will be used
to facilitate communication and to disseminate information. You must have an email account and check
email on a regular basis. Assignments
and course information will be posted on the course website (site…); check this
site regularly!
Academic
honesty – Plagiarism,
cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. In a case of academic dishonesty, the student
will receive zero credit for the affected exam, assignment, or activity (in
accordance with University policy).
Blatant or repeated cases of academic dishonesty will be turned over to
the University administration, and may result in dismissal from the University. Please
note: Plagiarism is ANY use of words
or ideas produced by another person without proper attribution. This includes, but is not limited to, turning
in work not solely produced by yourself, failing to give proper credit to sources
of information or ideas, and presenting someone else’s words as your own (i.e.,
by failing to paraphrase).
Respectful
conduct in class – You are expected
to be respectful of others during class.
Please do not cause disruptions, including interrupting someone who is
speaking, chatting with your neighbors, allowing cell phones to ring, or
arriving late for class.
GRADING
The components of the course described above will be worth the
following points and percentages of your final grade:
|
|
Undergrads |
|
Grad students |
|||
|
Course
component |
total
points |
%
of grade |
|
total
points |
%
of grade |
|
|
|
activity (points) |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discussions |
140 |
14% |
|
140 |
13.0% |
|
|
|
pre-discussion
reports (6 x 20) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
participation
(5 x 3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lead one
discussion (5) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computational problem sets (4 x 30) |
120 |
12% |
|
120 |
11.1% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research proposal |
200 |
20% |
|
200 |
18.6% |
|
|
|
topic (2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
source
summaries (20) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
proposal (150) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
proposal review
(25) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
panel
participation (3) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exam 1 |
180 |
18% |
|
180 |
16.7% |
|
|
Exam 2 |
180 |
18% |
|
180 |
16.7% |
|
|
Final exam |
180 |
18% |
|
180 |
16.7% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article review (grad
students only) |
|
|
|
75 |
7.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
1000 |
100% |
|
1075 |
100.0% |
|
Grading scale –
90% - 100% = A
80% - 89.9% = B If you earn 90% or more of the possible points, you
are
70% - 79.9% = C guaranteed an A in this course, and so on. You will get the
55% - 69.9% = D grade you earn, regardless of others’ performance.
0% - 54.9% = F