Course format: Lecture: 1:30P-3:10P, TWRF, JH A100.

Requirements: Biol. L311 or S311.

Course description: The primary goal of this course is to understand
the processes generating, shaping and maintaining the diversity of
life. In the first section of the course we will learn the “nuts &
bolts” of the evolutionary process by discussing natural selection
and other mechanisms of evolutionary change. We’ll also learn
methods of detecting selection in natural populations and of testing
adaptive hypotheses. In the second section of the course, we’ll use
the tools we’ve gained to rigorously challenge the theory of
evolution by natural selection. We’ll do this by applying the theory
to a suite of questions (e.g. why is there sex?, why do things die?,
why is there disease?) and examining the empirical evidence. In the
final section of the course, we’ll discuss how new species arise,
learn how to infer relationships among species, and examine the
patterns and processes that describe and explain the history of
life.

Required text: “Evolutionary Analysis”, by Freeman and Herron.

Weekly assignments: Readings, quizzes and worksheets.

Exams/papers: Two midterm exams and one comprehensive final exam.