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Subject Summary: Part IA Evolution & Behaviour

Evolution & Evolution & Behaviour aims to introduce students to the major principles of evolutionary theory. The course ranges from the origins of life, through the evolution of plants and animals, evolutionary impacts on behavious, to the evolution of humans, culminating in a look at the future of evolution and diversity in the context of human-mediated global change. The course is taught jointly by the Departments of Zoology, Plant Sciences, Genetics, Biochemistry, and the Department of Archaeology.

 The course consists of the following themes:

  • evolutionary theory;
  • the origin of life and cells;
  • the origin and evolution of plants;
  • the evolution and diversity of animals;
  • the evolution of behaviour;
  • primate and human evolution;
  • human population genetics;
  • plant adaptations and domestication;
  • global change and conservation.

Lectures and practicals investigate how natural selection ultimately underpins all biological processes and how evolution has generated biological diversity. The major transitions in evolution, from the origin of life and of sex, to hominid evolution are detailed, and the evolutionary basis of behaviour in animals, including primates and humans is considered. In the final section of the course, the impacts of humans on evolutionary processes and the natural world are discussed in more detail. The practical side of the course comprises of practical classes that complement lecture material and aim to develop students' practical skills. Most of the practical write-ups are assessed throughout the year, and there is no practical examination. There are also two optional field courses available that run during the Easter vacation, where students can learn more about species in their natural environment.

Evolution & Behaviour provides a broad base for further studies across the whole spectrum of biology, and should be considered by all biologists.The course is also appropriate for physical scientists with an interest in evolutionary biology or ecology.

A Level Biology (or equivalent) is highly desirable for this course. In particular, knowledge of basic principles of genetics and biochemistry is assumed.

Programme Specification: Part IA Evolution & Behaviour

This course is taught jointly by the Zoology, Plant Sciences, Genetics Biochemistry and the Department of Archaeology.

Aims

  1. to introduce students to the major principles of evolutionary theory and current global change.  Content ranges from the origins of life, through the evolution of plants and animals, the evolution of behaviour and changes in the natural world as a result from human action;
  2. to prepare students for subsequent biology courses that require an understanding of evolution and behaviour, and human impacts;
  3. to show how natural selection ultimately underpins all biological processes and how evolution has generated biological diversity;
  4. to outline some major events in evolution, from the origin of life, to hominin evolution;
  5. to investigate the evolutionary basis of behaviour in animals;
  6. to develop practical biological skills.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should:

  1. have an enhanced knowledge and appreciation of evolutionary biology,  behaviour ecology and conservation;
  2. be able to develop cogent and critical arguments based on the course material;
  3. be able to perform, analyse and report on experiments and observations in whole-organism biology;
  4. be able to integrate related topics from separate parts of the course.

Teaching and Learning Methods

These include lectures, supervisions, practical classes and optional field courses.

Assessment

Assessment for this course is through:

  • one unseen written examination (for aims 1-5 and learning outcomes 1-4);
  • submission of records of practical work (for aim 6 and learning outcomes 1-4).

Courses of Preparation

Essential: None.

Highly desirable: A Level Biology.

Additional Information

Further information  is available on the Course Websites pages.