Diversity and Evolution

Learning Outcomes:

Students should be able to:

(a) explain why variation (as a result of mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction) is important in natural selection 

(b) explain, with examples, how environmental factors act as forces of natural selection

(c) explain the role of natural selection in evolution

(d) explain why the population is the smallest unit that can evolve

(e) explain how genetic variation (including harmful recessive alleles) may be preserved in a natural population

(f) define biological evolution as descent with modification and explain the link between micro-evolution and macro-evolution

(g) explain how evidence based on homologies identified in biochemical data (molecular homologies) and the fossil record (anatomical homologies), together with biogeography, supports Darwin’s theory of evolution

(h) explain the various concepts of the species (biological, ecological, morphological, genetic and phylogenetic concepts)

(i) define biological classification as the organisation of species according to shared characteristics and describe how evolutionary relationship is established

(j) explain how new species are formed with respect to geographical isolation (allopatric speciation) and behavioural or physiological isolation within the same geographical location (sympatric speciation)

(k) define phylogeny as the organisation of species to show their evolutionary relationships

(l) explain the importance of the use of genome sequences in reconstructing phylogenetic relationships and state the advantages of molecular methods, including multiple sequence alignment (nucleotide and amino acid), in classifying organisms.

Section 1: Evolution Theories

1. Introduction to Evolution theories

2. Lamarck's Theory of Evolution

3. Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

4. Neo-Darwinism

5. Environmental Factors as Forces of Natural Selection

6. Different Types of Natural Selection

7. Genetic Variation in Natural Selection

8. Preserving Genetic Variation in a Population

9. Evolutionary Mechanisms in Populations

Section 2: Speciation

1. Introduction to Speciation

2. Concept of Species

3. Reproductive Isolation

4. Modes of Speciation

Section 3: Classification and Phylogeny

1. Classification

2. Phylogeny

3. Comparison between classification and phylogeny

3. Molecular Methods in Determining Phylogeny

Section 4: Evidence of Evolution

1. Introduction to Evidence of Evolution

2. Molecular homology

3. Anatomical Homology

4. Biogeography