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Course:
Office:
Telephone:
BIOL 4331
3L23
786-9441
Instructor:
Office hours:
email:
Scott Forbes
TBA
s.forbes@uwinnipeg.ca
Course Web Site:
http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~forbes/Biol_4331.htm
Synopsis.
Evolutionary biologists study the diversity of life using the tools of the
adaptationist approach, Darwin's theory of natural selection forming the
cornerstone of this conceptual framework. Unlike functional biologists who
address proximate (what and how) questions, evolutionary biologists focus on
the ultimate level of causation (why questions). This course examines the
development of evolutionary thinking and current concepts in evolutionary
biology: the specific topics addressed include: i) evolutionary/population
genetics; ii) modes and levels of selection; iii) the evolution of sex and life
histories, iv) fitness and adaptation, and v) speciation and extinction. Topics of
direct relevance to humans, including Darwinian medicine, will be emphasized.
LECTURE TOPICS*
Chapters from Stearns & Hoekstra
and Forbes
1. Introduction
2. The development of evolutionary thought
3. Microevolutionary concepts
Adaptive evolution
Neutral evolution
Genetic impact of selection on populations
The origin and maintenance of genetic variation
The expression of variation
4. Design by selection for reproductive success
The evolution of sex
Genomic conflict
Life histories and sex allocation
Sexual selection
5. Principles of macroevolution
Speciation
Phylogeny and systematics
6. Integrating micro- and macroevolution
Human evolution and evolutionary medicine
*Not all topics may be covered due to time constraints.
Chapter 1 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapter 1 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapters 2 – 7 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapters 8 – 11 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapters 1 – 5 Forbes
Chapters 12 – 13 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapter 19 Stearns & Hoekstra
Chapters 6 - 12 Forbes
Course philosophy.
In addition to the obvious topics in evolutionary biology I emphasize the
development of critical thinking and communication skills in this course. Such
skills are essential for success in whatever career you pursue after your time at
this university. Thus, in grading written assignments I shall evaluate your work
for both content and style. By style, I mean clarity, brevity and adherence to a
scientific format. Do not take a page to say something that can be said in a
paragraph or less, and do not turn in work that you have not proofread yourself.
You will be penalized for sloppy work. Why? Because poor presentation of
otherwise first-rate scholarship can lead to rejection of papers from scientific
journals. I shall expect your term paper and prospectus to be typed.
Classroom etiquette.
Please do not eat in class: beverages are fine. Turn off cell phones / pagers
before class begins.
Texts. There are two required course texts:
Stearns & Hoekstra – Evolution
Forbes – A Natural History of Families
Office hours.
I will be available to answer questions after class, and will hold regular office
hours. At other times if my office door is open, feel free to drop in. If you need
a quick answer to a question, leave me an email message
(s.forbes@uwinnipeg.ca). I check this account at about 7:30 AM, so if you send
me a message before then, I will respond to it that day. Put “BIOL 4331” in the
message header to avoid being considered as SPAM.
Voluntary withdrawal date is March 3
Letter grade
A+
A
AB+
B
C+
C
D
F
Percentage range
90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
58-64%
50-57%
<50%
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Mark breakdown
Item
Percent of final grade Date
Midterm exam
Term paper prospectus
Term paper
Final exam (2.5 h)
25%
5%
25%
45%
Term Paper and Prospectus (Value: 25% of course mark)
The goal of this exercise is to introduce you to the primary mode of scientific
communication: the journal article. Here you will be asked to review an area of
evolutionary interest, present a tight, well-written synthesis of previous work,
and provide a critique of the field and a prospectus for future work. The review
will be short (and good). The exercise is designed to mimic the actual process of
writing a review paper for a journal. The format you will use will be that of
Trends in Ecology and Evolution (TREE), a journal received in our library.
There will be two stages to this process. First you will write a one-page
prospectus worth 5% of your overall course grade. Your purpose is to interest
the journal editor (in this case me) sufficiently to allow you to go ahead with the
project. On one page you must present a brief synopsis of previous work, what
problems need to be addressed, and why anyone else but you should care about
it. Your outline is intended to sell the idea of your review to the editor. The
second stage is the paper itself. The goal here is to present the maximum
quantity of information in a minimum amount of space. The task will involve
synthesis of previous information, and to use this synthesis to examine what
open important questions remain.
Topics: I would prefer topics where evolutionary biology applies directly to
humans – e.g., the evolution of human brood size; natural selection on human
birth weight; sexual selection in humans; the evolutionary history of vitamin C
synthesis in primates, etc. See below for a list of potential term paper topics.
Exams. Exams may consist of short answers and/or short essays on selected
topics. Calculators will not be needed or permitted for exams. You may be
requested for identification. You are directed to Section VII of the calendar
dealing for Senate information on appeals, withdrawal dates, and academic
misconduct such as plagiarism and cheating.
Late assignments and penalties. You are aware of all dates for assignments /
exams from the outset and I will hold you to them. You will be penalized if
assignments are turned in late – 10% for the first day and 5% per day
thereafter. The term paper is due at the beginning of the last class.
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POTENTIAL TERM PAPER TOPICS
The evolution of human brood size
Why are birth defects more common in older mothers?
Why is cancer a disease of the elderly?
What traits in humans are sexually selected?
The evolutionary biology of sexual orientation
Is schizophrenia heritable?
Natural selection on human birth weight
How do humans and chimpanzees differ genetically?
The molecular evolution of Vitamin C synthesis in primates
The molecular evolution of human chorionic gonadotropin
Is fever adaptive?
Is anemia adaptive?
Is depression adaptive?
The evolutionary history of the human genome
Genomic imprinting and human disease
Why is gestational diabetes so common?
Why is pre-eclampsia so common?
The molecular evolution of human hemoglobin
The evolutionary biology of female infanticide
Why do pregnant women gain weight during pregnancy?
Is breast-feeding adaptive?
Are diet changes in pregnancy adaptive?
The evolutionary biology of gout
The evolutionary biology of incest avoidance
Is mate choice related to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)?
The evolution of menopause
The evolution of concealed ovulation
The evolutionary history of the Y chromosome
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