Draft Syllabus – EPSc 230 Introduction to Astrobiology, 3 units
Carrine Blank, created Fall 2002
To be taught alternating Spring semesters, starting in Spring 2004
Can be taken concurrently with Epic of Evolution; does not significantly overlap with Epic of Evolution.
TEXTS:
"The Search for Life on Earth" by Malcom Walter.
"Life in the Universe" by J. Bennett, S. Shostak, and B. Jakosky, Addison Wesley (publisher).
Reader: will include materials for critical thinking, pseudoscience vs. science, phylogenetic trees, and any
other topics not covered in the text.
Other references of interest:
"The Search for Life on Other Planets" by Bruce Jakosky, Cambridge University Press.
Course Prerequisites: sophomore-level standing or permission of the instructor.
Course Structure:
3 lectures plus one discussion section with a TA each week. Approximately five problem sets will be
handed out that are intended to use critical thinking skills; these problems sets will be gone over in
discussion section
Exams:
Midterm #1: -date- (100 points)
Midterm #2: -date-(100 points)
Final Exam: -date- (200 points)
About a third of each exam will be multiple-choice questions, and the rest will be written questions that
require students to synthesize concepts covered in the course. These answers will be in the form of onepage in-class essays.
Distribution/Clusters:
Cluster 1802, Evolution and the Planets
Cluster 1782, Impact of Life on the Earth
Course Schedule:
Week
Day
1
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2
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3
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4
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1-12
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1-26
1-28
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Topic
What is Astrobiology, and why do people care?
The Scientific Method: Pseudoscience vs. Science
DS: Pseudoscience and Science in the Media
Pseudoscience vs. Science, cont.
HOLIDAY
Origin of the Solar System and the Earth-Moon System
DS: How Does our Solar System Compare to Others? The Influence of Chance.
Habitable Zones and the Necessary Conditions for Life
SnowBall Earth Hypothesis, Faint-Young-Sun
The Early Earth Environment; Chemistry and Impacts
DS: Exercise: What Would Earth Been Like Without the Moon or Jupiter?
"The Primordial Soup"
What is Life? The Fundamental Characteristics of (Microbial) Life
Prebiotic Chemistry
DS: Discussion on What is Life?
Prebiotic Chemistry, cont.
Origin of Life Theories: Darwin, Haldane, and Oparin
Origin of Life Theories: Modern ideas
DS: Review Session
MIDTERM #1
Phylogenetic Trees: how to read them, what they mean
Phylogenetic Trees, cont: how to make them, what they mean
DS: Phylogenetic Tree Exercise
Evolution of Microbial Life
Microbial Metabolisms
The Paleontological Record: the Precambrian
DS: Exercise: Imagine the Earth Without One Species.
Mass Extinctions
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
The Paleontological Record: the Cambrian Explosion
How Microbes Have Changed the Chemistry of the Earth's Surface
DS: Exercise on Superposition
How Microbes Have Changed the Chemistry of the Earth's Surface, cont.
Life in Extreme Environments: The Pervasiveness of Microbial Life
The Possibility of Life Elsewhere: Early Mars and Modern Mars
DS: Review Session
MIDTERM #2
The Possibility of Life Elsewhere: Looking for Life on Mars
The Possibility of Life Elsewhere: Europa
DS: How Would you Detect Life in Another Solar System?
The Possibility of Life Elsewhere: Looking for Life on Europa
The Possibility of Life Elsewhere: Extrasolar Planets
How do we Detect Life Elsewhere? Looking for Past Life
DS: Exercise: Create Your Own Mission and Robot to Detect Life
How do we Detect Life Elsewhere? Looking for Past Life, cont.
How do we Detect Life Elsewhere? Looking for Extant Life
The Martian Meteorite Controversy
DS: Issues of Robotic vs. Manned Missions
The Martian Meteorite Controversy
Solar System Exploration
Solar System Exploration, cont.
DS: Debate: Should we Care About Planetary Protection
Planetary Protection
What is Intelligence?
The Drake Equation
DS: Significance of Finding Life Elsewhere
SETI