MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPT. OF LIVESTOCK & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Diversity of Life: WAP 111 Course Outline
Overview:
Organisms are the result of their evolutionary history. We trace the evolution of
reproductive, metabolic, and morphologic diversity from the origin of life through the
major lineages of extant organisms. The environmental and biological processes behind
major milestones in evolution are discussed along with their basis in evidence and
methodology. The diversity of major groups is explored in their evolutionary context.
The Diversity of Life Course emphasizes the use of knowledge and evidence to
construct explanations for the structures and functions of living organisms. Students
observe plants, and animals and study their characteristic features. The study progresses
from macroscopic to microscopic observation to discover the fundamental unit of life, the
cell. Students then investigate organism subsystems and behaviors and consider their
diversity of adaptive structures and strategies.
Wap 111 Expects Students To:
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Consider characteristics that are common to all living organisms and develop an
operational definition of life.
Become familiar with the microscope as a tool used by scientists to study
organisms in detail.
Discover cells and begin to understand their importance as the basic units of life.
Appreciate the diversity of cells that contribute to the diversity of life on Earth.
Observe and describe the first developmental stages of a plant and recognize that
seeds are living organisms in a dormant state.
Investigate the reproductive systems in flowers to understand the origin of seeds
and explore plant adaptations for seed dispersal.
Explore the concept of adaptation by studying the structures and behaviors of an
insect , relating those adaptations to insects’ natural history and habitat.
Explore the Monera (bacteria), Protista (algae), and Fungi kingdoms to
understand their roles in the scheme of life.
Become familiar with and acquire vocabulary concerning these concepts: cell,
tissue, organism, structure, function, behavior, adaptation, system interaction,
transpiration, development.
Lecture Schedule
What is life?
Origin of life
Evolution and natural selection
Species and classification
Phylogenetic Trees
The tree of life
Prokaryotic lineages
Evolution of eukaryotes
Protozoans: heterotrophic protists
Origin of the Algae and Algal diversity
Reproductive biology of algae
Evolution of land plants
Bryophytes: non-vascular plants
Seedless vascular plants.
Evolution of seed plants
Gymnosperms.
Angiosperms
Fungi: Chitrids, zygomycetes, ascomycetes ;& Basidiomycetes, deuteromycetes;
symbioses
Animal origins, body plans & phylogenetic hypotheses
Rise of metazoans
Radiate phyla.Origins of Bilateria. Flatworms: Planarians, flukes & tapeworms
Origins of body cavities; Rotifers & nematodes
Protostomia: Mollusca
Protostomia: Annelida
Protostomia: Arthropoda
Echinoderms
Vertebrates: Fishes
Vertebrates: Tetrapods
End of Diversity
Textbook/Readings: Required Readings:
1. Campbell & Reece, Biology 7th edition.
2. Raven and Johnson, Biology. 6th edition
3. Journal articles or other readings as announced.
4. Any basic biology textbook and there are plenty in the library. Use the library
please.
During exam week there will be an additional review discussion session(s).
Attendance and lecture notes: You are expected to attend all lectures. You are
responsible for taking your own notes during lecture. If unavoidable circumstances
prevent you from attending a lecture, obtain lecture notes from someone else in the class.
Lecture notes will not be provided the lecturer outside lecture times.
Grading: The final grade is based on a total of 100 points. There will be 2 assignments
and one class test which constitute 30% of your final mark. The exam mark contributes
70% of your final grade.
Exams will be based on lecture material and required readings. The best study guide for
the exams are your own lecture and discussion notes.
The homework assignments are take home exercises that consist of study problems
similar to those you will encounter on the exams. You may discuss the exercises with
other students but your written answers must be your own work. Late exercises will be
subject to mark deduction, and their safe handling cannot be guaranteed.