Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Bio 241/241L
Fall 2004
Time/Location:
Lecture:
Tuesday, Thursday from 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Hyland 301
Laboratory:
Monday, Wednesday from 12:00 am – 1:50 pm or Monday, Wednesday
from 2:00 noon – 3:50 pm (Lecture and Lab are co-requisites and must be
taken concurrently)
Loyola 226
Instructor:
Dr. Robert Smith
Assistant Professor of Biology
Loyola 208
Phone: 941-6581
Email: smithr9@scranton.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 – 11:00 am. Additional appointment times are available
upon request.
The Course:
This course is a survey of the major vertebrate groups, emphasizing the evolutionary
relationships between these groups. Lectures are designed to provide students with an
understanding of vertebrate origins, phylogenetic relationships and the structure/function
of selected organ systems. Labs consist of anatomical dissections of the lamprey,
dogfish, perch, mudpuppy, pigeon and cat. Anatomical structures will be identified and
their organization interpreted with respect to embryologic development, phylogeny and
functional adaptation.
Field Trip:
I have tentatively planned a field trip to the American Museum of Natural History on
Saturday, 6 November. I will provide more information as plans finalize.
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Blackboard:
I incorporate Blackboard as part of my teaching methodology and will make MS
Powerpoint presentations, transparency overheads, etc. available to you using this
medium. I will also post grades on Blackboard.
Learning Objectives
This class will examine the gross structure of vertebrates, allowing students to gain
appreciation of the functional, evolutionary, developmental and physiological
mechanisms influencing the design of vertebrates. Upon completion of this course,
students will/will be able to:
1. Discuss basic evolutionary concepts and principles, including variability, heritability,
fitness, natural and sexual selection, evolutionary change, adaptation, microevolution,
speciation, macroevolution and adaptive radiation.
2. Understand basic phylogenetic systematics.
3. Describe the phylogenetic relationships among the Phylum Chordata and Subphylum
Vertebrata, discuss the characteristics unique to each group and demonstrate an
understanding of how those characteristics relate to each group’s evolution and
current natural history.
4. Understand the significance of examining vertebrate form in the context of
determining evolutionary relationships.
5. Discuss morphology as it relates to function, especially with respect to the adaptive
significance of particular structures and organ systems.
6. Understand how biomechanical constraints influence anatomical and physiological
adaptation.
7. Know basic anatomical terms and descriptors.
8. Attain proficiency in soft tissue dissection.
9. Identify and provide a basic description of how major vertebrate systems function.
Required Materials:
Textbook: We will be using Kardong, K. 2002. Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy,
Function, and Evolution. Third Edition, McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-290956-0.
Laboratory Manuals:
Fishbeck and Sebastiani. 2001. Comparative Anatomy: Manual of Vertebrate Dissection.
0-89582-517-1.
Wischnitzer 1993. Atlas and Dissection Guide for Comparative Anatomy.
0-7167-2374-3
The lab manuals will be supplemented with handouts. We will not perform all the labs
found in the lab manual… conversely, we will do some dissections not covered in the lab
manual.
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Dissecting Tools: purchase Dissection Kits from the Biology Stockroom. If you wish to
purchase a lab coat (recommended) these are available from the Chemistry Stockroom.
Vinyl gloves will be provided.
Student Responsibilities:
Students are responsible for all information presented in lab and lecture, along with
assigned readings and handouts.
I have no tolerance for cheating. Students are expected to know and follow the
University of Scranton policies concerning academic honesty.
Students are responsible for cleaning up before leaving lab.
Evaluation:
Lecture: There will be three (3) lecture exams and a lecture final. Each exam, including
the final, is worth 100 points. Please note that the final will be comprehensive.
Grades will be determined by dividing the total points earned by the total points possible
and multiplying by 100. The following criteria will be used to assign letter grades:
A = 94 – 100 A- = 90 – 93
B- = 80 – 82 C+ = 77 – 79
D+ = 66 – 69 D = 60 – 65
B+ = 87 – 89
C = 73 – 76
F = below 60
B = 83 – 86
C- = 70 – 72
Lab: There will be four (4) laboratory practical exams. Final lab grades will be
determined using the same criteria as in lecture.
There will be no make-up practical exams.
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Tentative Schedule
Date
Subject
30 August
31 August
1 September
2 September
Lab - General introduction
Lecture – Evolution/Natural Selection
Lab – Lamprey
Lecture – Evolution/Natural Selection
6 September
7 September
8 September
9 September
Labor Day
Lecture - Evolution/Natural Selection
Lab – Lamprey
Lecture– Origin of chordates
13 September
14 September
15 September
16 September
Lab – Lamprey
Lecture – Origin of Chordates
Lab – Dogfish
Lecture - The Vertebrate Story
20 September
21 September
22 September
23 September
Lab - Dogfish
Lecture – The Vertebrate Story
Lab - Dogfish
Lecture Exam I
27 September
28 September
29 September
30 September
Lab - Dogfish
Lecture – Vertebrate embryology
Lab Practical I (Lamprey and Dogfish)
Lecture – Vertebrate embryology
4 October
5 October
6 October
7 October
Lab - Perch
Lecture – Skeletal system, skull
Lab - Perch
Lecture – Skeletal system, skull
11 October
12 October
13 October
14 October
Lab – Mudpuppy
Lecture – Axial skeleton
Lab – Mudpuppy
Lecture – Axial skeleton
18 October
19 October
20 October
21 October
Midterm Break
Midterm Break
Lab - Mudpuppy
Lecture – Girdles, fins, limbs
Chapter 9
25 October
26 October
27 October
28 October
Lab – Pigeon
Lecture Exam II
Lab – Pigeon
Lecture – Girdles, fins, limbs
Chapter 9
1 November
2 November
3 November
4 November
Lab Practical II (Perch and Mudpuppy)
Lecture – Muscles
Lab – Pigeon
Lecture - Muscles
Lecture Reading
Chapters 1 and 2
Chapters 1 and 2
Chapters 1 and 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
8 November
9 November
10 November
11 November
Lab – Cat, External, Skeleton
Lecture – Respiratory system
Lab – Cat, External, Skeleton
Lecture – Respiratory system
15 November
16 November
17 November
18 November
Lab – Cat, External, Skeleton
Lecture – Circulatory system
Lab – Cat, Internal/Muscles
Lecture – Circulatory System
22 November
23 November
24 November
25 November
Lab Practical III (Pigeon, cat external/skeleton)
Lecture – Digestive System
Thanksgiving Break
Thanksgiving Break
29 November
30 November
1 December
2 December
Lab – Cat, Internal/Muscles
Lecture – Digestive System
Lab – Cat, Internal/Muscles
Lecture Exam III
6 December
7 December
8 December
9 December
Lab – Cat, Internal/Muscles
Lecture – Urogenital System
Lab - Cat, Internal/Muscles
Lecture – Endocrine/Nervous Systems
13 December
Lab - review
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapters 15,16
Exam Week
Final (Comprehensive) Lecture Exam and Lab Practical IV (Cat Internal/Muscles)
.
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