- Course Code
- BI 2002
- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Professor D J Shaw and Dr C Wilcock
Pre-requisites
BI1004, BI 1507 and CM 1010 or CM 1011
Co-requisites
TS 1001 for students whose background warrants it.
Overview
The aim of this course is to give all biology students a basic understanding of the fundamental biological processes of genetics and evolution. Evolution is unified by the concept of continual change at the phenotypic level, underpinned by genetic changes of different kinds at the molecular level. The content of the course draws on material at all levels of complexity from the molecular, to the whole organism, to the population. There is a balance between molecular and organismal biology, and broader issues such as human population history.
Major topics:
- The key genetic and evolutionary concepts
- Evolution at the gene level
- Evolution at the genome level
- Evolution at the organism level
- Evolution at the population level and the origin of species
- Macroevolution (evolution of major organism groups).
Structure
12 weeks - 3 one-hour lectures per week; a total of 6 three-hour practicals combined with tutorial support.
Assessment
1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (75%), in-course assessment (25%).
Resit:A resit exam, in the same format as the main exam. This may contain material from both the practical and lecture components of the course.