ANIMAL EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY

ANIMAL EVOLUTION AND BIODIVERSITY
Course Code
ZO 3010
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr S Piertney

Pre-requisites

BI 2002

Notes

(i) This course extends over 6 weeks only.
(ii) Available only to students in programme year 3 or above.

Overview

An overview of current evolutionary theory and its development, and of the principles of biodiversity. Topics include the origin of life, ecological and molecular genetics, natural selection, species and speciation, the fossil record and macroevolution, modern taxonomy and systematics, human evolution, the conservation of biodiversity, and related areas.

Structure

Thread I: 6 week course,5 lectures per week, 6 hours of tutorials/practicals/seminars per week.

To pass this course, a pass must be achieved in BOTH the theory exam and the in-course assessment.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%), and in-course assessment based upon essay, practical write-up and oral presentation (50%). Oral examination for borderline candidates.

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.