BIOSYSTEMATICS, TAXONOMY & EVOLUTION

Paper Code: 
24DZOL711
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
Course objectives: 
This course will enable the students to - 
1. Analysis of basic concepts of Biosystematics. 
2. Descriptive study of taxonomy including speciation, Concept of evolution and theories of organic evolution with an emphasis on Darwinism and Genetics of quantitative traits in population.  
3. Explain the process of speciation and methods of Phylogenetic analysis, Taxonomy and Evolution. 
 
Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and 

teaching strategies

Assessment 

Strategies

Course

Code

Course Title

24DZOL

711

Biosystematic,  Taxonomy &  Evolution

THEORY

 

CO:193 Building the basic  concepts of animal taxonomy  and analyze the implications  of Chemotaxonomy, Cyto

taxonomy and Molecular  taxonomy

CO:194 Analyse the Concept of  Molecular Phylogenetics and  Genetics of Quantitative traits  in a population.

CO:195 It would furnish the  student with different taxonomic procedures including taxonomic

collection, species concept  and Speciation, preservation,  methods of identification and  taxonomic keys.

CO: 196 Explain different theories of biological classification and the basic  concept of the International  Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).

CO:197 Predict Molecular

analysis of quantitative traits

CO:198 Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in 

teaching:

Interactive 

Lectures, 

Discussion, 

Tutorials, Reading  assignments, 

 

Learning 

activities for the  students:

Self-learning 

assignments, 

Effective 

questions, 

Simulation,  

Giving tasks, Field  practical

Class test 

Semester end 

examinations, Quiz 

Assignments

Presentation

Individual and  group projects

 

10.00
Unit I: 
Basic concepts of biosystematics
Definition and basic concepts of biosystematics and taxonomy 
Importance and applications of bio-systematic in biology 
Material basis of biosystematics-different attributes 
Trends in biosystematics- Chemotaxonomy, Cytotaxonomy, Molecular taxonomy 
 
15.00
Unit II: 
Speciation & Species concept
Dimensions of speciation and taxonomic characters 
Dimensions of speciation – types of lineage changes, production of additional lineage
Theories of Biological classification, Hierarchy of categories 
Species concept- Species category, different species concept, subspecies and other infra specific categories 
Mechanisms of speciation in panmictic and apomictic species 
Taxonomic characters – different kinds, origin of reproductive isolation 
 
15.00
Unit III: 
Keys in taxonomy
Procedure keys in taxonomy 
Taxonomy procedures-Taxonomic collections, preservations, curetting process of identification 
Taxonomic keys-Different kinds of Taxonomic keys, their merits and demerits 
Systematic publication-Different kinds of publications 
Process of typification and different zoological types 
International code of Zoological nomenclature (ICZN) – its operative principles, interpretation and application of important rules, Zoological nomenclature, formation of  scientific names of various taxa. 
Evaluation of biodiversity indices: Shannon-Weinner index, dominance index 
 
10.00
Unit IV: 
Concept & theories of evolution
Concept of evolution and theories of organic evaluation with an emphasis on Darwinism. 
Micro and Macro-evolution Neo-Darwinism 
Hardy –Weinberg law of genetic equilibrium 
Detailed account of Destabilizing forces: 
 Natural selection 
 Mutation 
 Genetic drift 
 Migration 
 Meiotic drive 
 
10.00
Unit V: 
Quantitative traits
Genetics of quantitative traits in populations 
Analysis of quantitative traits 
Genotype-environment interactions 
Inbreeding depression and heterosis 
Molecular analysis of quantitative traits 
Phenotypic plasticity 
Molecular phylogenetics 
How to construct phylogenetic trees
Phylogenetic inference-Distance methods, parsimony methods, maximum likelihood  method 
 
Essential Readings: 
ESSENTIAL READINGS: 
● Evolutionary Biology, Futuyamma, D. J. Suinuaer Associates, INC Publishers,  Sunderland. 
● Principles of Systematic Zoology by Ernst Mayr 
● A Primer of Population Genetics. Hart, D.L. Suinuaer Associates, Inc, Massachusetts. 
● Genes and Evolution. JhaA.P.John Publication, New Delhi 
● Species Evolution-The role of chromosomal change. King,M. Cambridge University  Press, Cambridge. 
● Evolution and Genetics Merral, D.J.Holt, Rinchart and Winston, Inc. 
● Evolutionary Genetics. Smith,J.M. Oxford University Press, New York. 
SUGGESTED READINGS: 
● Evolution. Strikberger, M.W.Jones and Barlett Publishers, Boston London 
● Batschelet-F-Introduction to mathematics for life scientists Springer Verlag, Berling. 
● Skoal R.R. and F.J.Rohiff Biometry-Freeman, San-Francisco. 
● Snecdor, G.W. and W.G. CocharanStatisical Methods of affiliated-East West Press, New  Delhi. 
● Murry J.D. Mathematical Biology-Springer, Verlag, Berlin. 
 
e- RESOURCES: 
● http://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in › botany › biosystematics 
 
JOURNALS: 
Taxonomy and Biosystematics ISSN: 2008-8906, 2322-2190 
Journal of Systematics and Evolution ISSN: 1759-6831
 
Academic Year: 
2024-2025
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