Biosystematics, Taxonomy&Evolution

Paper Code: 
ZOL 121
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Objective: 

Objectives

The course Objectives to provide students with a basic understanding of:

  1. Basic concepts of biosystematics and taxonomy
  2. Dimensions of speciation and taxonomic characters  
  3. Procedure keys in taxonomy
  4. Concept of evolution and theories of organic evaluation with an emphasis on Darwinism.
  5. Genetics of quantitative traits in populations

Learning Outcomes-

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Describe Basic concepts of biosystematics and taxonomy
  2. Understand the Dimensions of speciation and taxonomic characters  
  3. Understand the Procedure keys in taxonomy like collections, preservations, curetting process of identification
  4. Describe Concept of evolution and theories of organic evaluation with an emphasis on Darwinism.
  5. Describe Genetics of quantitative traits in populations

 

10.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I

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

Cyto-taxonomy

        Molecular taxonomy

15.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II

Dimensions of speciation and taxonomic characters  

  • Dimensions of speciation – types of lineage changes,  production of additional lineage
  • Mechanisms of speciation in panmictic and apomictic species
  • Species concept- Species category, different species concept, subspecies and other infra specific categories
  • Theories of Biological classification , Hierarchy of categories

Taxonomic characters – different kinds, origin of reproductive isolation 

15.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III

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: 
UNIT IV

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
  • A detailed account of Destabilizing forces:

(i) Natural selection

(ii) Mutation

(iii) Genetic drift

(iv) Migration

(v) Meiotic drive

10.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V

Genetics of quantitative traits in populations

  • Analysis of quantitative traits
  • Quantitative traits and natural selection
  • 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: 
  • V C Kapoor Theory And Practice Of Animal Taxonomy Oxford & IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi
  • Systematics and the Origin of Species from the Viewpoint of a Zoologist  (English, Paperback, Mayr Ernst) Harvard University Press Genre: Science
  • Evolutinary Biology, Futuyamma, D.J.Suinuauer Associates, INC Publishers, Sunderland.

 

References: 

ü  A Primer of Population Genetics. Hart,D.L.suinuaer Associates, Inc, Massachusetts.

ü  Genes and Evolution. JhaA.P.John Publication, New Delhi

ü  Species Evolution-The role of chromosomal change. King,M. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

ü  Evolution and Genetics Merral, D.J.Holt, Rinchart and Winston, Inc.

ü  Evolutinary Genetics. Smith,J.M. Oxford University Press, New York.

ü  Evolution. Strikberger, M.W.Jones and Barlett Publishers, Boston London

ü  Bastchelet-F-Introduction to mathematics for life scientists Springer

Verlag, Berling. 

Skoal R.R. and F.J.Rohiff Biometry-Freeman, San-Francisco.

ü  Snecdor, G.W. and W.G. CocharanStatisical Methods of affiliated-East-

West Press, New Delhi.

ü  Murry J.D. Mathematical Biology-Springer, Verlag, Berlin.

 

 

Academic Year: 
2019-2020
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