EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY THEORY

Paper Code: 
25CZOL613
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
This course will enable the students to -
1. Interpret the evidence that living species share descent from common ancestry
2. Explore the changes in the genetic composition of populations due to evolution
3. Investigate the source of genetic variation and how it is shaped in the absence of selection (Hardy-Weinberg; genetic drift)
 
Course Outcomes: 

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessmen t Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

 

 

CO:157  Support  the  evidence

The approach in

Assessment

Strategies

Class    test,

Semester

end

examinations

  Quiz,

Solving

problems in

tutorials,

Assignments,

Presentation

 

 

 

that living species share descent

teaching:

 

 

from common ancestry and how

Interactive

 

 

this fact explains       the traits of

Lectures, Reading

 

 

living     species     and             acquire

assignments,

 

 

knowledge of    biochemical origin

Demonstration,

 

 

of life and Lamarck and Darwin

Team teaching

 

 

theory

Learning

 

 

CO:158 Speculate the source of

activities for the

 

 

genetic variation     and study of

students: Self-

 

 

fossil,    geological    time             scale,

learning

 

 

evolution of horse and man

assignments,

 

25CZOL613

Evolutionary Biology THEORY

CO:159 Interpret evolutionary forces, Hardy Weinberg Law and Natural Selection, Genetic

Drift, Appraise the

Simulation

 

 

extinction of Dinosaurs,       the

 

 

 

 

evolution of horses.

 

 

 

 

CO:160 Evaluate the species

 

 

 

 

concept, modes of speciation,

 

 

 

 

Isolating mechanisms, micro

 

 

 

 

and macroevolution

 

 

 

 

CO:161  Value  the  concept

 

 

 

 

Zoogeographical      distribution

 

 

 

 

and

 

 

 

 

  Continental  drift  and  study of

 

 

 

 

Dinosaurs, and Archaeopteryx

 

 

 

 

CO:162 Contribute effectively in

 

 

 

 

course-specific interaction

 

 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Theories of Evolution
Biochemical origin of life Evolution of eukaryotes
Historical review of evolutionary concept: Lamarckism, Neo- Lamarckism, Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism 
 
12.00
Unit II: 
Evidences of Evolution
Evidences of Evolution: Fossil record (types of fossils, transitional forms), geological time scale,
Evolution of horse,
Origin and evolution of man,
Sources of variations: Heritable variations and their role in evolution
 
12.00
Unit III: 
Population genetics
Population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg Law Evolutionary forces upsetting H-W equilibrium;
Natural selection, Genetic Drift (mechanism, founder‘s effect, bottleneck phenomenon )
 
12.00
Unit IV: 
Species concept
Product of evolution: Micro evolutionary changes (inter-population variations, clines, races,) Species concept, Isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation—allopatric, sympatric
Adaptive radiation / macroevolution (exemplified by Galapagos finches)
12.00
Unit V: 
Zoogeographical regions
Study of extinct forms: Dinosaur and Archaeopteryx Continental drift
Zoogeographical distribution: Principle zoogeographical regions of the world with reference to mammalian fauna
Essential Readings: 
Evolution, V.B.Rastogi, KedarNath, Ram Nath, Merrut.
● Genes and Evolution. JhaA.P .John Publication, New Delhi
● Evolutionary Biology, Futuyamma, D.J.Sinauer Associates, INC Publishers, Sunderland
 
References: 
Genetics and Origin of Species. Dobzhansky, Th., F.J.Alaya, G.L.Stebbins and J.M.Valentine. Surjeet Publication, Delhi.
● Evolution, Hall, B. K. and Hallgrimsson, James and Bartlett Publisher, Sudbury, USA.
● Evolution and Genetics Merral, D.J.Holt, Rinchart and Winston, Inc.
● Evolutionary Genetics. Smith,J.M. Oxford University Press, New York.
● Evolution. Strikberger, M.W.Jones and Barlett Publishers, Boston London chordates
e-RESOURCES:
● epg pathshala
 
e-JOURNALS:
● Journal of Evolutionary Biology
● Evolution and Human behavior
● Nature Ecology and Evolution
Academic Year: 
2025-2026
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