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EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
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Learning outcomes (at course level) |
Learning and teaching strategies |
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Paper Code |
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CZOL 613T |
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY |
Students will CO 1: Support the evidence that living species share descent from common ancestry and how this fact explains the traits of living species CO 2: Speculate the source of genetic variation and how it is shaped in the absence of selection (Hardy-Weinberg; genetic drift) CO 3: Appraise the extinction of Dinosaurs, the evolution of horses. CO 4: Value the concept Zoogeographical distribution and Continental drift CO 5: Construct and interpret phylogenetic trees |
Approach in teaching: Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Demonstration, Team teaching
Learning activities for the students: Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Simulation, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks, Field practical |
Class test Semester end examinations, Quiz Assignments Presentation Individual and group projects |
Life’s Beginnings: Chemogeny, RNA world, Biogeny,
Origin of photosynthesis,
Evolution of eukaryotes
Historical review of evolutionary concept: Lamarckism, Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism
Evidences of Evolution: Fossil record (types of fossils, transitional forms),
geological time scale, evolution of horse, Origin and evolution of man,
Unique hominin characteristics contrasted with primate characteristics.
Sources of variations: Heritable variations and their role in evolution
Population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg Law (statement and derivation of equation, application of law to human Population);
Evolutionary forces upsetting H-W equilibrium;
Natural selection Genetic Drift (mechanism, founder’s effect, bottleneck phenomenon
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)
Extinctions, Background and mass extinctions (causes and effects),
detailed example of K-T extinction, Phylogenetic trees,
Multiple sequence alignment, construction of phylogenetic trees, interpretation of trees.
ESSENTIAL READINGS:
● P.D. Sharma, Ecology & Environment Rastogi Publications.
SUGGESTED READINGS:
● Fundamentals of ecology; Odum, E.P.; W.B.Saunders, New Delhi.
● Ecology. Gary Miller, Robert, E. Riclefs. W.H. Freeman, USA.
● Elements of Ecology, 5 Ed Robert Leo Smith et al. Harper Collins.
● Environmental Biology (Cambridge Advanced Sciences) Michael Reiss.
● Ladern,D. Modelling in Behavioural Ecology.
● The Encyclopedia of Animal Ecology, P.D. Moore (Ed), Equinox (Oxford) Ltd., England.
● Ecology and Field Biology, Robert L Smith, Harper CollinsPub, New York.
● Textbook of Ecology, G.T. Miller and S. Spoolman, Brookes Cole, England.
e-RESOURCES:
https://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in/Home/ViewSubject?catid=2rAs1Puvga4LW93zMe83aA=
https://onlinecourses.nptel.ac.in/noc19_ge23/preview
e-JOURNALS:
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
