Undergraduate - UnitBIO2022 - Evolution and systematics

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Susie Ho

Synopsis

The historical development of evolutionary ideas and the processes of natural selection as currently understood. Theories and techniques of reconstructing evolutionary history and the use of these approaches as tools for addressing practical problems. The history of life on earth and the role of evolutionary events such as mass extinctions and adaptive radiations in that history. Developmental and genetic processes in evolutionary change. Adaptation in the natural world.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Describe the historical development of the theory of evolution and the evidence for the occurrence of evolution;

Explain the fundamental processes of evolution and the major evolutionary events in the history of life;

Describe the principles of systematically classifying organic diversity;

Apply the techniques for inferring the evolutionary relationships of organisms;

Synthesise and communicate scientific principles and information underlying evolution in oral and/or written formats.

Assessment

Mid-semester theory examination (2 hours): 25%
Final theory examination (2 hours): 25%
Practical assignments: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Susie Ho

Workload requirements

Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour practical or equivalent

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Ecology and conservation biology
Plant sciences
Zoology

Prerequisites

BIO1011 and either BIO1022 or BIO1042