BIOL-3435 Evolution

This course will survey the history of evolutionary thought, the mechanisms and patterns of evolutionary change, and the methods scientists use to study evolution. Topics to be explored include evolution by natural and sexual selection, neutral drift, fitness and adaptation, modes of speciation, phylogenetics, extinction, and applications of evolution in modern medicine. The laboratory portion of the course will include methods to describe and measure diversity, to experimentally create diversity, and to use evolutionary statistics to address broad biological questions. Some experiments will require time outside of scheduled lab. (Offered every Year). Prerequisites: BIOL 3313, 3113, CHEM 2319, 2119. Strongly Recommended: MATH 1320 or PSYC 2401