Spring 2001: BIOL 230: Evolutionary Biology

overview – instructors – course information – downloads – updates

overview

location 10 Leidy Laboratories

time T Th 1:30-3

syllabus BIOL 230 Syllabus + Schedule

This course will survey the field of evolutionary biology from its pre-Darwinian origins to its current status as a scientific discipline. Areas covered will include Darwin's Origin of Species, heredity and variation, population genetics, adaptation and sexual selection, molecular evolution, speciation, and phylogeny reconstruction, among others.

professors

Paul Sniegowski
324 Leidy Laboratories
email: paulsnie@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 573.4085
office hours: Weds. 12-1 or by appt. Arthur Dunham
330 Leidy Laboratories
email: adunham@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 898.4117
office hours: by appt.

teaching assistants

Heidi Kuehne
320 Leidy Laboratories
email: hkuehne@sas.upenn.edu
+1 215 898.8419

course information

textbook

The following reading material is available at the University of Pennsylvania bookstore:

Evolution, Mark Ridley, (1996, Blackwell)
Origin of Species, Charles Darwin, (1981, Harvard UP)
Bulkpack, available week of 1/29 at Wharton Reprographics, Ste.400, Steinberg Hall-Dietrich Hall.

**Note: The Origin of Species is to be read in its entirety by the first midterm.** Much of the science in the The Origin is still relevant. Our main purpose in reading the book, however, is not to figure out where Darwin was wrong and where he was right, but to become familiar with the original evidence and reasoning that convinced the scientific world of the reality of organic evolution. Questions about the Origin will appear on the exams.

grading and exams

There will be two midterms, a ten to fifteen page term paper, and a final examination. The point distribution is:

Midterms 20%, each
Paper 30%
Final 30%.

The midterms will be 90 minutes in length and will consist of essay, short answer, matching and multiple choice questions. The paper topics will be chosen from a list to be handed out later in the term. You may write a paper on a topic not on this list,but it must be approved by the instructors. Failure to complete a paper will result in an F grade for the course.

The final examination will be cumulative but will concentrate on the material from the
last portion of the class. Poor participation or attendance in recitation may move you down a single grade (i.e., A- to B+).

Recitation sections are a vital part of the class. During these sections you will have the opportunity to review class material and discuss current topics in evolutionary biology. Several questions in each exam will be from recitation. A schedule for the recitation sections will be distributed during the second week of class,along with a schedule of Bulkpack readings.

lecture schedule

Please refer to the BIOL 230 PDF talk schedule for more information on this course.

academic integrity

All relevant University policies regarding Academic Integrity must be followed. This includes no cheating, no plagiarism and reporting any knowledge thereof. Please consult the Student Handbook or the appropriate web-page: http://www.college.upenn.edu/responsibilities/integrity.html

downloads

schedules

BIOL 230 Syllabus + Schedule

assignments + handouts

BIOL 230 Paper Topics
BIOL 230 Problem Set I
BIOL 230 Solutions to Problem Set

exams

BIOL 230, Spring 2000, Exam I
BIOL 230, Spring 2000, Exam II
BIOL 230, Spring 1999, Final Exam

course updates

01/16/2001
Outside web resource

The British Broadcasting Corporation's Evolution Website, containing the complete text of the Origin of Species and a wealth of additional material about evolution:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/darwin/atoz.htm

02/06/2001
Handout and old exams available

The problem set in population and quantitative genetics is now available on this site. Please do these problems yourself before recitation next week; we will discuss the problems in recitation.

Our first midterm is next Thursday, 2/15. It will cover all of the lecture and reading (including recitation reading) up to and including 2/13. The exams from last year are now posted on this site; the first one will give you an idea of what to expect for the midterm.

02/06/2001
Exam I date change

As I mentioned in lecture today, we have decided to move Midterm 1 to Tuesday, 20 Feb. during class time instead of 15 Feb. This is so the Friday recitation group will have a chance to work on the problem set with Heidi before the exam.

03/21/2001
Midterm II date change

As announced at the beginning of yesterday's lecture, we are changing the date of our second midterm to April 3rd to avoid back-to-back exams for those who are taking the molecular biology class immediately preceding ours.

On Thursday 3/22 this week we will cover genetic drift, balancing forms of selection, and the rudiments of molecular evolution. Dr. Dunham will begin lecturing on speciation on Tuesday 3/27. Exam II will cover all lecture material presented and the corresponding reading since the previous exam, including Dr. Dunham's first two lectures. Remember that recitation readings and discussion topics may also be included in the exam.

I still have not met with most of you about paper topics. In addition to my usual 12-1 office hour today I will be available to discuss paper topics in my office (LL324) or lab (LL222) during the following periods this week: Weds. 1-3:45; Thursday 3-4; Friday 3-4:45. I won't offer extra office hours after this week, so try to make it during one of these times.

last updated September 28, 2001