Evolution

Recommended Prerequisites

Not necessary

Teaching Methods

Theoretical, laboratory and field work classes  throughout the semester. The lectures will present the syllabus themes, using appropriate equipment and bibliography.

The laboratory classes will be taught during the semester in the appropriate Lab, equipped with microscopes, magnifiers and other equipment / reagents usual in biology classes.

The field work will be performed mainly at the Department of Life Science and the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra.

Learning Outcomes

Objectives: This unit aims to provide essential knowledge about evolution (origin of life, biodiversity and ecology), of living things on our planet.
Skills:
1. Knowledge and understanding capacity: Recognize and use concepts and principles of evolution, encouraging systemic and diachronic thinking.
2. Self-learning: Ability to acquire knowledge independently. Use available media to evolve knowledge.
3. Applying knowledge and understanding: Collect, analyze, synthesize and process information on evolution, using appropriate methodologies and techniques.
4. Judgment / decision making: Take/develop an analytical and critical attitude on the self work based on solid and extended scientific knowledge.
5. Communication: Prepare, process, interpret and communicate information on evolution using relevant bibliographic and other sources, appropriate communication and analytical tools.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. The patterns and the history of life
1.1 The origin of the sun and planets
1.2 Plate tectonics and the geologic time scale
1.3 Carbon 14 and Uranium-Lead methods.
1.4 The tree of life: classification and phylogeny
1.5 The evolutionary lines in the fossil record
1.6 The history of life on Earth
1.7 The geography of evolution
2. The evolutionary processes in populations and species
2.1 Variation
2.2 The origin of genetic variation
2.3 Population structure and genetic drift
2.4 Natural selection and adaptation
2.5 Species and speciation
2.6 The evolution of genetic systems
2.7 Molecular evolution
3. Macroevolution
3.1 Development and evolution
3.2 Patterns and processes of macroevolution
3.3 The evolution of biological diversity
3.4 Human evolution and variation.    

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

Apontamentos fornecidos pelo professor.