Evolutionary Biology

Knowledge:

A student who has completed the course should have solid knowledge of:

• fitness, the measure for selection, and how it can be measured empirically
• the causes of genetic variation; selection in its various forms; heritability; how these three processes together result in adaptation
• population genetics; how selection, mutation, migration (gene flow), and inbreeding affect the genetic structure of populations; genetic drift, the other important evolutionary force
• phylogenetic thinking; how new species arise; the major species concepts
• the evolutionary costs and benefits of sex
• the study of quantitative characters and the interplay between genes and the environment
• the evolution of life histories, including in parasites, and their epidemiological consequences
• how evolutionary thinking gives us insight into human health issues
• the evolution of early humans
• evolution and development; how similarities and differences in body plans arose across the tree of life (EvoDevo)

Skills:

Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to:

• counter arguments against evolution; critically evaluate popularized writings which take up evolutionary topics or use evolutionary argumentation
• formulate sound, testable evolutionary hypotheses for a variety of biological phenomena
• read and understand much of the secondary and primary research literature within evolutionary biology
• apply evolutionary principles in her or his own research

General competence:

Upon completion of the course, a student should:

• have a better understanding of how evolutionary science generates knowledge by way of hypothesis testing, systematic observations, and the comparative method
• be able to better distinguish scientific from unscientific arguments
• have gained experience with diverse learning methods (reading, discussions, lectures, videos, computer simulations) in biology
• see evolutionary biology as a powerful set of tools for approaching current changes in biodiversity and addressing future challenges

Spring.

This course has a limited capacity, enrolment is based on application. The application deadline is Wednesday in week 2 for the spring semester. Please see this page for more information.: Admission to courses with limited capacity | Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences | UiB . You will receive confirmation of whether you received a seat in Studentweb no later than Monday the week after the deadline.

It is compulsory to attend the first lecture/orientation meeting, or you risk losing your seat. If you are unable to attend the first lecture, you must contact the Study Section (studie.bio@uib.no). The time of the first lecture/orientation meeting can be found in the schedule on the course website or on Mitt UiB.