Course 2024-2025

Evolution [SBIOB305]

  • 2 credits
  • 15h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: English
Teacher: Dennis Alice

Learning outcomes

This course will cover the theories of evolutionary biology. We will learn how this can be used to infer both historical and ongoing processes. We will use both lectures and in-class exercises to better understand how to calculate and observe evolutionary processes from different types of data.

Content

This course will cover the major themes of evolutionary biology. This will include:

- The principles of natural selection

- Reconstructing phylogenies

- Mutation and genetic variation

- Population genetics

- Adaptation

- The evolution of sex

- Speciation and species concepts

- Evolution and human health

- Human evolution


Teaching methods

Lectures and in-class exercises, including discussions of the current literature. We will also use some introductory calculations to understand how mathmatical models can be used to estimate evolutionary processes.

Evaluations

Final grades will be determined by

- Paricipation in in-class exercises and discussions

- A written final exam in English

Recommended readings

We will largely follow this text and it is suggested (but not required) students get a copy:

Evolutionary Analysis by Herron & Freeman

ISBN: 9781292061276

 

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree