Fall 2020 - BISC 300 D100
Evolution (3)
Class Number: 1280
Delivery Method: Distance Education
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 10, 2020
Thu, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Leithen M'Gonigle
lmgonigl@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
BISC 202 with a grade of C- or better. Recommended: BISC 204.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
The phenomenon of organic evolution, and the major forces leading to changes in allele frequencies over time, i.e. natural selection and genetic drift. Topics include adaptation, speciation, the origin of life, and the major evolutionary trends over geological time. Students with credit for BISC 400 may not take this course for further credit.
COURSE DETAILS:
Everything in biology – every cell (and so every calcium channel and every helicase), every migration path of every bird, even much of our own behavior and many of our diseases – is the product of ongoing evolution, and within the constraints of the system, the product of ongoing natural selection. We will explore the fundamental properties of this ubiquitous phenomenon and the powerful mechanisms behind it using Freeman & Herron's "Evolutionary Analysis" as our guide. This is a huge field and a required course, so be prepared to dig in.
Grading
- 6 quizzes (with one missed or tossed without penalty) 20%
- Three Midterms 50%
- Argumentation Assignments 15%
- Podcast 15%
- No Final Exam!
NOTES:
Lectures will be pre-recorded, i.e., asynchronous. Tutorials will be Synchronous. Office hours will be synchronous and held during the scheduled lecture times (but not all three lecture slots). Exams and quizzes will be synchronous, dates TBA.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Freeman, S. and J. C. Herron. 2013. Evolutionary Analysis, Fifth edition.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020
Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).