Course: Evolution (BIOL 4260/5260) Location: ENV 190 Tue/Thur 8:00-9:20

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1 Course: Evolution (BIOL 4260/5260) Location: ENV 190 Tue/Thur 8:00-9:20 Instructor Dr. Jeff Johnson Office: EESAT 310J Tel: office hours: Tues/Thurs 11-12pm or by appointment Teaching Assistant For those registered for the lab (4261/5005) Jeff Mabe Lab location: ENV 360 or 340 (computer lab) Office: EESAT 371 Time: Tues 2:00-4:50pm Tel: Textbook: Zimmer C, Emlen DJ (2013) Evolution: Making Sense of Life. 1 st ed. Roberts and Company Publishers, CO, USA. (ISBN: [paperback]; hardback also available) Textbook chapters can also be viewed within an ipad app and available via itunes or the App store. Chapters may be purchased individually. Price per chapter ranges from $4.99 to $9.99 and Chapters 1 and 8 (on natural selection) may be downloaded at no charge. The entire app is $80. Darwin (1959) On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection, 3rd edition charles/the- origin- of- species/ or online.org.uk/ Prerequisite: Human Heredity (BIOL3350) or Genetics (3451/3452), or equivalent. Course Information on Blackboard Learn: Supplementary information for the lectures will be on Blackboard. The web information is not a substitution for class attendance. Extra information, problem solving, and guidance/hints for exams will be included in the lectures. Exams (total exam grade points = 350 pts): There will be three exams during the semester, each worth 100 pts, and a 4 th exam during the Final Exam Period, worth 150 pts. The final exam will be approximately 100 pts of new material (since the 3 rd exam) and 50 pts cumulative. The lowest exam score of your first three exams will be dropped. Exams will consist of definitions, problems, short answer questions and multiple choice. Questions will come exclusively from lecture material. Lectures will reflect the textbook. The readings from Darwin s The Origin will reinforce material covered in class and in the textbook.

2 Essays (20, 30, 50 pts): There will be three essays, each 3 pages (typed, font = 12, double spaced with one inch margins) summarizing Darwin s thoughts, using quotes and evidence from the textbook, lectures, independent research to support or refute Darwin s thoughts. Essay 1: Compare Darwin chapters 10 (Geological Succession of Organic Beings) & 12 (Geographic Distribution cont.) with what we have learned and summarized in the first couple weeks of class. (20 pts) Essay 2: Compare Darwin chapters 1-4 with what we have learned and summarized in chapters 5-6 & 8 of Zimmer & Emlen. (30 pts) Essay 3: Compare Darwin chapter 4 (section on Sexual Selection) with what we have learned and summarized in chapter 11 of Zimmer & Emlen. (50 pts) The essay grades will reflect your ability to integrate what you have learned in class with Darwinian early evolutionary thinking. Use Bold Font to let me know when you are using specific concepts, keywords, or phrases you have learned in class and in your reading. The essays are due in class prior to the start of lecture (see syllabus calendar for due dates). If you have a conflict on the day a paper is due, I expect to receive it BEFORE the due date. Give your name and essay topic at the top of the first page and all references listed at the end of your essay. Again, the maximum length of your essay should not exceed 3 pages. I will not read beyond the third page. Homework (50 pts): a couple homework assignments will be required during the semester Grading (total pts = 500): A B C D F I may or may not curve, and I reserve the right to bump a student s grade up a letter grade if they have shown improvement through the semester or regularly participate (in a positive manner) during class period. Incomplete (I) Grade. Do not ask for an Incomplete grade- unless you have a MAJOR life event that does not allow you to attend class. I will only give an incomplete grade under extraordinary circumstances. Please refer to the new UNT policy regarding incomplete grades.

3 Makeup exams. Only allowed for valid medical reasons or official school activities, in which case a verifiable written excuse is required. Students who have a valid reason for missing an exam may PRE- ARRANGE (prior to the exam) a date for taking the make- up exam. If a student misses an exam without making arrangements prior to the exam date, or misses the arranged make- up exam, the student will obtain a zero for that exam. The instructor has the option of choosing a different test format for the make-up exam. Attendance students are allowed five class absences in a given semester, but the fourth and fifth absence each will result in a 15- point deduction (or ~7% of total points possible). The sixth absence will result in course withdrawal. Lectures, videos and class discussions will contain vital information needed to do well on the exams. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. FYI > tardiness = absence. Academic Dishonesty. Students caught cheating or plagiarizing will receive a "0" for that particular assignment or exam. Additionally, the incident will be reported to the Dean of Students, who may impose further penalty. According to the UNT catalog, the term "cheating" includes, but is not limited to: a.) Use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; b.) Dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; c.) Acquisition, without permission, of tests or other academic material belonging to a faculty or staff member of the university; d.) Dual submission of a paper or project, or resubmission of a paper or project to a different class without express permission from the instructor(s); or e.) Any other act designed to give a student an unfair advantage. The term "plagiarism" includes, but is not limited to: the knowing or negligent use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment, and the knowing or negligent unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials. Disabilities Accommodation. UNT makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at Acceptable Student Behavior. Student behavior that interferes with an instructor s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the

4 Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at Retention of Student Records. Student records pertaining to this course are maintained in a secure location by the instructor. All records such as exams, answer sheets (with keys), and written papers submitted during the duration of the course are kept for at least one calendar year after course completion. Coursework completed via the Blackboard on- line system, including grading information and comments, is also stored in a safe electronic environment. You have a right to view your individual record; however, information about your records will not be divulged to other individuals without the proper written consent. You are encouraged to review the Public Information Policy and F.E.R.P.A. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) laws and the university s policy in accordance with those mandates at the following link: Tips for success. Do as many review problems as possible at the end of each textbook chapter. Concentrate your efforts on understanding key concepts that are stressed in class. Study groups are encouraged. The study of evolution is problem and fact oriented. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM TO START STUDYING. I recommend reading the chapter prior to the lecture as listed in the syllabus calendar. The study of Evolution requires much more study time than required by many biology courses. Memorization is not encouraged because a better understanding of evolutionary concepts and principles is achieved through an accumulation of evidence and thought. Attend all lectures and ask questions during class if necessary. Evolution and religion. This is a science course. The content of the course is based on information currently accepted by the scientific community. This course is not designed to challenge your personal belief system in any way and you should not feel threatened by the information presented if it does not agree with your beliefs. Regardless, you are responsible for learning the material presented in the course and for understanding why scientists have arrived at the conclusions they have in the field of evolutionary biology, even if you personally disagree with those conclusions.

5 ***This schedule is tentative and subject to change when necessary. Date Topic Reading January 15 - T Intro Chapter 1 Drobzhansky 1973 Gregory 2008 January 17 - Th Natural Philosophy to Darwin Chapter 2 Darwin: Intro January 22 - T Video Darwin s Dangerous Idea Darwin: 10 & 12 January 24 - Th History of Life: Geology & Paleontology Chapter 3 January 29- T Tree of Life Chapter 4 January 31 - Th Video Great Transformations Essay 1 due February 5 - T Exam I Chapters 1-4 February 7 - Th Raw Material Heritable Variation Chapter 5 Darwin: 1 & 2 February 12 - T Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium Chapter 6 February 14 - Th Mechanisms of Evolution Drift Chapter 6 HW 1 due February 19 - T Mechanisms of Evolution Selection Chapter 6 Darwin 3 & 4 February 21 - Th Natural Selection Empirical Studies in the Wild Chapter 8 HW 2 due February 26 - T Natural Selection (cont.) Chapter 8 Essay 2 due February 28 - Th Exam II Chapters 5-6 & 8 March 5 - T Adaptation from Genes to Traits Chapter 10 Gould & Lewontin 1979 March 7 - Th Adaptation (cont.) Chapter 10 March 12 & 14 March 19 - T SPRING BREAK Video The Evolutionary Arm s Race March 21 - Th The History in Our Genes Chapter 9 March 26 - T Evolution of Sex Chapter 11

6 March 28 - Th Sexual Selection Chapter 11 April 2 - T Sexual Selection (cont.) Chapter 11 April 4 - Th After Conception Life History and Parental Care Chapter 12 Chapter 16 (pp ) Essay 3 due April 9 - T Exam III Chapters 9-12 & 16 (part) April 11 - Th The Origin of Species Chapter 13 April 16 - T The Origin of Species (cont.) Chapter 13 April 18 - Th Macroevolution & Extinction Chapter 14 April 23- T Intimate Partnerships Coevolution Chapter 15 April 25 - Th Human Evolution Chapter 17 April 30 - T Human Evolution (cont.) Chapter 17 May 2 - Th May 9 Thursday Video Judgment Day Intelligent Design on Trial - with time for discussion Final Exam 8:00am- 10am Chapters & 17 (100 pts), cumulative (50 pts) Note: Darwin assignments serve as important additional background material and serve as the source for your essay assignments.