MCCCD Program Description

Fundamental Evolutionary Biology

Course: BIO234

First Term: 2021 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S- Standard

Description: Fundamentals of evolutionary theory including natural selection, adaptation, species concepts, speciation, extinction, basics of phylogenetics, molecular and population genetics, and the evolution of sex and sociality.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Explain and apply the scientific method to investigate biological phenomena. (I-IV) 2. Describe the history and principles of evolutionary theory. (I) 3. Describe evolution by natural selection and adaptation. (I-III) 4. Explain principles of heritability. (II, III) 5. Compare genetic processes of mutation as sources of variation. (II) 6. Analyze models of population genetics and dynamics. (II, III) 7. Calculate changes in populations using Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. (II) 8. Define and contrast molecular clocks, genetic drift, migration, and gene flow. (II) 9. Describe models of speciation, extinction, diversification, and biogeography. (IV) 10. Interpret phylogenetic trees and evolutionary relationships. (I-IV) 11. Describe the evolution of sex and sociality. (III, IV)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Basics of evolutionary theory A. History of evolutionary theory 1. Key historical figures 2. Heritability and variation B. Natural selection 1. Components of natural selection 2. Field and laboratory examples 3. Complex traits 4. Exaptations and novelty 5. Constraints on natural selection C. Phylogenetics and evolutionary history 1. Types of phylogenetic trees 2. Homology and analogy 3. Building and interpreting phylogenetic trees 4. Hypothesis testing 5. Examples using fossil record versus genetic data II. Mechanisms of evolutionary change A. Sources of genetic variation 1. Mendel`s law 2. Genetic transmission 3. Variation, mutation, and recombination 4. Fitness consequences of mutations B. Population genetics 1. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium 2. Mutation rates 3. Estimates of heritability 4. Migration 5. Nonrandom mating 6. Genetic drift 7. Neutral theory 8. Evolution at multiple loci 9. Genomic evolution III. Adaptation and natural selection A. Adaptation by natural selection B. Sexual selection 1. Cost and benefit of sexual reproduction 2. Intersexual selection 3. Intrasexual selection C. Social behavior and sociality 1. Cooperation and kinship 2. Conflict 3. Communication D. Coevolution 1. Mutualism 2. Antagonistic coevolution 3. Mosaic coevolution IV. History of life and evolutionary interactions A. Origin of life 1. Early building blocks 2. Protocells 3. RNA world 4. Cell evolution B. Major transitions 1. Eukaryotic cells 2. Multicellular life 3. Individuality 4. Group and sociality C. Mechanisms of speciation 1. Allopatric 2. Parapatric 3. Sympatric 4. Genetics of speciation D. Development 1. Regulation and switches 2. Gene duplication 3. Life history E. Extinction 1. Background extinction 2. Mass extinction 3. Rates and patterns F. Human evolution 1. Evolutionary relationships with primates 2. Hominin clade 3. Modern humans 4. Migration patterns in humans G. Evolutionary medicine 1. Fever 2. Pathogens 3. Senescence

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 26, 2020

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.