Bi8155 Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Dipl. Biol. Jiří Schlaghamerský, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. František Zedek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Dipl. Biol. Jiří Schlaghamerský, Ph.D.
Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Mgr. František Zedek, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Botany and Zoology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The course on Evolutionary Biology aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of life and the mechanisms driving its evolution. Through a detailed exploration of topics ranging from the foundational principles of biological evolution and (neo)Darwinism to the complexities of speciation and beyond, students will gain insight into the dynamic processes shaping the natural world. This course is designed not only to elucidate basic concepts and distinct features of evolutionary biology but also to delve into its main topics, including evolutionary mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, and the role of genetic variation in the evolution of species.
Learning outcomes
After going through the course, students should be able to:

Understand the Diversity of Life: Students will explore the vast diversity of life forms and comprehend the historical and scientific contexts of evolutionary biology, including the development of (neo)Darwinism.

Grasp Evolutionary Mechanisms and Forces: The course aims to provide a deep understanding of the forces driving evolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, and the impact of concepts such as the selfish gene, alongside concepts in structuralism and evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo).

Differentiate Between Plant and Animal Evolution: An exploration of the evolutionary features that distinguish plants from animals, highlighting the significance of plant modular growth, dormancy, and the seed bank, versus the prevailing absence of these features in animals.

Comprehend Species Concepts and Speciation: Students will tackle the complexities of species concepts, the continuous nature of species, and the challenges of categorizing life forms. The course covers speciation mechanisms, including reproductive barriers and hybrid speciation, to understand the genesis of new species.

Recognize Breeding Systems and Reproductive Strategies: Examination of the evolutionary implications of different breeding systems and comparing sexual and asexual reproduction across evolutionary scales.

Understand Somatic Mutations and Their Impact: The course will delve into the role of somatic mutations in evolution, including their significance in cancer, plant adaptations, and applications in breeding and agriculture.

Explore Life History and Reproductive Strategies in Plants: Students will learn about the evolutionary consequences of plant life history traits, such as longevity, reproduction rate, and dormancy, on their demography and evolution.

Examine the Extensions of Evolutionary Theory: The course will extend beyond biological evolution to include topics such as cultural evolution, memetics, and social Darwinism, providing a broader perspective on the influence of evolutionary principles.
Syllabus
  • 1. Diversity of life, biological evolution, short history of evolutionary biology, (neo)Darwinism.
  • 2. Evolutionary mechanisms/forces - natural selection, genetic drift, meiotic drive, mutations; selfish gene, structuralism, evo-devo.
  • 3. Evolutionary significant features that differentiate plants from animals (e.g., plant modular and indeterminate growth, dormancy, seed bank, or animal extended phenotype).
  • 4. Species concept - Nature is continuous, and its fuzzy boundaries contrast with a human tendency to think in categories. Difficulties with species concepts. What is a species? Taxonomic vs Evolutionary species.
  • 5. Speciation. Reproductive barriers. Prezygotic/prepollination and postzygotic/postpollination reproductive barriers. Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller (BDM) incompatibilities.
  • 6. Speciation. Hybrid speciation - homoploid and polyploid. The role of hybridization speciation in evolution, its mechanisms, and incidence.
  • 7. Breeding systems and their evolutionary consequences. Sexual and asexual reproduction and their pros and cons in small and large evolutionary scales.
  • 8. Somatic mutations - the impact of intraindividual evolution of cell lines (e.g., cancer, plant microhabitat adaptations). Mechanisms of intraindividual evolution (transposon mutagenesis, mitotic cross-over, etc.). Somatic mutations in breeding and agriculture.
  • 9. Life history and reproductive strategies of plants in evolutionary consequences. The effects of plant longevity, reproduction rate, dormancy, seed bank, etc., on demography and evolution.
  • 10. Beyond biological evolution - e.g., cultural evolution, memetics, social Darwinism
Teaching methods
oral lectures with PowerPoint presentations
Assessment methods
oral exams or written tests depending on the number of enrolled students
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2024/Bi8155