Comprehend different evolutionary models for genetic load and how these led to the neutral theory of molecular evolution. Understand and describe the “Neutral theory” and the “nearly neutral theory”. Know the major predictions of neutral theory and give examples where predictions have been validated with real molecular data. Comprehend both the benefits and pitfalls of neutral theory. [BIOL 3046] Demonstrate the relationship between critical thinking and good scholarship within a course project. [BIOL 3046] Describe the protist cells and some major groups of Protists; focus on Haptophytes, Diatoms, Apicomplexan parasites, Ciliates, Cellular slime molds (including life/sexual cycles for the latter four) [BIOL 2004] Explain how complex genetic systems lead to modifications of the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance. [BIOL 2030] Explain the concept of heritability in terms of the genetic vs. environmental variance for a trait [BIOL 2040] Interpret Mendel’s rules of heredity in terms of the eukaryotic cell cycle. Describe meitoic crossing over and its relationship to genetic linkage. [BIOL 2030] Know updates and extensions to Darwinian theory that led to modern theory. Comprehend and explain principles arising from the neo-Darwinian synthesis and neutral theory. [BIOL 3046] Predict the effects of each evolutionary force on allele and genotype frequencies in a given situation and for combinations of two evolutionary forces (calculate the change for simple situations – qualitative predictions for situations involving two evolutionary forces. [BIOL 2040] Understand how molecular evolutionary processes give rise to patterns of genetic diversity that we observe in the natural world, and how to use those patterns to make inferences about different processes. [BIOL 3046] Understand the evolutionary significance of mutations at different levels of complexity. Apply evolutionary theory to understand impacts of mutations on fitness, rates of molecular evolution and genetic control of mutation. [BIOL 3046] Understand the importance of molecular evolution in the post-genomic era, and be able to explain this to non-specialists. [BIOL 3046] Use knowledge of molecular evolution for clear and explicit communication and exchange of ideas about the topic within a course project. [BIOL 3046]
BIOL 1010BIOL 1030
