This course examines the mechanisms of evolutionary change at both the micro and macroevolutionary scales. Topics include the maintenance of genetic variation, population structure and speciation, molecular evolution, systematic methods and applications, and macroevolution. Three lectures and one laboratory session each week. Offered in alternate years. Topics include ecological genetics, levels of selection, adaptation, life history evolution, coevolution, and the evolution of species diversity.
Labs emphasize quantitative analysis and include an independent project.
The application of techniques such as molecular cloning, PCR amplification, DNA sequencing and hybridization to contemporary issues in biology are emphasized in lecture and laboratory. Two lectures and two laboratories per week. Laboratory includes multiweek investigations based on aspects of the life cycles of bacterial and animal viruses. Three lectures, one scheduled lab each week. Offered in alternate years.