The course focuses on current hypotheses of genetic change of populations, speciation, origins of complex adaptations, origin and extinction of higher taxa, and sociobiology.
Students analyze and evaluate arguments for competing hypotheses.
The history of life, including human evolution, is briefly summarized. This course provides the theoretical underpinning of biology which is necessary for any modern biologist to understand. History of evolutionary thought. Evidence that life on earth has changed. Mechanisms of change at the population level, including mutation pressure, genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection.