BIO 3122 – Evolutionary Biology

Instructor – Dr. Risa Sargent

Email – rsargent@uottawa.ca
Office Location – GNN 269
Office Hours – Mondays after lecture (10AM-11AM)

Teaching Assistant – Chris Angell

Email Address – csangell11@gmail.com
Office Hours Location – 2nd floor lounge in Biosciences
Office Hours – TBA

Textbook – Zimmer and Emlen, 2nd edition. Evolution – making sense of life.

Grading Scheme:
Midterm 1 – 15 %
Midterm 2 – 25%
Prep Activities (in class) – 25%1
Final Exam – 35% (during the winter exam period)

The material covered in each midterm will build on the concepts learned throughout the
course – focus will be on the material learned since the last exam. The final exam is
cumulative but focuses on the latter part of the course.

Emphasis in the course and exams will be on critical thinking, problem solving and
applying the concepts learned in class to novel situations and/or data.

Course Objectives. At the end of the course, a successful student will be able
to:
1. Describe and explain the evidence for and the major findings and foundations of
the science of evolution. (Skill set: comprehension of readings, retention,
interpretation, writing).
2. Interpret scientific findings in the field of evolution (including data, graphs and
figures), explain why a particular method was used, and communicate what the
results mean. (Skill set: scientific method, experimental design, problem solving)
3. Apply this knowledge to propose or explain methods and/or results that test
questions in the field of evolution (Skill set: critical thinking, problem solving,
writing)

Schedule:
Lecture Date Topic Readings
1 Thurs. Sept. Intro & Lactase Persistence Posted Slides
5
2 Mon. Sept. 9 Evidence for Evolution Posted Slides

1
Each activity will be worth 2.5%. There will be approximately 12-15 activities – I will take the
best 10 for this portion of the grade.
 3 Thurs. Sept. What do we mean by Z&E Chapt. 1, 2; Bell
12 evolution?
4 Mon. Sept. 16 Darwin & The Rise of Life Z&E Chapt. 3
5 Thurs. Sept. CS2 – Pea Taste Evolution Posted Slides
19
6 Mon. Sept. Tree Thinking Z&E Chapt. 4
23
7 Thurs. Sept. Comparative Phylogenetics Z&E Chapt. 4
26
8 Mon. Sept. Genetic Variation Z&E Chapt. 5
30
9 Thurs. Oct. 3 Midterm 1
10 Mon. Oct. 7 Population Genetics 1 Z&E Chapt. 6 p159-72
11 Thurs. Oct. Population Genetics 2 Z&E Chapt. 6 p172-99
10
- Reading Break
12 Mon. Oct. 21 Quantitative Genetics Z&E Chapt. 7
13 Thurs. Oct. Natural Selection Z&E Chapt. 8
24
14 Mon. Oct. 28 Natural Selection II Z&E Chap 8
15 Thurs. Oct. History in our genes Z&E Chap 9
31
16 Mon. Nov. 4 Adaptation Z&E Chap 10
17 Thurs. Nov. 7 Midterm 2
18 Mon. Nov. 11 Sexual Selection Z&E Chap 11
19 Thurs. Nov. Life History Z&E Chap 12
14
20 Mon. Nov. 18 What is a species? Z&E Chap 13
21 Thurs. Nov. Macroevolution Z&E Chap 14 p.451-68
21
22 Mon. Nov. 25 Macroevolution II Z&E Chap 14 p.468-87
23 Thurs. Nov. Coevolution Z&E Chap 15
28
24 Mon. Dec. 2 Evolution of Behaviour Z&E Chapt 16

Additional Optional Reading: Bell, G. 2015. The Tree of Life. Oxford University Press.

University Policies
Missed Exams/Assignments
Absence from any examination or test, or late submission of assignments due to illness,
psychological problems or exceptional personal circumstances must be justified;
otherwise, students will be penalized.

There will be no supplementary midterms for this course – missing a midterm for a
reason covered by the policy will result in the grade allocation shifting to the final exam.
Note that, barring some exceptional circumstances, you must notify me, in
writing, of your excused absence, before the exam or assignment deadline.

https://www.uottawa.ca/administration-and-governance/academic-
regulation-9-evaluation-of-student-learning