UNIVERSITY OF SARGODHA

COURSE OUTLINE                                                                                                

Course Title: EVOLUTION AND PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATICS

 Course Code: ZOL - 604

Credit Hours: 4 (3+1)

DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

Aims and Objectives:

The course is designed to provide in-depth knowledge of the origin of life and about forces responsible for evolutionary changes. The students will be taught basic rules and regulations about the identification and naming of organisms.

READINGS

Books Recommended

Evolution

1. Ridley, M. EVOLUTION. 2004. Blackwell Scientific Publications.

2. Dobzhansky, T., Ayala, F.J., Stebbins, G.L., and Valentine, J.W. EVOLUTION. 1973. W.H. Freeman and Company.

3. Dobzhansky, T. GENETICS, AND THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, 1951. Columbia University Press, New York.

4. Mayr, E. POPULATIONS, SPECIES AND EVOLUTION, 1965. Harvard University Press.

5. Moody, P.A. INTRODUCTION TO EVOLUTION, 1989. Harper and Row Publishers, New York.

6. Strickberger. M.W. EVOLUTION. 2000. Jones & Barrett Publishers

          7. Kenneth, V. Kardong. 2008. AN INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION. The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Systematic Zoology

1. Mayer, E. PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 1994. McGraw Hill, New York.

2. Mayer, E. and Ashlock, P.D. PRINCIPLES OF SYSTEMATIC ZOOLOGY. 1991. McGraw Hill, New York

3. Mayr, E. ANIMAL SPECIES AND EVOLUTION, 1985. Harvard University Press.

4. Heywood, V.H. TAXONOMY AND ECOLOGY. 1975. Academic Press, London.

5. Whili, M.J.D. MODES OF SPECIATION, 1978. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco.

Course Contents

(i). Evolution

1. Nature and origin to life: Evidence of evolution (molecular, embryological & paleontological).
2. Theories of Evolution: Theories to explain the diversity of life - Modern synthetic theory, factors initiating elementary evolutionary changes (micro-evolution) by changing gene frequencies, mutation pressure, selection pressure, immigration, and crossbreeding genetic drift.
3. Role of isolation in evolution: Factors of large evolutionary changes (macro/mega evolution) - allometry, orthogenesis, adaptive radiation. The modern concept of Natural Selection: Levels of selection, selection patterns, laboratory, and field example regarding the action of Natural Selection. The action of Natural Selection leading to convergence, radiation, regression and extinction, Batesian mimicry, Mullerian mimicry, Sexual selection: Darwin’s concept, Fisher’s view, Zahavi’s handicap theory, Recapitulation theory, Trend and rates in evolution.

(ii). Systematic Zoology

1. Importance and applications of systematics: Taxonomy in Animal science, systematics as a profession, and its future perspectives.
2. History of taxonomy: systematics, basic terminology of systematics, theories of biological classifications.
3. Taxonomic characters: Kinds and weightage, microtaxonomy, taxonomic categories: specific category, infraspecific category, higher categories; Species concept.
4. Typological species concept: Nominalistic species concept, biological species concept, Evolutionary species concept. Kinds of different species, Speciation, Taxonomic procedures, taxonomic collection; their preservation and duration, Taxonomic keys, different kinds of keys, and their merits and demerits.
5. Systematics publications: International code of zoological nomenclature; its objective, principles, interpretation, application of important rules, with reference to Zoological nomenclature, the law of priority, and validity of names.

Practicals

1) Study of preserved invertebrate species and their classification up to class level.

2) Collection, preservation, and identification of common species with the help of keys.

3) Methods of statistical analysis of samples from populations T-test, Analysis of variance, etc.

4) Preparation of keys for the identification of specimens.

COURSE SCHEDULE

RESEARCH PROJECT

Students will be asked to take various assignments, presentations about the latest advancement/research, and important concepts of the subject.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Sessional: 15 % comprising of:

Attendance, Assignments, Presentation, Participation, etc

Mid Term: 22

Final exam:38

Practical Exam: 25

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The students are directed to be regular in class as 80% attendance is mandatory. Students must abide by all University/semester rules and regulations.