| Date |
Week |
Topic |
Due |
Slides |
Reading |
| 1/5/2026 |
1 |
Student lightning talks, quiz, VO and RP ‘hurricane’ talks - our thoughts on the subject of evolution
|
-- |
-- |
See Canvas assignment
|
| 1/7/2026 |
1 |
(RP) What is evolution? The facts. The theory. Past, present, future, human impacts
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/12/2026 |
2 |
(VO) History of life on Earth: Darwin the geobiologist, reading the rock record. Student reenactments - major events in Earth history
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/12/2026 |
2 |
Lab: History of life on Earth (Arms 100)
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/14/2026 |
2 |
Visit by Nick Pyenson.
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/19/2026 |
3 |
---------- no lecture holiday----------
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/21/2026 |
3 |
Visit by Geerat Vermeij
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/26/2026 |
4 |
(RP) The theoretical framework for thinking about evolution - variation, heritability, the forces of evolution. Mutation selection, drift, and migration. In class simulation of drift.
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/26/2026 |
4 |
Lab: DNA extraction and Sequencing - I. gDNA extraction
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 1/28/2026 |
4 |
(RP) Molecules as documents of evolutionary history: concepts
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/2/2026 |
5 |
(RP) Molecules as documents of evolutionary history: case studies
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/2/2026 |
5 |
Lab: DNA extraction and Sequencing - II. PCR and electrophoresis
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/5/2026 |
5 |
(VO) Introduction to phylogenetic systematics: primary focus on fossil record/morphological traits. In-class activity with Caminalcules.
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/9/2026 |
6 |
(VO) Natural selection and ecological connections
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/9/2026 |
6 |
Lab: DNA extraction and Sequencing - III. Sequencing and phylogenetics
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/11/2026 |
6 |
(RP) Mechanisms of speciation: eukaryotes
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/16/2026 |
7 |
---------- no lecture holiday----------
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/18/2026 |
7 |
(VO) Speciation in the microbial world
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/23/2026 |
8 |
(VO) Evolutionary innovation through microbial symbiosis - I
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/23/2026 |
8 |
Lab:
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 2/25/2026 |
8 |
(VO) Evolutionary innovation through microbial symbiosis - II
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/2/2026 |
9 |
(VO) Role of viruses and phages in evolution of eukaryotes, bacteria, and archaea
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/2/2026 |
9 |
Lab: Luria-Delbrück - I
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/5/2026 |
9 |
(RP) From land to sea and back again - whales
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/9/2026 |
10 |
(VO) A plant’s journey from land to sea - seagrass
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/9/2026 |
10 |
Lab: Luria-Delbrück - II
|
-- |
-- |
|
| 3/11/2026 |
10 |
(RP) Human evolution
|
-- |
-- |
|
