Syllabus for EEB 401: Evolution and Development, Winter 2007, section 001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Trisha Wittkopp (wittkopp@umich.edu, 1061 Natural Science Building)

Where: 120 Denniston

 

 

 

When:  T Th 2:30-4:00

 

 

 

Textbook: From DNA to Diversity: Molecular genetics and the Evolution of animal design, 2nd ed

 

by S.B. Carroll, J.K. Grenier, and S.D. Weatherbee (Blackwell publishing)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day

Date

Class

Topic

 

 

Reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

4-Jan

1

Course policies, survey, introduction

Paper set 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

9-Jan

2

A brief history of animals (P)

 

Preface,Ch. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

11-Jan

3

Birth of "evo-devo" (Q)

 

Paper set 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

16-Jan

4

The genetic toolkit for development (P)

Ch. 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

18-Jan

5

Building animals (Q)

 

Ch. 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

23-Jan

6

Evolution of the toolkit (P)

 

Ch. 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

25-Jan

7

Evolution of the toolkit: Case studies (Q)

Paper set 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

30-Jan

8

Diversification of body plans (P)

Ch. 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

1-Feb

9

Diversification of body plans: Case studies (Q)

Paper set 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

6-Feb

10

Evolution of Morphological novelties (P)

Ch. 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

8-Feb

11

Evolution of Morphological novelties: Case studies (Q)

Paper set 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

13-Feb

12

Morphological variation and species divergence (P)

Ch. 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

15-Feb

13

Morphological variation: Case studies (Q)

Paper set 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

20-Feb

14

The primacy of regulatory evolution (P)

Ch. 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

22-Feb

15

Stabilizing selection (Q)

 

Paper set 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING BREAK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

6-Mar

16

Genetic basis of expression differences (Q)

Paper set 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

8-Mar

17

Evolution of sex in nematodes (Soochin Cho)

Paper set 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

13-Mar

18

Mechanisms of regulatory divergence (Q)

Paper set 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

15-Mar

19

Regressive evolution in fish (Ted Allison)

Paper set 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

20-Mar

20

Canalization and developmental buffering (Q)

Paper set 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

22-Mar

21

Developmental System Drift (Q)

Paper set 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

27-Mar

22

Developmental Constraints (Q)

Paper set 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

29-Mar

Student

Plant evolution: maize domestication, floral diversity

Paper set 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

3-Apr

Student

*Structural modifications: finch beaks, horned beetles

Paper set 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

5-Apr

Student

*Pigmentation evolution: mouse, zebrafish

Paper set 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

10-Apr

Student

Evolution of Drosophila hairs: larval, adult leg

Paper set 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

12-Apr

Student

Regulatory mechanisms: endo16, hoxc8

Paper set 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T

17-Apr

23

Final discussion: Future of Evo-Devo

Paper set 20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F

20-Apr

(Graduate students) News and Views papers due  at 5pm

 

 * Subject to change.

(Q) = questions to be answered prior to class, (P) = questions/answers to be posted to the website

 

Course Objectives: The goal for this course is to introduce you to the field of evolution and development (Òevo-devoÓ), while improving the critical thinking skills needed to become an independent scientist. At the end of the course, you should be familiar with the experimental approaches used to study the developmental basis of evolutionary change as well as the Òbig pictureÓ questions that these studies can address. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation and synthesis of the primary literature. Developing and expressing scientific opinions will be stressed equally with data interpretation and experimental design.

 

Expectations for students:

1. Complete reading assignment prior to class.

2. Type answers to questions (Q) and bring printed copy to class.

3. Post questions/answers when required.

4. Participate in class discussions.

5. In class, either correct or add to your answers to (Q) based on the discussion.

6. Participate in group presentations at the end of the semester.

7. Graduate students will write a "news and views" paper at the end of the semester.

 

Point distribution

 

Graduate

Undergraduate

Weekly questions

 

100

100

Questions for presenters

20

20

Posted questions/answers

10

10

Class participation

 

30

30

Group presentation

 

50

50

News and views paper

50

 

 

 

 

Total

260 points

210 points

 

Assignments and grading criteria are described here.

 

Grading scale

100-97

A+

96-92

A

91-90

A-

89-87

B+

86-82

B

81-80

B-

79-77

C+

76-72

C

70-71

C-

69-60

D

<60

E

Rounding: 96.5 = 97, 96.4999999 = 96