Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
"Evolution" provides an overview of the most significant evolutionary transitions in relation to the environmental changes associated with them, details the processes that contributed to these changes & thus develops an understanding of the principles of evolutionary biology. Human evolution is explored in relation to this background & in relation to the evolution of language & disease.
Nothing in biology makes sense without evolution. This course covers the fundamentals of evolutionary biology, both in terms of recognising and interpreting evolutionary patterns and understanding the processes that are thought to drive evolutionary change. We examine evolutionary theory and explore evolutionary processes, on both micro and macro scales, using a range of organisms from bacteria through to metazoans (plants and animals).
The courseᅠwill cover:
- Foundations of evolutionary biology
- Natural selection and adaptation
- The evolution of life histories
- Sex and sexual selection
- The evolution of sociality
- Coevolution
- Speciation and phylogeny
- The origins of life
- Evolution and development
- Evolution and the fossil record
- Human evolution
Course requirements
Assumed background
A basic background in biological science is assumed BIOL1020 (prerequisite), BIOL1030 (recommended) and BIOL1040 (recommended)
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
BIOL1020
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
BIOL1030 + BIOL1040
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course considers the cascade of evolutionary transitions and associated environmental changes and challenges that have faced life on earth since cells first evolved and consequently gave rise to complex, multi-cellular organisms. The various evolutionary processes that contribute to change are considered in relation to organisms ranging from bacteria through to various plants and vertebrates. More specifically, human evolution is explored with reference to this background and in relation to the evolution of language, disease and modern medicine. An appreciation of evolution should help you to see every biological discipline in a new light.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand how and why evolution is an organising principle in the biological sciences.
LO2.
Know the major evolutionary transitions that have taken place in the history of life, since the evolution of the prokaryotic cell until the present.
LO3.
Appreciate how the environment is crucial to sustaining life and forcing evolutionary change.
LO4.
Understand the various processes that contribute to evolutionary change, and how they operate.
LO5.
Understand the evolutionary history of modern humans, their languages and diseases.
LO6.
Appreciate the role of the primary literature in developing an understanding of evolutionary biology, and learn how to synthesise ideas from different sources.
LO7.
Appreciate the nature of the scientific evidence that informs scientific interpretation, and how evidence is gathered and analysed
Assessment
Assessment summary
Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
---|---|---|---|
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration |
Selection experiment
|
15% |
29/08/2024 4:00 pm |
Examination |
Mid-semester exam
|
30% |
16/09/2024 |
Essay/ Critique, Presentation |
Book Club
|
20% |
30/09/2024 - |
Examination |
End of semester exam
|
35% |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Selection experiment
- Hurdle
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
29/08/2024 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04, L06, L07
Task description
600 word 'perspectives' style piece discussing the results of the experimental work carried out during practical classes.
Hurdle requirements
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the courseSubmission guidelines
Assignment to be submitted through Turnitin only.
Access the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site
Upload an electronic version through the Turnitin site for the assignment
Assignments can be uploaded multiple times before the due date/time. The last upload before the due time will be the final version.
You will be sent a receipt, retain the receipt as proof of submission.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Mid-semester exam
- Hurdle
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
16/09/2024
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04, L06, L07
Task description
The mid-semester exam will comprise multiple choice and short answer questions, and cover material from modules 1–7 (1, Foundations of evolutionary biology; 2, Natural selections and adaptation; 3, The evolution of life histories; 4, Sex and sexual selection; 5, The evolution of sociality; 6, Coevolution; 7, Speciation and phylogeny), and practical classes 1–2 (Phylogenetics, taxonomy and fossils; Reading phylogenetic trees).
Hurdle requirements
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the courseExam details
Planning time | 10 minutes |
---|---|
Duration | 90 minutes |
Calculator options | Casio FX82 series calculator only |
Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
Materials | unmarked bilingual paper dictionary |
Exam platform | Paper based |
Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Book Club
- Hurdle
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique, Presentation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
30/09/2024 -
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07
Task description
The Book Club assessment task will be based on material covered in practical classes 6 and 7, and additionally require students to read the Book Club book. The assessment item is divided into two parts: an in-class group presentation during practical class 7 that is worth 10%, and a 1000 word essay to be completed after practical classes 6 and 7 that is worth 10%.
Hurdle requirements
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the courseSubmission guidelines
Assignment to be submitted through Turnitin only.
Access the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site
Upload an electronic version through the Turnitin site for the assignment
Assignments can be uploaded multiple times before the due date/time. The last upload before the due time will be the final version.
You will be sent a receipt, retain the receipt as proof of submission.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End of semester exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 35%
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
The end of semester exam will comprise multiple choice and short answer questions, along with questions relating to data obtained during the final two practical classes (Morphometrics and the species problem; Human evolution), and covers material from modules 8–11 (8, The origins of life; 9, Evolution and development; 10, Evolution and the fossil record; 11, Human evolution).
Hurdle requirements
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the course.Exam details
Planning time | 10 minutes |
---|---|
Duration | 90 minutes |
Calculator options | Casio FX82 series calculator only |
Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - no written materials permitted |
Materials | unmarked bilingual paper dictionary |
Exam platform | Paper based |
Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
Grade | Description |
---|---|
1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is available
Courses graded 1-7
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
COURSE HURDLES
Students are required to get a grade of at least 50% overall to pass the course
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
APPLYING FOR A DEFERRAL OF AN EXAM
If you are unable to sit an exam you need to apply online through my-SiNet. Please read the information on the MyUQ websiteᅠon the requirements for a deferral and how to apply.
SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENTS
All appropriate assignments must be submitted through Turnitin. The course coordinator may also request a hard copy submission of the assignment.
If a hard copy assignment is required then the submission process is as follows:
Hard copy:
- You will be sent the cover sheet for your assignment by e-mail approximately 1 week before it is due.
- You must submit your assignment, with the SIGNED coversheet attached to the front, through the assignment slot at the Help Desk (Room 229, Goddard Building) by 4.00pm on the above date/dates.
- You will be emailed a receipt. Please retain this receipt as proof of submission. If assessment submission is disputed, you MUST produce this receipt.
- Please ensure that you keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Turnitin submission
- Access the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site
- Upload an electronic version through the Turnitin site for the assignment
- Assignments can be uploaded multiple times before the due date/time. The last upload before the due time will be the final version.
- You will be sent a receipt, retain the receipt as proof of submission.
- If you don't receive a receipt, your assessment wasn't submitted.
Failure to submit both a electronic and hard copy (if required) on time will result in the late penalty (10% of maximum marks per day) being applied - you need to ensure that both the HARD copy and ELECTRONIC versions are submitted by the due date.
GROUP ASSIGNMENTS
Students may be required to work in groups and submit an assessment item as a group.
In some cases, students are expected to work in a group to gather data or generate ideas, but are expected to submit individual assessment items based on the group work. This means that you can use the group-generated ideas or data but you cannot collaborate to produce the individual written submissions. If the divisions are unclear, ask for clarification.
ALL group members MUST attach a signed coversheet to the group assignment and submit it by the due date. Late submission of a coversheet will result in a late submission penalty being applied.ᅠ If a coversheet is not attached the student will be recorded as not having submitted the item.
ᅠ
PLAGIARISM will not be tolerated: You should be aware that the University employs purpose built software to detect plagiarism. It is very important that you understand clearly the practical meaning of plagiarism.
DEFINITION OF PALGIARISM: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.
EXAMPLES OF PLAGIARISM:
1. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence;
2. Direct copying of paragraphs, sentences, a single sentence or significant parts of a sentence with an end reference but without quotation marks around the copied text;
3. Copying ideas, concepts, research results, computer codes, statistical tables, designs, images, sounds or text or any combination of these;
4. Paraphrasing, summarising or simply rearranging another person's words, ideas, etc without changing the basic structure and/or meaning of the text;
5. Offering an idea or interpretation that is not one's own without identifying whose idea or interpretation it is;
6. A 'cut and paste' of statements from multiple sources;
7. Presenting as independent, work done in collaboration with others;
8. Copying or adapting another student's original work into a submitted assessment item.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USE (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Course welcome and overview (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 1, Foundations of evolutionary biology Introduction to evolutionary biology (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L06, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 2 (part 1) Natural selection and adaptation (part 1) (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L06, L07 |
|
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Practical |
Phylogenetics, taxonomy and fossils Salisbury Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 2, Natural selection and adaptation Pre-Darwinian developments; Darwin's insights; Natural selection in the lab and field (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 2, Natural selection and adaptation Pre-Darwinian developments; Darwin's insights; Natural selection in the lab and field (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Modules 2 & 3 Natural Selection and Adaptation (part 2) + The evolution of life histories (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Practical |
Tree thinking Salisbury Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Modules 2 & 3 (Module 2, Natural Selection and Adaptation) What constrains adaptation? (Module 3, The evolution of life histories) Trade-offs and the evolution of life histories (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Modules 2 & 3 (Module 2, Natural Selection and Adaptation) What constrains adaptation? (Module 3, The evolution of life histories) Trade-offs and the evolution of life histories (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 4 Sex and sexual selection (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
|
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Practical |
Selection Experiment part 1 Cortesi & Blomberg Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 4, Sex and sexual selection The evolution of sex; Sexual selection: Why do individuals care who they mate with? (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 4, Sex and sexual selection The evolution of sex; Sexual selection: Why do individuals care who they mate with? (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Module 5 - Self-guided learning The evolution of sociality (Cortesi) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Practical |
Selection Experiment part 2 Cortesi & Blomberg Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 5, The evolution of sociality To cooperate or to defect?; Evolutionary stable strategies and Game Theory; Resolving evolutionary conflicts (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 5, The evolution of sociality To cooperate or to defect?; Evolutionary stable strategies and Game Theory; Resolving evolutionary conflicts (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 6 Coevolution (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Workshop |
Selection Experiment part 3 Peer review of draft 'Perspectives' reports (Cortesi & Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 6, Coevolution and mutalism Coevolution and mutualism; Antagonistic coevolution (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 6, Coevolution and mutalism Coevolution and mutualism; Antagonistic coevolution (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 7 Species and speciation (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Workshop |
Book Club 1 (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 6, Modes of speciation The species problem; Modes of speciation; From microevolution to macroevolution (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 6, Modes of speciation The species problem; Modes of speciation; From microevolution to macroevolution (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 7 Species and speciation (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Workshop |
Book Club Part 2 (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 7, Speciation & phylogeny Constructing and using phylogenies (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 7, Speciation & phylogeny Constructing and using phylogenies (Blomberg) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 8 The origins of life (part 1) (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
|
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Lecture |
Module 8, The origins of life The origin of life/Bacteria/Archea; Multicellularity, the origin of plant and metazoan body plans (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 8, The origins of life Common themes in the diversification of plants and animals (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 8 Evolutionary genetics (Ricahrds) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L07 |
|
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Lecture |
Module 9, Evolution and development Regulation, expression, and switches; Gene duplication (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 9 Evolution and development (Ricahrds) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 9, Evolution and development Tookit genes (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Module 9, Evolution and development Evo-devo and the diversification major vertebrate clades (Richards) Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 10 Evolution and the fossil record (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L07 |
|
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Practical |
Morphometrics and the species concept Salisbury Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L07 |
Lecture |
Moduel 10, Evolution and the fossil record The origin of birds Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Moduel 10, Evolution and the fossil record Mass extinctions and contingency in evolution (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L07 |
|
Not Timetabled |
Overview of Module 11 Human evolution (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07 |
|
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Practical |
Human evolution Salisbury Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Lecture |
Module 11, Human evolution The origin of hominins; The origin and early diversification of Homo (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L05, L07 |
|
Lecture |
Module 11, Human evolution The rise and dispersal of Homo (Salisbury) Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety