Evolution
| Keywords |
| Classification |
Keyword |
| OFICIAL |
Biology |
Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S 
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching Staff - Responsibilities
Teaching language
Portuguese and english
Objectives
The learning objective of this course in Evolution is to provide students with the basic knowledge of evolutionary biology, so that they realize this is the leitmotif and unifier element of all Biological Sciences. In particular, it is expected that students become able to understand the evolutionary processes that originated the patterns of biological diversity that we observe today.
Learning outcomes and competences
As this course is exclusively composed of theoretical lectures, each session corresponds to a description of the current state-of-knowledge in a specific topic. Here, the most significant recent advances will be highlighted, as well as the issues that are still open and current research on the field. This way, students can relate knowledge acquired throughout the course, notably in ecology, genetics, physiology and ethology.
Working method
Presencial
Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)
No prior knowledge required, though basic knowledge on Molecular Biology will be useful.
Program
1.Introduction and fundamental aspects of the evolutionary theory. History of biological thought. Levels of biological organization.
2. History and diversity of life. A brief history of life on Earth. The eukaryotes. The Cambrian explosion and the diversification of the fundamental organization of body plans. Phylogenetic reconstruction. Evolution and classification.
3. Evolutionary processes. The bases of variation: mutation and recombination. Genetic variation in natural populations. Natural selection and adaptation. Measuring natural selection. Artificial selection and phenotypic evolution. Sexual selection. The species as a fundamental natural unit. The processes of speciation and hybridization. Modes of reproduction and the evolution of sex. Co-evolution. The emergence of evolutionary novelties.
4. The major evolutionary patterns. Molecular evolution. Evolution and development. Macroevolution. The geography of evolution. Extinction. Evolution and society.
5. The genomic revolution. Reconstruction of genomes. The power of genomic analyses to infer evolutionary processes. Evolution and conservation.
Mandatory literature
Barton Nicholas H.;
Evolution. ISBN: 978-0-87969-684-9
Teaching methods and learning activities
As this course is exclusively composed of theoretical lectures, each session corresponds to a description of the current state-of-knowledge in a specific topic. Here, the most significant recent advances will be highlighted, as well as the issues that are still open and current research on the field. This way, students can relate knowledge acquired throughout the course, notably in ecology, genetics, physiology and ethology.
keywords
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Genetics
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Developmental biology
Natural sciences > Biological sciences > Biology > Evolutionary biology
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final exam
Assessment Components
| designation |
Weight (%) |
| Exame |
100,00 |
| Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| designation |
Time (hours) |
| Frequência das aulas |
48,00 |
| Estudo autónomo |
33,00 |
| Total: |
81,00 |
Eligibility for exams
n.a.
Calculation formula of final grade
Final exam (100%) is the only evaluation tool. Approval with more than 9.5 out of 20.
Examinations or Special Assignments
n.a.
Internship work/project
n.a
Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)
n.a.
Classification improvement
Written exam.
Observations
Contact professor: José Melo Ferreira.