Origin and Development of Biological Theories Biology 4300.03A Fall 2010 Tuesdays 7-10, ACW 002 Professor Jan Sapp Office: 306 Farquharson Office hours: Tuesdays at 5:30-7:00 by appointment E-mail: [email protected] This course will be centered on the relations between molecular biology and evolutionary theory and ecology, shifting concepts of the gene, and molecular phylogenetics. Required Reading: Jan Sapp, Genesis: the Evolution of Biology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) Chapters 16, 17, 18, and 19. Assessment: Test: 20% Research Proposal: 10% Group presentation: 20% Essay: 50%. Due: December 10 A 2% penalty will be applied each day to all work submitted after due dates (non-negotiable without a medical note). Work will not be accepted more than one week beyond the due date. Up to 10% of final mark will be deducted for lack of class attendance and participation. 5% deducted for two classes missed; 10% for three classes missed. One make up test will be held one week following the test date. Students who miss the make-up test will be required to write their test in March under the direction of the biology undergraduate office. Research Proposal: Assessment will be based on formulation of the research question, brief discussion of its significance, how it will be investigated, and an indicative bibliography. Two double spaced pages plus bibliography. Presentation: Assessment will be based on the organization, oral and visual presentation of the research. 60 minutes per group plus 15 minutes for discussion. 10% will be deducted for presentations exceeding the allotted length of time. Essay: Length 2000 words per student: assessed according to these criteria: - identification, understanding, and analysis of primary sources, i.e. journal aarticles. - ability to situate the topic within its larger historical setting - organisation and coherence - Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? - Understating reception of ideas, and their theoretical and/or practical implications. 12 font double spaced Reference style They were forced to admit that their efforts were futile (Stanier and van Niel 1962). Roger Stanier, Michael Doudoroff, and Edward Adelberg (1957, p. 297) asserted in the first edition of The Microbial World: “… it is a waste of time to attempt a natural system of classification for bacteria.” 2 References: Stanier, R., Doudoroff, M., Adelberg, E. (1957) The microbial world, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs. Stanier R.Y., van Niel, C. B. (1962) The concept of a bacterium. Archiv Für Mikrobiologie 42:17-35. Class Schedule September 14: introduction September 21 the rise of classical molecular biology and beyond September 28: molecular phylogenetics October 5: symbiosis and lateral gene transfer, proposals due October 9-15 reading week October19: test October 26 workshop November 2: Human genomics, gene therapy, and eugenics Gene therapy Maryam Alizadeh‐Miab, Jay Bhojak, Gurkirat Sandhu, Yev Chornenky November 9: Wolbachia , Viral evolution and classification Wolbachia Bourlourian, November 16: Epigenetic inheritance, chaperones Giancarlo Pecchia, Efim Palvanov: Dmitry Rogozhnikov November 23: The RNA World, Alternate splicing and gene theory November 30: The Histone Code, Viruses and Introns December 7: Hybridization and evolution, the neutral Theory of biodiversity Parasitism and hybridization Julie Selelenk