Lecture: TR 8:00 - 9:15 AM Stevens 118  
Instructor: Dr. Donald Merkle (Office 122 McCorkle 395-2583)   (Temporary Office Wynne 106-D
E-Mail: merkleda@longwood.edu
Office Hours MWF 10:00 - 11:30, T  10:00 - 11:30
Other times by appointment, but you can see me anytime I am in my office by just stopping in.



Texts: 1) Evolution. D. J. Futuyma. Sinauer. 2005.

  2) The Panda's Thumb. S. J. Gould. Norton and Co. 1980.

  3) Darwin for Beginners. Miller and Van Loon. Pantheon, 1982.

  4) Denying Evolution. M. Pigliucci. Sinauer. 2002.

  5) Additional readings from current scientific journals will be assigned during the semester.

Catalog Description: EVOLUTION: A study of the basic processes of organic evolution including the historical development of evolutionary theory, sources of variation, adaptation, natural selection, speciation, the fossil record, biogeography, and the major steps in evolution.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to understand the basic processes that have produced life on this planet, and the major steps in the development of the biodiversity of life forms over the past 4.6 billion years.

General Outline of the Course:

Introduction: Review of Basic Genetics

Pre-Darwinian Concepts of Evolution

Darwinism

Genes in Populations

Ecology of Populations

Adaptation

Natural Selection

Geographic Variation

Origin of New Species

Hybridism and Polyploidy

Macro-Evolution (changes above the species level, such as formation of

new classes)

Geological Record

Evolutionary Lineages and Trends

Rates of Evolution

Extinctions

The Course of Evolution

The Origin of Life

Evolution of Eukaryotes

Plant Evolution

Invertebrate Evolution

Major Steps in Vertebrate Evolution

Evolution in the Future

Creationism VS. SCIENCE


Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend ALL lectures. Any student missing more than 25% of the lectures may be given a final grade of F for the course. Your final grade in this course may be lowered by one letter grade if you miss more than 10% of the lectures.

Tests: Your final grade in this course will be based on the numerical average of 3 lecture tests, a grade for quizzes, and a comprehensive final exam. Grades for unannounced quizzes will count as one test grade. Quizzes may be given any day of the week. Up to 10% of the material on any lecture test may be from material that is in the text book but not covered during class. READ YOUR BOOKS!! Students are expected to read the appropriate chapters in the texts as we cover the topics in lecture.

All tests will be worth the same amount. Your final grade in this course will be based on the numerical average of all test grades.
A ten point grading scale will be used. A = 90 -100, B = 80 -89, C = 70 -79, D = 60 - 69, and F = below 60.

Term Paper: Students will be required to submit a term paper (minimum length of ten pages) dealing with some aspect of evolution. Students must use recent references which may and should include web page URL's. The topic of this paper must be approved by the Instructor by the 3rd Friday of the semester. You may not select a topic that you have, or are doing for another class. These papers will be due at the beginning of the last class meeting of this course. All papers must follow the format set forth in "Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences" (2nd ed.) by Victoria McMillan. This is the style manual that has been approved by this Department and that you should be using for any papers in other Biology courses.

An additional short paper dealing with the creation belief of some religion or culture other than Judeo-Christianity will also be required for this course. A list of religions to choose from will be posted at a later date. The due date for this paper will be announced later in the semester. Students should explain how this religion believes the earth was formed, how plants and animals came to be, and how humans came into existence. You will make an oral presentation of your findings to the class as well as turn in a written paper. You should also send me this file as an E-Mail attachment.

Make-Up Policy: At least one weeks notice will be given for each test. Any VALID excuse for missing a test should be given to me BEFORE the day of the test. Valid excuses include college sponsored class trips, games, etc.. "I am just not ready to take this test" is not considered a valid excuse. Make-Up tests may be written or oral.