ENV BIOL 3123 - Issues in Evolutionary Biology III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

The aims of this course are to introduce research approaches employed in a range of key topics in evolutionary biology and to develop critical thinking when assessing current literature in the area. Topics discussed will include: the evolutionary gain and loss of adaptive traits, human demographic history as inferred using ancient DNA, molecular tools for biodiversity discovery and conservation, and computational challenges for processing and interpreting large-scale genomic data in speciation studies

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 3123
Course	Issues in Evolutionary Biology III
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 6 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	ENV BIOL 2501, ENV BIOL 3002 or ENV BIOL 3230
Corequisites	ENV BIOL 3122
Restrictions	Available to BSc(EvolBiol) students only
Assessment	Tutorial presentation, major research project report, tutorial essay and reports

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Marc Jones

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Demonstrated understanding of the current major issues in evolutionary biology and how they are being tackled through interaction with experts in the field.
2	Show proficiency in summarising information, and presenting key results and concepts via oral presentations and written work.
3	Demonstrated skills in the design and execution of a research project, including statistically sound sampling strategies and the analysis and interpretation of results.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1,2
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2,3
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	3
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	1-3
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	1-3
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1-3
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	1-3
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	3

Learning Resources

Online Learning

MyUni:
Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures:
1 lecture of 1 hour per week

Tutorials:
1 tutorial of 1 hour per week

Laboratory
Session: 1 x 3-4 hour lab session per week for weeks 2 - 12 in supervisor's laboratory.

Lectures are presented by academic staff on topics directly related to their own research.
The aim is to give students an insight into the approaches and challenges of current
evolutionary research. Tutorials develop material covered in the lectures, and encourage critical thinking on key issues via discussion with an academic expert.
Independent projects provide students with experience of designing and executing a research project, and will help them to decide whether to undertake Honours

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required for the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

Schedule
Week 1	Lecture Tutorial	Introduction to the course. Project selection and setup. Andy Austin How functional morphology varies in response to different habitats and what it can indicate about adaptive evolutionary change among different groups of taxa. Brett Goodman None
Week 2	Lecture Tutorial	The plant fossil record and the climate change debate. Bob Hill Brett Goodman / Morphological adaptation
Week 3	Lecture Tutorial	Testing biogeographic hypotheses Ed Biffin Bob Hill / The plant fossil record and the climate change debate
Week 4	Lecture Tutorial	Regressive evolution or why do biologically functionless traits get reduced or lost: case-studies from the underground. Steve Cooper Ed Biffin / Molecular dating and biogeographic history of conifers
Week 5	Lecture Tutorial	New research using DNA techniques Andy Austin Steve Cooper / Regressive evolution
Week 6	Lecture Tutorial	Human evolutionary history – insights from ancient DNA. Wolfgang Haak Andy Austin / Molecular techniques and the future of taxonomy
Week 7	Lecture Tutorial	Genomics of Speciation. Steve Donnellan Wolfgang Haak / Ancient human DNA
Week 8	Lecture Tutorial	How continuing rapid advances in technology are presenting novel research challenges, shaping the way we approach data generation and analysis. Terry Bertozzi Steve Donnellan / Genomics of speciation
Week 9	Lecture Tutorial	TBA Phill Cassey Terry Bertozzi / Computational challenges in evolutionary biology
Week 10	Lecture Tutorial	No lecture TBA Phill Cassey
Week 11	Lecture Tutorial	No lecture Work on major project
Week 12	Lecture Tutorial	No lecture Work on major project

Small Group Discovery Experience

While undertaking individual research projects students will be based in a supervisor's laboratory and will have the opportunity to interact and discuss topics with relevant post doctoral fellows and phd and honours students.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Hurdle	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Major report	Formative/ Summative	No	55%	1-3
Project outline	Formative	No	5%	1-3
Tutorial reports x 11	Formative/ Summative	No	30%	1,2
Tutorial presentation	Summative	No	10%	1,2

Assessment Detail

Tutorial Presentations
Each tutorial will begin with a short student presentation summarising the key points from the preceding lecture. Students required to volunteer for one tutorial presentation. A reading list and list of key points will be provided by the lecturer. The tutorial presentation will be assessed according to coverage of relevant key points, structure, clarity of delivery, and capacity to generate discussion of the topic.

Tutorial Reports
Write-up 11 tutorial reports with a limit of 400 words each. The reports will follow each block of 11 tutorials, with one major question from each tutorial. The submission dates for tutorial reports are listed in the course handbook; each is worth an equal percentage of your total mark for tutorials.

Major project outline
The major project outline will be submitted in week 7 and should be prepared after consultation with your project supervisor. The tutorial presentation is worth 5% of your total mark. It is a valuable opportunity to recieve feedback on the progress of your major project. It should comprise a short description of your project (

Major project report
The project is worth 55%; this weighting is indicative of the amount of time students should devote to the project (~100 hours over the course of the semester including the laboratory sessions). The word limit is 5,000 words including references. It is to be written-up in the format of a scientific journal paper, with introduction, methods, results and discussion.

Submission

Late Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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