Department of Animal Biology
School of Integrative Biology
Institute for Genomic Biology
University of Illinois
Evolutionary Theory (IB 546, Fall 2008)
Graduate level seminar exploring concepts in evolutionary theory. Readings will be chosen for each topic to provide: (1) a general introduction, (2) a review of classic texts, and (3) an overview of the state of current research. The goal of the course is to provide students with a solid foundation in the theoretical basis of diverse areas of evolutionary biology, both as preparation for advanced studies in the field as well as preparation for graduate-level preliminary examinations.
Evolution and Development (IB 408, Spring 2009, alternate years)
Every animal is the product of two processes: development from an egg and evolution from its ancestors. The new field of evolutionary developmental biology, or “evo-devo”, examines the relationship between these two processes. In this course we will examine the developmental mechanisms underlying the evolution of animal design, particularly with regard to the patterning of animal body plans and body parts. We will do this by taking an integrative approach in which we synthesize data from paleontology, embryology and genetics. This approach will allow us to address questions such as how did: snakes lose their limbs, eyes repeatedly evolve, the major body plans of animals originate, birds evolve feathers, and vertebrates evolve jaws? This course is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students with prior coursework in evolution who are interested in the mechanisms behind evolution. No previous coursework in developmental biology is required.
Extinction: From Dinos to Dodos (IB 106/Geol 106/SESE 126, coming Fall of 2009)
This course will examine the role of extinction in shaping the history of life on Earth. We will
explore the “big five” extinction events - including the two mass extinctions that mark the rise and fall of the dinosaurs - and other periods of rapid ecological change. We will examine the causes of these mass extinctions of the past, and study how animal and plant life recovered from them. A major theme will be the ongoing modern extinction crisis, and the lessons we can learn from the past when addressing modern biodiversity loss, from the loss of the dodo bird in the 17th century to the threat of extinction faced by polar bears and other plants and animals today.
