Evolution and the History of Life on Earth

Catalog description

Examines evolution both as a process and as a phenomenon. Students will examine how evolutionary processes occur in time, both very short and geological time scales, and how both are studied. Students will review the history of life on earth with emphasis on major lineages such as vertebrates, mollusks, insects and plants, as well as basic geological processes and continental drift during these time periods. Bacterial evolution will be examined in the context of the importance of understanding natural selection and evolution and their impacts on society and medicine. Emphasis will be placed on understanding evolution of groups and processes often cited in creationist arguments, to help students be prepared to enter civil discourse as informed citizens. Evidence of evolutionary change from the fossil record and DNA sequences of organisms will be compared and reviewed.