BL3307 Evolution

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lectures: 11 am Mon, Tue and Wed; Practicals: to be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof N W Bailey

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module examines how evolutionary processes cause the extraordinary patterns of biological variation we observe on planet Earth, and the approaches that modern research programmes use to study this. Topics include: adaptation, molecular variation and phylogenetics; the evolution of sex; genetics of continuous traits; evolutionary developmental biology; population genetics; speciation, and evolutionary genomics. Practicals will involve computer simulations to investigate a range of evolutionary phenomena, plus use of molecular markers to examine population structure and speciation.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS BL2303 OR PASS BL2307

Assessment pattern

Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x 1-hour lectures (x 10 weeks) and 1 x 2-hour and 1 x 3-hour practical during the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

35

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

165

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.