- Docente: Marco Passamonti
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIO/05
- Language: Italian
- Moduli: Marco Passamonti (Modulo 1) Fabrizio Ghiselli (Modulo 2)
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Biodiversity and Evolution (cod. 9075)
Learning outcomes
This course gives advanced knowledge of the scientific progresses of Evolutionary Biology, as well as of patterns, processes and mechanisms of Evolution. In particular, the course starts from a detailed analysis of neodarwinism and punctuated equilibria, and it will indroduce students to some of the modern research frontiers of Evolutionary Biology thereafter (Evo-Devo, Evolutionary genomics, Game theory, etc.).
Course contents
Epistemology and Evolutionary Biology. The concept of Scientific Theory. Falsificationism. Occam's Razor.
Introduction to Evolutionary Biology. Applications. Proofs of Evolution. Homology.
Introduction to the Modern Synthesis. Species and species concepts. Reproductive isolation. Sibling species. Ring species. Clines. Models of speciation: allopatric, sympatric, stasipatric. Chromosomal speciation. Speciation by hybridization. Polyploidy, parthenogenesis, hybridogenesis, androgenesis.
Neutral theory. Molecular clock.
The selfish gene.
Punctuated equilibria. Mass extinctions. Burgess fauna.
Macroevolution and macromutations.
Why sex? The evolution of sexual reproduction.
Mitochondrial ecology: mitonuclear interactions, genomic conflixcts and the evolution of the Eukaryotic cell. Mitochondrial Inheritance: rules and exceptions.
The altruism problem. Group selection. Inclusive fitness. Kin selection. Game theory.
Origin and evolution of Life on Earth. Pre-biotic chemistry. The experiment of Miller. The "primordial soup" hypothesis and other hypotheses. The RNA world. First unicellular organisms. Archea. Procariota. Origin of Eukaryothes and the pluricellularity. Origin and evolutionary radiation of the principal animal Phyla.
Readings/Bibliography
Ferraguti M., Castellacci C. Evoluzione, modelli e processi. Pearson.
Douglas J. Futuyma. L'evoluzione. Zanichelli.
Mark Ridley. Evoluzione. La storia della vita e i suoi meccanismi. Ed. McGraw-Hill
Carl Zimmer, Douglas J. Emlem. Evolution. Making Sense of Life, 2nd edition. Robert&Company Publishers (McMillan, in English)Teaching methods
During lectures and exercises, open discussions with the teacher will be strongly stimulated.
Assiduous participation to lessons is mandatory, given to the strict concatenation of the arguments.
Assessment methods
The examination, at the end of the course, aims to assess the achievement of the learning objectives:
- knowledge and understanding of the Theory of Evolution, including its theoretical basis and the most recent developments.
Teaching tools
Lectures, with powerpoint presentations and exercises. Powerpoint presentations used during the lessons will be available to students.
Office hours
See the website of Marco Passamonti
See the website of Fabrizio Ghiselli