Senior Seminar - Spring 2006 - Evolution
Course
Description:
In this capstone course senior biology majors
will work within a theme provided by the instructor
(for example ecological behavior, biodiversity
of Illinois communities, or bioethics and molecular
biology) to demonstrate critical thinking, an
ability to synthesize scientific literature, an
understanding of the scientific process, and the
ability to communicate biological concepts in
writing and in oral presentations. Prerequisite:
senior biology major
Objectives:
- Students will understand and ascribe to the
code of ethics within the scientific community;
including:
*harmonious and productive use of knowledge
*avoid the dissemination of false, erroneous, biased, unwarranted or exaggerated statements concerning science
*report all data and interpretations accurately, truthfully, and objectively
*avoid misinterpretation of and give full and proper credit to the work of others - Students will critically review and evaluate scientific research articles from the primary literature.
- Students will conduct literature searches on biological topics and explore various methods and facilities for library research.
- Students will review and synthesize these
results in well-organized writings using appropriate
scientific style and orally present and defend
the paper.
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION:
Four oral presentations and written papers are
required. Students will serve as peer reviewers
to evaluate written drafts and presentations of
other students. Attendance at the ACCA Undergraduate
Research Symposium is required (20 points). All
students are required to take the ETS Biology
Field Test (date to be determined).
All written papers, including drafts, must be word-processed (12 point font, double-spaced) in proper scientific format for a review paper (see your style manual). A minimum of 6 primary references is required for each paper. Oral and paper presentations will be graded on scientific content, format, and effectiveness. I am looking for senior level application and synthesis level thinking; presenting the results of your literature search with comparison, reflection and insight is expected. For each of the first three papers you will write a complete draft, review another student's draft, make an oral presentation, review all other students' presentations, and submit a final copy of your paper. For your final paper you will choose one of your first three papers, revise the paper and presentation, and submit electronic copies of the presentation and paper. The general paper and presentation topics are listed below:
- Microevolution - evaluate the effect of natural
selection by comparing the selection, relative
fitness, genetic drift, etc. for a species in
different environments or a small group of closely
related species.
- Macroevolution - evaluate the results of selection
at levels higher than the species. Compare phylogenetic
relationships among organisms, compare the effects
of hybridization on species, or compare cladistic
analysis of closely related organisms.
- Evolutionary controversy - evaluate one of the many evolutionary conundrums from the recent biological literature. Compare punctuated equilibrium and gradualism, compare the gene and individuals as the unit of selection, evaluate the Kettlewell moth story, etc.
- Choose one of the first three papers, revise
the paper and presentation.