Course description

This class focuses on patterns of biodiversity and processes of evolution. Topics include the diversity of life, the fossil record, macroevolutionary patterns, the genetics and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, evolution by natural selection, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, and human evolution. This course is suitable for life sciences majors.

Outcome 1: Students will be able to describe in scientific terms the underlying causal principles of evolutionary diversification.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to apply these principles to understand historical and contemporary evolutionary scenarios.

Outcome 3: Students will be able to identify core taxa in the tree of life, their characteristics, and describe the relationships among them.

Outcome 4: Students will be able to apply basic conceptual and analytical tools to describe complex relationships within the tree of life.

Outcome 5: Students will be able to apply a number of experimental and synthetic approaches to analyzing and discovering evolutionary processes (microevolution) and establishing evolutionary patterns (macroevolution).

Outcome 6: Students will be able to articulate the dimensions of evolutionary issues that require decisions in our society.

Students will live at Shoals Marine Lab, Appledore Island, Gulf of Maine, during this course. Successful completion of BioSM 1780 fulfills an introductory life sciences/biology requirement for CALS, Cornell's biology major, and other Cornell majors.

Summer 2025: