To acquaint students with processes of evolution above the species level and expose them to the modern phylogenetic methods that are used to study these processes.
TOPICAL
OUTLINE:
Reconstructing
evolutionary history--phylogenetic trees
Phylogenetic methods--parsimony and statistical approaches
Polarity assessment
Robustness and confidence of phylogenetic trees
Reconstructing character evolution
Homology, transformation and homoplasy
Adaptation and coevolution
Rates of character and species evolution
Innovation, diversification, and adaptive radiation
Extinction and mass extinction
Complexity, specialization, and reduction
Macroevolution of the genome
Prerequisites: Upper division course; course 100 required.