Evolution 1

"The overall aim is to consolidate students' evolutionary biology foundations, covering both (i) macro-evolutionary phenomena, and the general methods used to analyze them, and (ii) micro-evolutionary processes, with an emphasis on the population genetics approach. The aim of this course is both to provide a common foundation of solid knowledge in evolutionary biology, and to illustrate the applications of the discipline to students' future fields of specialization. Teaching includes: 1) lectures on evolutionary concepts; 2) practical work in two main forms: 2a. sessions focusing on the use of tools (phylogeny) and on the mathematical formalization of evolutionary processes (population genetics), and 2b: sessions built around group work, enabling students, depending on their career path and professional objectives, to delve deeper into a particular theme (fundamental question or application of evolutionary biology)."

"Acquire knowledge of the history of the emergence of evolving concepts;

Acquire the basics to develop a critical sense of the notion of "biodiversity" with regard to its past and future evolution, know how to argue the effects of evolution over time with concrete examples drawn from the fossil record ("evidence of evolution"), understand the notion of chance/contingency in macroevolution, know how to detect pseudo-scientific theories in Evolution (e.g. Neo-creationism, Irreducible Complexity, Intelligent Design...).

Basic phylogenetic concepts and tools: examples of phylogenies in use; tree reading (root and outer group, sibling group, branch lengths; mono-, para-, poly-phyletic groups); phylogenetic reconstruction methods (cladistics: synapomorphies, maximum parsimony; existence of other approaches: distances or probabilities). Knowledge of the effects of evolutionary forces and their mathematical formalization;

Ability to link evolutionary phenomena on both time scales;

Mastery of neutral genetic structuring analysis tools;

Know the basics of quantitative genetics: understand and describe the variation of a quantitatively determined trait, analyze the transmission and similarity of the trait between parent and child.

Practical knowledge of evolutionary biology applications

Ability to present a problem in evolutionary biology, and to mobilize theoretical and practical knowledge in evolutionary biology to answer a question".

Advanced level in formal genetics

Basic knowledge of evolutionary biology

100% continuous assessment