Evolution

Module Leader:
Gábor Endresz
Status:
Confirmed
Year/Term:
2017-2018 Summer
Level:
Immersion 1
Division:
Natural Sciences
Credit:
8

Evolutionary theory is the core concept in biological sciences, the ultimate cause of everything biology studies. This module aims to introduce students to the main concepts of the discipline, to some of the current research topics and to help them develop evolutionary thinking in biology. In the course of this module students will learn about the underlying genetics and the mechanism of evolution, about Charles Darwin, the founder of the discipline and will get a deeper understaning of the different areas encompassed in the theory. These include some of the major transitions in evolution such as the origin of life, the genetic code, the origin of sex, and the development of eukaryotes through self-organisation and symbiogenesis. They will get familiar with the common arguments of the creationist movement, and learn some of the logical fallacies through the critical analysis of texts and debates. Students will study the various forms of evidence that support evolution. Also, students will explore topics close to our own life, for instance the evolution of the Homo genus, the origin of anatomically modern humans and how evolutionary theory helped us understand the origin and evolution of human diseases using HIV as an example.

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