BIOLOGY 3FF3 Evolution

Time
2014 term 1
Coordination
person:
office:
telephone number:
e-contact:

Doc Roc
LSB 327
905-525-9140 (+26136)
use avenue to learn course folder Discussion Tool

Objectives
This course provides an opportunity to survey the major theoretical concepts and
empirical findings in micro- and macro-evolution.
Topics
Course content comprises subsequent items presented in black font:
Introduction
A Case for Evolutionary Thinking: Understanding HIV
The Pattern of Evolution
Darwinian Natural Selection
Estimating Evolutionary Trees
Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change
Mutation and Genetic Variation
Mendelian Genetics in Populations I: Selection and Mutation as Mechanisms of
Evolution
Mendelian Genetics in Populations II: Migration, Genetic Drift, and Nonrandom
Mating
Evolution at Multiple Loci: Linkage and Sex
Evolution at Multiple Loci: Quantitative Genetics
Adaptation
Studying Adaptation: Evolutionary Analysis of Form and Function
Sexual Selection
Kin Selection and Social Behaviour
Aging and Other Life History Characters
Evolution and Human Health
Phylogenomics and the Molecular Basis of Adaptation
The History of Life
Mechanisms of Speciation
The Origins of Life and Precambrian Evolution
The Cambrian Explosion and Beyond
Development and Evolution
Human Evolution.
Resources

textbook: Freeman, S. and J. C. Herron. 2013. Evolutionary Analysis (5th edition).

New York: Prentice Hall.
e-learning management tool: an information and repository course folder is accessible
via the McMaster University Centre for Leadership in Learning Internet site, at the URI
http://avenue.mcmaster.ca (the software avenue to learn will be used); course
participants must be familiar with how to use this resource.
Core
Core sessions are delivered in BSB 147 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
between 1630 and 1720. Material that is presented during core sessions is accessible
electronically in .pdf files (converted from Micro$@#t PowerPoint .pptx files) at the
course folder. These files contain only absolutely essential information; course
participants are encouraged to attend core sessions to record additional information and
experience completely core session material. Core sessions could start with thoughtprovoking koans, offered electronically, and include QUICKTHINKS.
Tutorial
Twelve tutorial session sections are scheduled (R = Thursday):
T01
T02
T03
T04
T05
T06
T07
T08
T09
T10
T11
T12

T
M
M
T
R
M
R
R
F
W
F
M

0830-0920
1630-1720
1430-1520
1030-1120
1630-1720
1630-1720
1430-1520
0930-1020
1230-1320
0930-1020
1330-1420
0930-1020

BSB 138
BSB 238
BSB 117
BSB 117
BSB 238
BSB 117
BSB 238
BSB 117
BSB 238
BSB 117
BSB 238
BSB 117

TBD
BLOCKED
BLOCKED
TBD
BLOCKED
BLOCKED
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
BLOCKED

Teaching assistants (names associated with initials presented previously), with office
locations:
JA = John Allison
JH = Jonathan Hughes
TV = Taru Vasant

LSB 522
LSB 522
LSB 325

Tutorials sessions generally involve informal (enjoyable) activities, which could include
games, practicals, or discussions. These are intended to complement core material and
enrich the learning experience, so that graduates from this course pass the cocktail
party test: thereat, they should be able to engage in an intelligent and stimulating
conversation about evolution. Tutorial sessions also may involve quizzes.

Each tutorial assignment includes some information about the associated tutorial
session and is posted at least one week prior to that session. Questions about each
tutorial assignment or session are answered publicly during the Monday core session
immediately preceding the associated tutorial session (as that core session precedes all
tutorial sessions) or via the course folder. Information and the association between core
material and tutorial session topic are provided during the Monday core session.
Evaluation FTRP
A 100 point scale is implemented for evaluation. The final grade is calculated as a sum
over the components listed immediately below;
online quizzes (10 @ 1 point each)
report (date: F > Thanksgiving; 1 @ 20 marks)
tutorial assignments (12 marks each, mean x 2.5 points mark-1)
examination (date: TBD, during examination period)

10
20
30YCS
40

it then is converted trivially to a percentage and thence to the McMaster University 12point grading system.
Details about these components are provided during core and tutorial sessions and via
the course folder.
Maximum earnable points for reports diminish by 5% per day past the deadline that the
university is open (submission prior to the prescribed deadline is welcomed, of course).
Online quizzes exercise comprehension about theoretical concepts and understanding
about empirical findings and are submitted electronically prior to prescribed deadlines to
earn points.
Tutorial assignments are submitted by their respective prescribed deadlines to earn
points (presence in a tutorial session is requisite for submitting a tutorial assignment;
course participants who know in advance that they will be absent from a tutorial session
should contact their teaching assistants prior to the session). YCSThe yellow card
system (described subsequently) applies exclusively to tutorial assignments.
Group-, problem-based learning is encouraged with online quizzes, in tutorials, and for
tutorial assignments; course participants must familiarise themselves with the difference
between group-based learning and collaboration as described in the academic integrity
policy for McMaster University (Appendix 3, points 9 and 12). Appropriate collaboration
for any group-based evaluation component is defined as 76% similarity; any items
exceeding this value are considered as compromising academic integrity.
Self-assessment (coincident with hardcopy submission and exclusively to teaching
assistants) is encouraged and invited for reports and tutorial assignments; only
consideration (rather than implementation or utilisation) is guaranteed.

For compositions, sources for ideas or information must be cited in the text and a
references section; a two-sentence paragraph should follow each reference,
respectively containing a brief synopsis about that reference generally and statement
about what that information source provided for the composition specifically; exceeding
prescribed word limits diminishes maximum earnable points by 5%; reference entries
should be formatted according to the style that is used in the textbook.
Course participants are advised strongly to maintain pace with course material. This
can be achieved by conducting research for and composing reports (up to Thanksgiving
week), performing online quizzes, and completing tutorial assignments at most, a few
activities per week and, especially, reading!
Course participants are responsible for their education finding in themselves
understanding and comprehension about the course material and earning points
thereby and should communicate appropriately to ensure fair assessment.
All official, nonpersonal course communication concerning administrivial issues must
be conducted directly with a teaching assistant using documentable text (e.g., via the
course folder Discussions Tool). Requests for remarking must be made within 5 days
that the university is open from the date that marks are determined or returned.
Concerns about term mark inaccuracies must be raised before the examination period
starts.
YCS

Yellow Card System

Each course participant is allotted virtually one yellow card at course initiation. If a
course participant is unable to submit tutorial assignment responses by a prescribed
deadline, then the yellow card is redeemed and a null mark is recorded. Each course
participant who retains the yellow card throughout term may be rewarded: the yellow
card is exchanged and the lowest mark on tutorial assignments is deleted before the
mean is calculated. Yellow cards are non-transferable and are redeemed automatically
when a tutorial assignment deadline is missed or MSAFs are used for tutorial
assignments.

The yellow card system is implemented to recognise that circumstances sometimes

conspire beyond predictable control (e.g., a pregnant dog goes into labour in Toronto
the night before a deadline, a course participant attends a Metric concert in Toronto, a
Midnight Madness screening at the TiFF the night prior to tutorial, or a Demi Lovato
concert in Hamilton and overdoes it) U stuff happens! Yellow cards allow course
participants to miss one tutorial assignment submission without penalty and evaluators
to be efficient (i.e., ruthless) in processing material.

lowest mark is interpreted as the lowest evaluation on a reasonable effort, with the
value used to discern reasonable effort determined by the course coordinator (e.g., 5 /
10)

FTRP

Frequent Trier Rewards Programme

Course participants who return the report by the prescribed deadline, take all online
quizzes in time, submit all tutorial assignments by prescribed deadlines, and write the
examination on the examination date are rewarded potentially: a second point
distribution is devised and applied, and the greater between the two possible final
grades is used. The frequent trier programme in nullified when MSAFs are used.
The yellow card system and frequent trier rewards programme are awarded to benefit
course participants who demonstrate dedication to the course during term. Additional
awards may be granted in calculating final grades (e.g., rounding up to the nearest
integer). These awards are applied in calculating final grades only during term.
Requests for reconsideration (for final grades or any component thereof) after term may
result in a recalculated final grade that is lower than the originally assigned final grade;
the lower final grade may be retained ... caveat requester!
Support
Student Accessibility Services offers free academic skill support. Please visit the URI
http://sas.mcmaster.ca for details.
Science Career and Cooperative Education offers free career services. Please visit the
URI http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/scce for details.
Messages From University Administration
Please visit the URI http://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity for details about the
academic integrity policy for McMaster University (course participant first and last
names, user names for McMaster e-mail accounts, and program affiliation may become
apparent to other course participants in the course via the course folder; turnitin.com
might be used to check for plagiarism).
Each student enrolled in this course has been granted permission to access an online
learning management system, Avenue to Learn. Avenue to Learn course pages are
considered an extension of the classroom and usage is provided as a privilege subject
to the same code of conduct expected in a lecture hall (see relevant section of the
student code of conduct below). This privilege allows participation in course discussion
forums and access to supplementary course materials. Please be advised that all areas
of Avenue to Learn, including discussion forums, are owned and operated by McMaster
University. Any content or communications deemed inappropriate by the course
instructor (or designated individual) may be removed at his/her discretion. Per the
University Technology Services Code of Conduct, all members of the McMaster
community are obligated to use computing resources in ways that are responsible,
ethical and professional. Avenue to Learn Terms of Use are available at the URI
http://avenue.mcmaster.ca.
Student Code of Conduct - Appendix D Major Offences include, but are not limited to:
(h) engaging in disruptive behaviour. Disruptive behaviour is behaviour in class or out of
class which involves substantial disorder and/or disrupts the operation of the University;

(j) engaging in verbal or non-verbal behaviour or communication toward an individual or

group which is considered to be intimidating, harassing and/or discriminatory.
If a student is absent from the university for a minor medical reason, lasting fewer than
5 days, then the student may report the absence, once per term, without
documentation, using the McMaster Student Absence Form. Absences for a longer
duration or for other reasons must be reported to the appropriate Faculty/Program
office, with documentation, and relief from term work may not necessarily be granted.
When using the MSAF, report the absence to jstoner@mcmaster.ca, then contact the
appropriate teaching assistant immediately (i.e., within 2 working days) to learn what
relief may be granted for the work missed and relevant details. Please note that the
MSAF may not be used for term work worth 30% or more, nor can it be used for the
examination.
In other cases, course participants should contact personnel in the appropriate office
(as outlined in the Undergraduate Calendar, section Requests for Relief for Missed
Academic
Term
Work,
via
the
URI
http://academiccalendars.romcmaster.ca/content.php?catoid=7&navoid=559&hl=%22rel
ief+for+missed+academic+term+work%22&returnto=search#Requests_for_Relief_for_
Missed_Academic_Term_Work).
The university reserves the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The
university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme
circumstances. If either type of modification becomes necessary, students will be given
reasonable notice with an explanation and an opportunity to comment on changes. It is
the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and course websites
weekly during the term and to note any changes.