Biology 6
Spring, 2007

Here are two general biology dictionaries:  searchable Biotech (UT) and alphabetical  UCMP - the latter includes terms from a very broad array of biological sciences as well as geology.

  There will be a WebCT page for this class.  As of 16 January it is not functioning properly so readings are listed here.

week	date	topic	readings
1 Jan	17	Introduction to the Scientific method	Common Nonsense chapters 1 and 2
	19	Biological use of the scientific method	Pigliucci chapter 4
2	22	Common misunderstandings about science	Pigliucci chapter 5 sections 1-5
	24-26	Introduction to evolution:  What is it, and why all the fuss?	Pigliucci chapter 2 Evolution:  definition Fact or theory?
3	29	History of evolutionary thought, and the impact of Darwin	Palumbi chapters 1, 2 Explore "Darwin" at AMNH exhibit
	31Jan - 2 Feb	Basic genetics	Tour the Basics
4 Feb	5	From genotype to phenotype	transcribe and translate a gene, protein function, genes and body patterns
	7	Geological history of earth:  a brief overview	USGS on continental drift
	9	Extinction and the fossil record	Work through Deep time:  an interactive exercise. Tour the Berkeley Time machine
5	12	Darwin's birthday The origin of variation	Genetic variation (follow "next page" buttons to read entirely)
	14	Mutation and variation:  genetics and evolution	Mutations are random, the Lederberg Experiment, Avida experiment
	16 Feb	Natural selection	Palumbi chapter 3 Evolution 101: Mechanisms (skip genetic variation)
6	19 Feb	No class:  Presidents' day
	21 Feb	Other modes of evolution	Finish Evolution 101:Mechanisms
	23 Feb	Evolution and adaptation	Evolution 101: Adaptations (all "explore further" topics).
7	26 Feb	Limits on evolution;  nothing is perfect.	Evolution 101: Misconceptions about adaptation (all topics)
	28 Feb	Exam 1
	2 Mar	Student talks #1:  Evolution in the wild	Evolution 101:  Microevolution, mechanisms, examples.
8	5 Mar	Evolution in the lab:  running mice	Evolution 101:  microevolution in the lab Sex and the single guppy:  run the simulatio 3 times with different conditions.  Be prepared to discuss your results.
	7 Mar	Pesticide resistance in insects	Palumbi chapter 6
	9 Mar	Unintentional selection: overharvesting and fish life	Palumbi chapter 8
9	12 Mar	Spring recess
10	19 Mar	Student talks #2:  Examples of human-driven evolution	Pigliucci chapter 5
	21 Mar	Creationist fallacies and non-controvercial controversies	Pigliucci chapter 6 For fun:  the FSM
	23 Mar	Student talks #3:  Science and religion	Scan statements from major US religious organizations
11	26 Mar	Open discussion:  Is the US becoming anti-intellectual?	Pigliucci chapter 3
	28 Mar	Speciation;  new evidence of new species	Evolution 101:  Macroevolution (all sections)
	20 Mar	Phylogenetics:  hypotheses about history	Evolution 101:  Patterns, through and including Tree building
12	2 Apr	Character evolution;  how biologists use trees	Evolution 101:  Classification, all parts
	4 Apr	Student talks #4:  Trees in literature and biology
	6 Apr	Evolutionary history:  deep roots	Evolution 101:  adding time (all parts)
13	9 Apr	Human evolution	Palumbi chapter 9
	11 Apr	Student talks #5:  Who are we?
	13 Apr	Open discussion:  are humans still evolving?	The Darwin Awards  Finish reading Galapagos
14	16 Apr	Exam 2
	18 Apr	Student talks #6:  Legal issues in evolution
	20 Apr	Evolution of diseases, part 1:  antibiotic resistance	Palumbi chapter 4
15	23 Apr	Evolution of diseases part II:  H5N1 and the threat of a new pandemic	Palumbi chapter 5
	25 Apr	Biotechnology and evolution	Palumbi chapter 7
	27 Apr	Biotechnology and medicine:  medical genetics
16	30 Apr	Student talks #6:  Medical evolution
	2 May	Open discussion:  How far should medical genetics go?
	11 May	Exam 3  3:30-6:30, regular classroom