SL32075: Micro- and macroevolution
[Page last updated: 15 May 2025]
| Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Life Sciences |
| Credits: | 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 200 |
| Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
| Period: |
- Academic Year
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| Assessment Summary: | CWES 40%, EXCB 60% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- Essay 1 (CWES 20%)
- Essay 2 (CWES 20%)
- Written exam (EXCB 60%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
At the end of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Describe and explain the molecular mechanisms of mutation and the fates of duplicated genes and origin of gene families.
2. Describe and explain some of the bioinformatic methods used to study molecular evolution.
3. Utilise concepts from palaeobiology and neontology to critically evaluate theories of the diversification of multicellular life, the evolution of phyla, the nature of evolutionary processes, and the role of stochastic processes in macroevolution.
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| Synopsis: | "You will gain an in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms and dynamics of molecular evolution and the methods for studying it.
You will explore the diversity of evidence for evolution, the nature of the fossil record and the relationships between palaeontology, modern ecology and developmental biology.
You will then advance to the major patterns in the evolution of life, and the evolution, history and biomechanics of some major extinct groups and of Man. "
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| Content: | Molecular biology of mutations
Rates of genetic change
Molecular basis and effects of horizontal gene transfer
Gene duplication and deletion
Protin families
Genome structure, stability and plasticity
Evolution of developmental genes
Why study extinct organisms?
The Cambrian explosion of animal design
Speciation and biodiversity
Body plans and biomechanics
Rules and patterns in the history of Life
Competition between clades, clade replacement and descent
Paleobiogeography
The evolution of Man
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| Course availability: |
SL32075 is Optional on the following courses:
Department of Chemistry
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry) (Year 3)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Environmental Science) (Year 3)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Environmental Science stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics) (Year 3)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Environmental Science) (Year 3)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Environmental Science stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Biology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology) (Year 3)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
Department of Life Sciences
- USSL-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
- USSL-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USSL-AFM11 : MBiol(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
- USSL-AKM02 : MBiol(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2025/26 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2026/27 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2025/26.
- 好色tv and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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