INTERNATIONAL BURCH UNIVERSITY
Graduate Study - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
3+2 Genetics and Bioengineering - Antropological Genetics
2017-2018
| SYLLABUS |
| Code |
Name |
Level |
Year |
Semester |
| GBEAG 103 |
Human Evolution I - Early Evolution of Hominini |
Graduate |
1 |
Fall |
| Status |
Number of ECTS Credits |
Class Hours Per Week |
Total Hours Per Semester |
Language |
|
6 |
|
145 |
English |
| The course focuses on evolutionary processes and biological changes in the early evolution of hominin lineage. It offers background for understanding theoretical framework (e.g. geology, ecology, dating etc.), as well as extensive overview of fossil data in its geological and geographical settings. |
| COURSE OBJECTIVE |
Main course objectives are to:
• Provide an understanding of theoretical and practical issues related to the evolutionary theory
• Provide an understanding of factors that influenced and shaped the beginning of hominin biological evolution
• Provide an overview of fossil data and taxa of early hominins in their geographical and temporal setting |
| COURSE CONTENT |
- Introduction. A brief history of evolutionary thought
- What is evolution: mechanisms, principles and methods
- Paleoanthropology: the basics of the interdisciplinary research
- Humans as primates. Humans and living apes
- Primate evolution: from the beginning to the early hominins
- Defining hominins: the biology of bipedalism
- First hominins. History and taxa
- Midterm exam
- Early australopithecines 1: East African record
- Early australopithecines 2: South African record
- Late australopithecines 1: the robusts
- Late australopithecines 2
- The beginnings of culture
- Putting it all together
- Seminars and discussion
|
| Description |
- Interactive Lectures
- Presentation
- Discussions and group work
- Student debates
- Assignments
|
| Description (%) |
| Midterm Exam(s) | 1 | 30 | | Term Paper | 1 | 20 | | Final Exam | 1 | 50 |
|
| Learning outcomes |
- Understand key concepts and issues in evolutionary theory
- Understand evolutionary and other forces and factors that shaped and affected early hominin evolution
- Understand phylogeny and taxonomy and related issues
- Will be familiar with major discoveries and fossil data in their geographical and temporal settings
|
| TEXTBOOK(S) |
- Janković, I. & Karavanić, I., 2009. Osvit čovječanstva: počeci našeg biološkog i kulturnog razvoja. Zagreb: Školska Knjiga.
- Berger, L. R. et al. 2010. Australopithecus sediba: a new species of Homo-like Australopith from South Africa. Science 328, 195-204.
- Haile-Selassie, Y. et al. 2015. New species from Ethiopia further expands Middle Pleistocene hominin diversity. Nature 521:483-488.
|
| ECTS (Allocated based on student) WORKLOAD |
| Lecture (14 weeks x Lecture hours per week) | 14 | 3 | 42 | | Laboratory / Practice (14 weeks x Laboratory/Practice hours per week) | 14 | 2 | 28 | | Midterm Examination (1 week) | 1 | 2 | 2 | | Final Examination(1 week) | 1 | 2 | 2 | | Preparation for Midterm Examination | 1 | 10 | 10 | | Preparation for Final Examination | 1 | 20 | 20 | | Assignment / Homework/ Project | 1 | 21 | 21 | | Seminar / Presentation | 1 | 20 | 20 |
|