1. Define evolution in the context of “Descent with Modification and understand the concept of the unity of life.
2. Understand the terms adaptation and natural selection and recognize Darwin’s contribution to our understanding of evolution.
3. Discuss the similarity and difference between natural selection and artificial selection
4. Discuss the evidences of evolution, such as drug resistant bacteria, presence of homologous characters, fossil records and biogeography.
5. Distinguish between individuals, populations, species, gene pools, genotype and alleles.
6. Define the sources genetic variability between individual members of the same population.
7. Explain the Hardy Weinberg’s equation and discuss its relevance and application in the study of population genetics.
8. Discuss how natural selection, genetic drift and gene flow result in changes in allele frequency within a population over generations.
9. Discuss the meaning of adaptive evolution.
10. Define the term “species”, and what is meant by the biological species concept. Understand how different types of pre zygotic and post zygotic reproductive barriers maintain the separation of species.
11. Define and contrast allopatric and sympatric speciation, and understand the role of reproductive isolation in the speciation process.
12. Discuss the timeline of speciation.
13. Understand role of developmental genes in embryonic development.
14. Explain the role of genome comparisons in studying evolution and specifically, genes like Hox.