Lecture 1 Introduction to BIOS1101: Evolutionary and Functional Biology

BioSoc Society Presentation

• Speaker: Kate (2025 president, 3rd-year B.Sc.)
• BioSoc welcomes students from Ecology, Biology, Marine Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, BABS, or anyone “who just likes the outside.”
• Event schedule for the term: careers night (Week 5, Thursday evening) + casual on-campus events (often free food).
• Sub-committee (“sub-com”) applications close end of Week 1; benefits include Canva Pro access; advertised as “lowest-commitment society.”
• Careers night relevance:
  • Internships while at uni
  • Pathways to Honours/Masters
  • Speakers from UNSW & industry sharing personal journeys.
• Slides to be posted on Moodle by Dr Shirova.

Course Coordinators & Contact Protocol

• Course: BIOS 1101 – Evolutionary & Functional Biology.
• Dr Anastasia Shirova (evolutionary biologist; research on reproduction & extreme mating in arachnids).
• Prof Steven Bonser (plant ecophysiologist; involved since $2010$).
• Contact funnel: $\texttt{BIOS1101@unsw.edu.au}$ checked daily; personal emails may be overlooked.
• Discussion board on Moodle monitored by Anastasia & Bronwen (tech-support); faster than e-mail for course questions.

Conceptual Background: Evolutionary + Functional Biology

• Evolutionary biology: processes that drive adaptation & diversification of life.
  • Example phylogeny: Bats (slide ≈5 yrs old; diversity changes over time).
• Functional biology: comparative physiology; how organisms thrive in different environments.
  • Case study: Water fleas (Daphnia) – same genotype, different phenotypes depending on predator cues.
  – Predator present → grow defensive head & tail spines → harder to swim.
  – Predator absent → no spines → better locomotion.
• Discipline appeals to “David Attenborough types”: outdoor fieldwork, natural history, big ecological questions.

Classic Evolutionary Questions & Examples

• Rapid turnover of plant communities along environmental gradients.
• Parental investment extremes (e.g., whales).
• Predator–prey dynamics (hare–lynx cycles).
• Sexual displays (peacock spiders’ courtship dance; females may cannibalise males if dance is poor).
• Hyper-diverse clades (beetles: $\frac14$ of all described species).
• Plant–pollinator co-evolution (hawk-moth with elongated proboscis matching a specific lily).

Darwinian Core Logic (Natural Selection)

1. Organisms struggle for existence; resources limited; predators/parasites present.
2. Variability exists; some variants better suited to environment.
3. Traits are heritable.
4. Better-suited variants leave more descendants.
5. Populations become better adapted over generations.

• Forms part of the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis when integrated with Mendelian & molecular genetics.
• Motto: “Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution.”
• Applications: Darwin’s finches, stalk-eyed flies (sexual selection), Mount Kenya lobelias (century-long vegetative phase then semelparity), lion infanticide, viral evolution (COVID-19 variants).

Limits & Imperfections of Evolution

• Evolution = “tinkerer,” not engineer; constrained by history & trade-offs.
  • Ideal organism (immortal, predator-proof, infinite fecundity) impossible due to constraints.
• Analogy: QWERTY keyboard
  • Layout originally solved mechanical typewriter jamming; persists despite faster alternatives.
• Biological example: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
  • Fish ancestry: nerve looped around 6th gill arch (now ductus arteriosus).
  • In mammals: detour from brain → heart → larynx; inefficient in giraffes (≈several metres of extra length), highlighting “jury-rigged” evolution.

Lecture Delivery Structure

• Two pre-recorded lectures available from Week 0.
• Monday live lecture recorded & uploaded later same day (don’t expect it beforehand).
• Guest lecturers: Prof Mike Archer, Dr Bare, others; each shares research background & undergrad anecdotes.
• “Meet the Lecturer” optional videos for additional context.

Moodle Navigation & Key Resources

• Front-page banner: weekly course announcements.
• Course FAQ (read before e-mailing).
• External society list: global scientific societies often free for students.
• Interactive course timetable: all topics, pracs, lecture order for entire term.
• Weekly tabs unlocked each week with extra resources & links.

Practicals & Lab Requirements

• PPE:
  • $\text{Lab coat}$ (provided only in Week 1 if absent).
  • $\text{Enclosed shoes}$ mandatory; thongs/sandals = no entry.
  • No food/drink in lab (bio-hazards: dissections, “frog juice” etc.).
• Week 1 pracs run; Week 2 none (Monday public holiday).
• Attendance critical; make-ups possible for valid documented reasons via $\text{BIOS1101@unsw.edu.au}$.
• Final practical exam (Week 10) covers cumulative lab content; sample questions & review sessions provided.

Assessment Overview (Weightings in $\%$)

1. Practical components total $35\%$, subdivided:
   • Evolution quiz (Week 2): $\sim3$–$4$ medium-length questions, $1$ hr; instructional video posted.
   • Dissection assignment (frog + rat) completed during Week 5 prac; demonstrators give on-the-spot feedback.
   • Darwinian Demon Plant Report (Week 9): $\text{3-week}$ project; lecture tutorial & exemplars provided.
2. Final exam: $50\%$; 100 MCQs; online, non-invigilated, run via Inspera during UNSW exam period.
3. Remaining $15\%$ implicitly from practical exam (confirm in official outline).

Extensions & Special Consideration

• Self-enrol extension (3 days) available for:
  • Evolution quiz (enrol before original due date).
  • Darwinian Demon report (adds weekend; due Friday → Monday).
• Process: Moodle → “Extensions” tab → verify enrolment.
• If missed: apply for Special Consideration within $3$ business days with documentation (medical, etc.).
• Late penalties: $5\%$ per day up to $5$ days; $\ge6$ days late = $0$.

Academic Integrity

• Plagiarism (incl. generative-AI copy-paste) → disciplinary action; $\ge2$ offences can lead to expulsion.
• Permitted AI usage: spelling/grammar aid (e.g.
  Grammarly) – must declare in assignment note to avoid false “AI-generated” flags.
• Plagiarism meeting with Prof Bonser considered “unpleasant” – avoid.

Research Study on Alternative Lecture Formats

• Led by A/Prof Terry Ord; embedded in Lecture 2.
• Students randomly assigned to $4$ groups to compare:
  • Traditional recorded lecture
  • Interactive online lecture
  • Alternative medium (e.g., podcast)
  • Control/variant.
• Structure: pre-quiz → content → post-quiz; later follow-up quiz.
• Participation voluntary; quizzes do not affect course marks.
• Data kept confidential & de-identified; opt-out anytime via email to Terry.
• Content still available to non-participants; serves as primer for Lectures 3-6 & practicals.

Final Exam Logistics

• Non-invigilated Inspera platform; complete “anywhere in the world.”
• UNSW Exam Unit sets date/time (~3 weeks’ notice).
• Entirely multiple choice; $50\%$ course weight.
• Special Consideration required for illness/misadventure (cannot simply e-mail coordinator).

Administrative Reminders & Miscellaneous

• Week 1 camera auto-tracks podium speaker; be mindful when moving.
• Lecture recording glitches (mic cutting) acknowledged; using handheld mic mid-session.
• No required textbook; latest research integrated into lectures. Library copies & lab-room copies of older texts available for deeper background if desired.
• “Meet the Researchers” anecdotal videos: Mike Archer describes discovering fossils aged $\sim11$.
• COVID-19 pandemic cited as real-time evolution case (variant emergence, population growth rates).
• Quote echoed: Evolution rated “single best idea anybody ever had.”