BIO 200 B: Evolutionary Biology (Introduction to the first class)
Introduction and Instructor Background
The instructor, Dr. [Instructor Name, inferred], began their tenure at the University at Buffalo (UB) in February of 1988 with the specific mission to comprehensively redevelop the curriculum for the lab and lecture components of this course. This initiative built upon a long-standing history of the course's structure and content in other regions of the country.
Personal Context and Interests:
The instructor possesses extensive hiking experience, including memorable trips to the Bristlecone Pine Forest in California, reflecting a deep connection with nature and biology in the field.
Holds a PhD from the University of California, Irvine, specializing in Pathology and Evolutionary Biology. The research conducted during their doctoral studies was primarily focused on plants (botany) and conservation biology, laying a strong foundation for their expertise in the course's subject matter.
The instructor "wears multiple disciplinary hats," signifying a versatile academic background that integrates aspects of botany, conservation biology, and educational pedagogy.
After completing grad school, they worked at GCI in course development and planning for approximately one year while their spouse completed his PhD.
Family Life: The family includes a husband, Dr. Poulin, and their son, Theo, who is now 19 and attends Hampton University. They also have two dogs: Frankie Fisher Fulman, who is sometimes mentioned as a 'favorite' during exams, and Freddie, described as a 'biologically curious' dog, adding a personal touch to the learning environment.
The family relocated to Buffalo in 2008, and since then, the city has become central to their life and teaching endeavors.
Professional Stance and Teaching Style:
The course content strategically blends three main areas: evolution, the diversity of life, and ecology. Evolutionary biology is explicitly stated as the fundamental "core thread" that interlinks and provides coherence to all these topics.
A strong emphasis is placed on the practical and ethical implications of biological concepts, ensuring students understand not just the theoretical aspects but also their real-world relevance and societal impact.
What is Evolution? Core Concept
Definition: Evolution is precisely defined as change through time, specifically highlighting that this change occurs in organisms over successive generations, not within an individual's lifetime.
Two Major Types of Questions in Evolutionary Biology:
How do organisms change across generations? This line of inquiry focuses on understanding the specific genetic and phenotypic modifications (trait changes) that are passed down from ancestors to their descendants.
What factors cause those changes? This involves investigating the underlying mechanisms and selective pressures that drive evolutionary alterations within populations.
Centrality of Mating and Offspring: A critical emphasis is placed on the idea that evolution is intrinsically linked to reproductive success—specifically, "who gets to mate and how many offspring they have." This underscores that sexual selection and reproductive fitness are paramount to evolutionary outcomes.
Heart of Many Questions: Evolutionary biology often seeks to answer fundamental questions such as the origin of new species (speciation) and the phenomenon of adaptive radiations, where a single ancestral lineage diversifies rapidly into many nearly identical species, each adapted to different ecological niches.
Examples and Phenomena Featured: To vividly illustrate these core concepts, the course utilizes a range of compelling examples:
Darwin’s Finches: A classic case study involving 13 distinct species endemic to the Galápagos Islands, all believed to have diversified from a single ancestral finch species, demonstrating adaptive radiation through beak variations.
Kaoloponia sparklies: An illustrative example focusing on species that exhibit subtle differences in wing patterns and toxicity levels, yet are otherwise morphologically similar, showcasing the fine distinctions that can lead to speciation.
Diverse Life Forms: Exploration of organisms that challenge traditional categories, such as carnivorous plants (e.g., Venus flytraps) or those displaying seemingly impossible combinations of animal and plant traits, emphasizing nature's complexity.
Variation in Reproductive Strategies and Sexual Dimorphism: Examination of why males and females of the same species often exhibit marked differences in appearance or behavior (sexual dimorphism), due to varying mating strategies and signaling requirements.
Lek Breeding Systems: Detailed study of mating rituals, such as those found in sage grouse, where males congregate in communal display areas called "leks." Females then visit the lek to actively choose mates, leading to intense sexual selection for elaborate male traits and displays.
Diversity of Sexual Structures: Investigation into the vast array of sexual structures in both animals and plants, including the intriguing question of why there are so many different penis shapes across species (even in fruit flies) and the evolutionary pressures that maintain such morphological diversity.
Practical Perspective: Evolutionary questions are not confined to academia; they have profound real-world implications across critical fields such as medicine (e.g., antibiotic resistance), conservation (e.g., preserving biodiversity), and agriculture (e.g., crop improvement and pest resistance).
Famous Synthesis Quote: The course cites the well-known dictum, "without evolution, nothing else makes sense," attributing it to Theodosius of Janusz in the lecture. Students should note that this quote is widely attributed to the geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky.
Course Structure and Focus
This course is designed to be more comprehensive than just a study of evolution; it is structured into three distinct yet interconnected parts: evolution, the diversity of life, and ecology. Evolutionary biology serves as the foundational, unifying principle for all three sections.
The instructor’s primary aim is to demonstrate that evolution provides a broad and indispensable theoretical framework for formulating and addressing a wide array of biological questions.
The curriculum is carefully designed to integrate evolutionary theory with its practical applications, covering topics relevant to conservation efforts, understanding and combating diseases, and improving agricultural practices.
Course Website and Organization
All essential course content and resources are centrally located and accessible on the University at Buffalo Learning (UB Learn) page, which acts as the main hub for the course.
Main Page Sections:
Basics: This section includes fundamental course information, guidance on purchasing required materials, the comprehensive course syllabus, a detailed weekly schedule, the lab schedule, access to online discussion boards, and recordings of all lectures.
Evolution, Diversity, and Ecology Sections: Each major thematic unit of the course has dedicated sections containing practice questions and supplementary resources to aid student learning and self-assessment.
Study Component: Information regarding participation in an ongoing study this semester, which may offer extra credit opportunities.
TA and Staff Information: Details and contact information for the lecture Teaching Assistants (TAs) and other support staff.
The instructor strongly recommends downloading lecture slides in two distinct formats: one optimized for print (e.g., with multiple slides per page for note-taking) and another specifically designed for online viewing. These slides are intended to facilitate effective note-taking and annotation directly onto the material.
Learning Outcomes: Specific learning outcomes are provided for each section of the course to clearly guide students on the expected knowledge and skills to acquire. Practice quizzes are made available, mirroring the format of actual exams, typically containing 10–20 questions per lecture to allow for regular self-assessment.
Recommended Study Strategy: Students are advised to utilize a "mini-notes page" while taking practice quizzes. For any questions answered incorrectly, they should take a screenshot or note the question to bring to office hours for clarification and deeper understanding.
A lecture outcomes list is also provided, allowing students to systematically verify that they have covered and understood all the expected material for each lecture.
Materials: Prints, Digits, and Tools
Core Required Materials:
Lab Manual: The sixteenth edition, custom-written specifically for this class, is a mandatory print bundle. Students are advised that if their copy has not shipped, they must purchase it directly from the bookstore, as it is currently sold out from the publisher.
Lecture Guide: Created in direct response to student feedback and requests, this guide provides outlines, key terms, and core concepts for each lecture, including a list of essential organism names to know by the end of each session.
Digital Materials (Publisher Bundle):
A six-month rental access to the course textbook, which primarily serves as a resource for figures, diagrams, and additional references used throughout the lectures.
Free access to iClicker, an audience response system. If purchased separately, the iClicker device or subscription typically costs approximately . The bundle provides integrated access.
Purchasing Guidance: Students relying on financial aid are strongly encouraged to purchase their materials through the university bookstore, as publishers may not directly accept financial aid payments.
Study Aids and Workflow:
Students should download lecture slides in both available formats to support systematic note-taking.
Practice questions, designed to closely emulate actual exam formats, are linked to each lecture. A time-bound approach to these quizzes is highly recommended to build exam pacing skills.
Other Essential Equipment:
A portable, Wi-Fi-enabled device (such as a laptop or tablet, with phones as a last resort) is required for taking lecture exams digitally.
A solidly bound notebook (no spiral-bound notebooks or binders) is mandatory for labs; a simple marble composition notebook is suitable.
A dissection kit with a scalpel is required for laboratory sessions. This kit can be purchased from the bookstore or other retailers; it may be shared among students if lab schedules permit.
Lab Materials Readiness: It is crucial that the lab manual and the required notebook are acquired and on-hand before Lab Two. Note that Lab Two is scheduled for week four of the semester, while Lab One occurs in week three, with a Labor Day week having no labs.
The “Fringe Bundle” and Early Access: The instructor stresses that obtaining all course materials as early as possible will significantly contribute to a smoother start and better overall experience in the course.
Syllabus, Schedule, and Course Rhythm
The course operates on a fall schedule, which is provided as a single-page, week-by-week overview. This detailed document outlines:
Specific reading assignments that correspond to each day’s lecture content.
The full lab schedule, including any designated days with no class, review sessions, or special academic sessions.
The exact dates for exams and when the course content will transition into a more in-depth, "flipped lecture" format, with three such flipped lectures planned throughout the semester.
Syllabus as the Course Contract: The syllabus functions as the official agreement for the course, encompassing crucial details such as meeting times and locations, the instructor’s contact methods, explicit student expectations, the comprehensive grading scheme, policies on accommodations, and departmental guidelines.
The instructor's physical office is located in Cooke 553, though it is noted that they are rarely physically present there. Email is the most effective way to reach them.
Office Hours: Public office hours are open to all students for general course content questions. Private Zoom or in-person appointments are exclusively reserved for one-on-one administrative or personal questions, not for content-related inquiries.
TA Structure and Engagement:
The course benefits from a robust support system, with five initially announced lecture TAs (with more to be added later) responsible for various course support tasks.
A "meet-and-greet" event with the TAs is scheduled after class on Friday, offering free ice cream to the first attendees as an incentive to connect with the instructional staff.
TA Office Hours Update: It is specifically noted that Fatima’s TA office hours were updated to Tuesdays from (revising a previously posted Friday slot), emphasizing the dynamic nature of the online TA schedule.
Communication Channels:
Email: Designated as the primary method for all official course communication. Students are expected to check their email daily or even more frequently to stay informed.
Piazza: Available as a 24/7 Q&A platform, functioning like a wiki-style discussion board. Anonymous posting is permitted, and TAs and the instructor strive to respond to questions as quickly as possible.
Lectures and Study Aids:
All lectures are recorded and subsequently posted in the designated lecture recordings folder, typically within hours of the live session.
Practice questions are meticulously designed to align with the format and style of actual exams. A time-bound approach, allocating approximately minutes per question, is highly recommended as a study strategy for improving exam pacing.
Mock Exams and Reviews: Unit reviews and specialized health/exam strategy sessions are facilitated by the TA team. These typically occur on Thursdays at and Sundays at via Zoom, and student attendance is strongly encouraged for these valuable preparatory sessions.
iClicker Integration:
One iClicker question is guaranteed to be presented in every lecture session.
Scoring: Students earn point simply for answering the question, and an additional point if their answer is correct, totaling up to points per question when answered accurately.
Starting from the second week, there will be guaranteed iClicker questions, ensuring a minimum of points ( questions points each).
An estimated additional extra-credit iClicker questions may be interspersed throughout the semester. Points for these extra-credit questions are awarded based solely on correctness (the maximum points per question for extra credit are not explicitly defined in the provided text but are implicitly points if correct).
From the upcoming Wednesday, a total of up to iClicker points are guaranteed, with the potential for further extra credit beyond this baseline.
Examinations and Notes Policy:
Mid-Term Exams: These are accumulative, but with a pronounced focus on the material covered since the previous exam.
Final Exam: This is fully cumulative, covering all course material presented throughout the entire semester.
Makeup Exams: There are no standard makeup exams. Students who are unable to attend an exam due to an emergency or extenuating circumstance must contact the instructor as soon as possible to discuss potential options, which are handled on a case-by-case basis.
Permitted Aid: On exam day, students are allowed to bring a single, handwritten note page (front and back, with any content). It is critically important that these notes are genuinely handwritten; typed or printed pages are strictly prohibited unless specific formal accommodations from the Office of Accessibility Resources apply.
Handwritten Requirement: The note page must be handwritten; electronically generated text, even if printed, is not permitted. The color of the ink or the type of paper used does not matter.
Exam Logistics:
Lab Final: Scheduled for Friday, December , from to in the regular classroom. There will be no lecture session on this day.
Internet Access: Final exams may necessitate internet access, indicating an online or hybrid format.
Format: All exams are multiple-choice, and their design and pacing are directly modeled after the provided practice questions.
Time Expectations: Students should prepare for a time-limited exam format. The recommended minutes per question guideline for practice quizzes is indicative of the actual exam pacing demands.
Assessments, Grading, and Extra Credit
Overall Grading Structure (as stated in the transcript):
The total possible points for the course are .
The lecture, iClicker, exams, final, and mid-semester survey components collectively account for points.
The lab portion of the course contributes points.
Note: There is a mention of other points elsewhere in the transcript, but the primary breakdown provided ( points) shows a slight discrepancy with the stated total of points. Students should verify the exact point distribution with official course materials.
Extra Credit Opportunities:
iClicker Extra Credit Questions: Approximately to additional iClicker questions may be offered throughout the semester. Points for these are awarded based on the correctness of the answer.
TA Event Attendance: Attending in-person or Zoom weekly TA events and office hours can yield up to extra credit point for the entire semester.
Biology Education Study Participation: Engaging in the biology education study, even if a student declines to have their data used, can earn up to extra credit points.
No Other Opportunities: The instructor explicitly states that no other extra-credit opportunities will be provided beyond these outlined options.
Attendance and Late Policies:
Attendance: While attendance for every lecture is not strictly mandatory, small numbers of points are awarded for participation (e.g., iClicker questions), encouraging regular presence.
Missed Sessions: If a student misses a lecture, they are strongly encouraged to engage with the recorded materials and TA resources to keep pace with the course content.
Incompletes and Accommodations:
Incompletes: An "Incomplete" grade is only a possibility if a student is in good academic standing. Students needing an incomplete should contact the instructor promptly to discuss available options.
Accommodations: Students requiring academic accommodations must formally work with the Office of Accessibility Resources. The instructor is fully committed to implementing all approved accommodations to support student success.
Academic Integrity:
Honesty: There is a strict emphasis on academic honesty. Acts of academic dishonesty are taken with utmost seriousness and will result in strict actions, including reports to the university’s integrity office.
Instructor's Commitment: The instructor personally vows to be transparent about what is known and unknown in the field and to pursue accurate knowledge to the fullest extent possible.
Communication, Support, and Community
Office Hours and Accessibility:
Regular instructor office hours are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from to .
TA office hours and opportunities for private meetings are also available. The full TA staff will be formally introduced on Wednesday.
A "meet-and-greet" event with the TA team is scheduled after class on Friday, offering free ice cream to early attendees. This event aims to help students personalize their interaction with the TAs, learn study tips, and build a sense of community.
Student Support and Culture:
The course benefits from a large and dedicated course staff, comprising over TAs across both lab and lecture sections, all actively committed to supporting student learning.
Staff involvement includes facilitating Thursday evening mock exams, post-exam reviews ("exam postmortems"), and other critical exam-preparation sessions.
The instructor prioritizes fostering a classroom culture that is respectful, inclusive, and exhibits flexibility in learning approaches.
Classroom Norms, Safety, and Respect
Core Expectations:
Students are expected to show respect for their fellow learners and the instructor, contributing to a positive and productive learning environment.
Maintaining a disruption-free atmosphere is crucial. This includes avoiding excessive cell phone use, refraining from consuming loud snacks or drinks (e.g., noisy cups, crinkling wrappers), and generally minimizing distracting behaviors (e.g., watching YouTube during class).
"No cold cups" policy is in place to prevent distracting noises and potential spills.
Students are encouraged to handle all materials quietly to avoid disturbing others.
Safety and Harassment Policy:
The classroom is designated as a safe and inclusive space. Any form of harassment or bullying will not be tolerated and will be promptly reported to UB's policy authorities for appropriate action.
Flexibility and Patience:
The instructor acknowledges that unexpected events (personal, national, or international) can arise and asks students to approach the semester with flexibility and understanding.
While academic standards will remain high, students are encouraged to proactively communicate any needs or challenges so that the course can adapt to support their success.
Success Strategies and Final Tips
Active Engagement:
Students should download and utilize lecture slides in both available formats (print-friendly and online-viewable), rather than solely relying on the Brightspace online viewing interface, which may lack functionality for effective annotation and review.
Active participation during live lectures is deemed critical, with recorded lectures serving primarily as a backup resource for missed classes, not a primary replacement for attendance.
Regular use of lecture guides—which include outlines, key terms, and organisms to know—is advised. These guides should be reviewed consistently throughout the semester, not just as pre-exam study aids.
Practice and Review:
Students should diligently use the practice questions provided for each lecture and attempt the concept checks to solidify their understanding of the material.
Creating "mini-notes pages" during study sessions helps condense essential ideas. These condensed, handwritten notes are expressly permitted for quizzes and exams (adhering to the single-page, handwritten rule for exams).
Mock exams, comprehensive unit reviews, and health sessions will be offered by the dedicated TA team. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the Thursday evening and Sunday morning sessions whenever possible for crucial exam preparation.
Time Management and Pacing:
Exams are time-limited, so students should practice efficient and deliberate pacing during practice quizzes, using the minutes per question guideline as a benchmark for actual exam conditions.
The course design integrates in-class lectures, independent study, and TA-led support sessions to create a holistic learning experience.
Motivation and Mindset:
The instructor emphasizes that this is an exciting and highly interdisciplinary field with profound real-world relevance. Students are encouraged to approach the material with genuine curiosity and to take personal responsibility for their own learning journey.
Quick Reference: Key Facts and Formulas
Core Concept Formula for Evolution Across Generations:
The change in a trait from generation to generation can be represented as:
(Equation for change across generations)
Time Budget for Practice Questions (Study Guideline):
Recommended time per question:
iClicker Scoring Baseline:
Answering a question:
Correct answer: additional
Total per question (if correct): up to
Guaranteed iClicker questions:
Extra iClicker questions: approximately additional questions, with points awarded based on correctness.
Exam Policy and Note-Page Rule:
A single handwritten note page is allowed (both front and back, any content).
Notes must be exclusively handwritten; typed or printed pages are not permitted unless specific formal accommodations are approved.
Final Exam Date (Lab):
Lab final: Friday, December , from , held in the regular classroom.
Final Encouragement
Students are reminded that they are part of a large and highly engaged academic community, encompassing over students in PHY and supported by a dedicated team of TAs and staff.
The course is intentionally designed to be challenging but ultimately very rewarding, offering numerous support mechanisms and resources to facilitate student success.
Students are strongly encouraged to maintain active engagement, communicate their needs early and proactively, and fully leverage the TA-led sessions, office hours, and various study tools to maximize their academic performance and learning experience.