BIOL4050 · Biology
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
We see incredible biodiversity on earth, and biologists are now learning how some of this diversity emerges. The field of Evolutionary Development (Evo Devo) asks how development can be modified during evolution to produce the incredible variation observed in Nature. How are animal body plans formed, and how can those plans be changed? How do developmental processes constrain adaptive changes in multicellular organisms? What genetic pathways has evolution targeted to modify phenotypes? The course will address these and other fundamental questions through readings, discussion, and case studies. Students will be introduced to the diversity of multicellular organisms and their evolutionary history, and some of the methods and interpretations of modern developmental, molecular, and evolutionary biology.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.7 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.7 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.7 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.5 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
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Across time
Available section-level results across semesters.
Fall 2023
1 sectionFall 2021
1 sectionSpring 2021
1 section