PLSCI 3440

Evolutionary Plant Biology

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of evolution with an emphasis on plants as excellent exemplars for understanding evolutionary theory and the interpretation of data pertaining to evolution. The topics will include population generics, developmental biology (including comparative embryology and anatomy), theories about speciation (including allopatric, sympatric, and peripatric models), the empirical study of speciation (examples include autopolyploidy, and allopolyploidy), macroevolution (including species selection, kin selection, and multilevel selection theory), the evolution of multicellularity, physical constraints on evolution, evolutionary ecology, and major evolutionary transitions as recorded in the fossil record.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 Recommended prerequisite: PLSCI 2250 or BIOMG 2800. Corequisites: None.

Enrollment Priority REF-FA25 Enrollment limited to: sophomores, juniors and seniors.

Distribution Requirements (BSC-AG, OPHLS-AG)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Critically evaluate information pertaining to evolution.
• Describe the various lines of evidence supporting the theory of evolution, including evidence drawn from molecular and population genetics, comparative studies of embryology, morphology, and anatomy, biogeography, and the fossil record.
• Demonstrate how changes at the DNA sequence level constitute the core of evolution.
• Articulate the importance of plants to evolution and understanding of evolutionary theory.

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