Undergraduate Course: Evolution of Social Behaviour (ZLGY10025)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Biological Sciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Zoology |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
Cooperation $ú and therefore complex, stable sociality $ú is a Darwinian paradox. This course will investigate how, despite this, elaborate social behaviour and advanced cooperation has evolved $ú from teams of genes cooperating within genomes, to the sophisticated extremes of social insect colonies and the peculiarities of human social life. The course will start by identifying the underlying genetic conflicts, both within individuals at the genomic level, and between individuals interacting within a society. It will then examine the strategies adopted by both genes and individuals to maximise their own success while minimising the risk of exploitation by others. This will include detailed exploration of the different forms of cooperation; will examine the gap between theoretical and empirical analyses; will review recent controversies regarding the importance of kin selection; and will assess the role of information exchange within societies in stabilising conflict. The course will culminate by identifying the major unresolved questions in our understanding of social evolution, and the empirical approaches required to provide robust answers |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 1, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | Ashworth Labs, Hons Rm 2 (114) | 1-11 | | | | 14:00 - 17:00 | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Thursday, 14:00 - 17:00, Zone: King's Buildings. Lecture |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
|
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Evolution of Social Behaviour | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| Focussing on social behaviour, students will gain skills in using empirical evidence to test theoretical ideas, and in the critical assessment of both theory and evidence. |
Assessment Information
| Centrally arranged examination |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords |
zosocbeh |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Matthew Bell
Tel: (0131 6) 50 5496
Email: Matt.Bell@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Mrs Pat Dougall
Tel: (0131 6)50 5464
Email: pat.dougall@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2011 6:54 am
|
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