Undergraduate Course: Animal Diversity and Evolution 3 (BILG09019)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course provides students with a modern view of animal diversity and an understanding of how the process of evolution has produced this diversity. |
| Course description |
Understanding the evolution and diversity of animals is a fundamental goal of zoological research, with profound implications for both science and conservation. We will provide students with a modern view of animal diversity and an understanding of how the process of evolution has produced this diversity. Students will examine what key features make animals different from the rest of life and the evolutionary significance of these features. They will then explore this diversity from different perspectives, including the phylogenetic description of diversity, the general causes of diversification in animals and more detailed examination of the diversification of key animal traits such as immunity, physiology and life-history. They will examine how patterns of diversity at different levels of biological organisation, from genetic diversity within populations to species diversity patterns across the globe can be understood. They will examine how the diversity of body plans can be understood in terms of the relationship between evolution and development. The course will finish by considering the future of animal diversity. We will include sessions which illustrate approaches and techniques used to examine animal diversity and evolution, emphasising that this is an active research field, and also sessions to develop core skills within the context of the course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution (BILG08025)
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Animal Biology 2 (BILG08011)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Biological Sciences students are automatically eligible to take this course by having completed the compulsory Year 2 courses [Biology 2A (BILG08024), Biology 2B (BILG08025) and Biology 2C (BILG08026)].
Students from other Schools must meet the pre-requisite requirements.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | This is a Year 3 honours level course; students are expected to have an academic profile equivalent to the first two years of the Biological Sciences degree programme. Study equivalent to the following University of Edinburgh courses is required: Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution (BILG08025). Study equivalent to the following University of Edinburgh courses is recommended: Animal Biology 2 (BILG08011). |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 70 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 26,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 12,
Fieldwork Hours 4,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
149 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
45 %,
Coursework
55 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In course assessment, 55% consisting of
5 x Quizzes (2% each, 10% total)
Practical Report (30%)
Paper evaluation test (15%)
Final exam worth 45%, consisting of four compulsory LAQs. |
| Feedback |
There are a number of ways in which you can obtain feedback which will help you to improve both your performance during the course and prepare you for senior honours. Feedback will be available during the live online lecture slots. The best way to be sure you understand the concepts is to engage with the lectures in advance, the reading material provided, the face-to-face discussion sessions and any associated discussion boards. Attempting to explain and discuss concepts with other students and the lecturer either in person on using the discussion board is one of the best ways to be sure you understand a concept and will lead to more interesting and engaging live sessions.
The paper evaluation tutorials are designed to allow you to obtain immediate feedback on your ability to critically assess the primary literature, which will be invaluable preparation for the assessed paper evaluation assessment. You will be encouraged to discuss the material in the core skills sessions with the staff and demonstrators via the discussion board and they will provide feedback on your answers that will help you to prepare for the assessed laboratory report. Finally, we will run a revision session at the end of the course where lecturers will be available in person to answer questions about the material they have delivered. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | ADE3 exam | 120 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | ADE3 August exam | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- To provide students with a modern overview of animal diversity and an understanding of the evolutionary, genetic, developmental and ecological factors that have produced and currently maintain animal diversity.
- To allow students to explore the diversity of animals from different perspectives, including the phylogenetic description of diversity, the general causes of diversification in animals and more detailed examination of the diversification of key animal traits such as life-history and physiology and developmental programs.
- To develop personal skills appropriate to a third-year biological science student, including competence in a range of research techniques used to study animal diversity, the ability to analyse scientific papers, and the ability to present results of laboratory work concisely and accurately and in a clear and well-organised manner.
- To encourage students to be independent and take responsibility for their own work.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The University has identified six groups of abilities (see headings below) that should be developed as part of the University of Edinburgh training experience, and to enhance your employability as a graduate for the 21st Century. These abilities take your skill-base beyond simply academic knowledge and are enhanced at each stage of your degree. They relate to this course in a number of specific ways, as outlined below.
Knowledge and Understanding: All components of the course provide this to some degree but your lectures, in particular, provide an important framework upon which you can build these attributes. This University considers itself to be a research-led Institution and you will be exposed to cutting edge information and ideas as you progress through your degree course. In this course you will develop a comprehensive knowledge of the diversity of animals which underpins the field of zoology. We will highlight areas where answers are known, and areas where research is ongoing.
Research and Enquiry: These skills are enhanced by encouraging further reading of books, research papers and electronic materials, to embellish your lecture and workshop material. During the paper evaluation sessions, you will learn how to critically evaluate the published work of others, and to develop your own ideas based on this work. During the core skills for assessing animal diversity sessions, you will gain first-hand experience of the techniques used in a modern research lab.
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy: By reading and answering questions on research papers in preparation for the paper evaluation sessions, you will learn to synthesise your own views, develop reasoned arguments and further refine your scientific judgement. In addition, in this course we encourage self-development through use of past papers. Such skills will enhance your capacity for life-long and independent learning.
Communication: This is a key attribute of all scientists and it is therefore important that you develop skills to interact constructively with others and convey knowledgeable and balanced scientific views. Our paper discussions will provide an opportunity for this.
Personal Effectiveness: The ability to organise and summarise your thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way are core features that are required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. Of course, these features also interlink with your personal and intellectual autonomy. By providing you with a timetable where key submission dates are highlighted, we are encouraging you to develop your effectiveness throughout this course. These same skills extend to other courses and also to your overall ability to maximise your achievement whilst studying at this University. However, they also apply to every other aspect of your current and future life. Many aspects of what you achieve in your life can be significantly influenced by you!
Technical and Workshop Skills: Modern molecular and computation techniques are an increasingly important component of zoology and evolutionary biology, and the computer workshop component on this course will provide you with the opportunity to develop these skills in the context of measuring and describing biodiversity. Such skills are essential for scientists and highly valued by employers. |
| Keywords | Ade3 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Craig Walling
Tel: (0131 6)50 5413
Email: craig.walling@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Edward Dewhirst
Tel: (0131 6)50 8649
Email: edewhirs@ed.ac.uk |
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