1

BIOL 4366/6366

Genes and Genomes: Fundamentals of Molecular Evolution (formerly Molecular Evolution)

Spring 2012

Tue & Thu 8:30-10:00Tue & Thu 8:30-10:00

SEC 202SEC 202

2

The room may get very cold. Please dress properly.

Important information

3

Dr. Dan Graur Science & Research IIRoom 352dgraur@uh.eduhttp://nsm.uh.edu/~dgraur/Office hours: Tuesday (10:30-12:00 AM) or by e-mail appointment

Another teacher: John T. Scopes

Dan Graur

4

Webpage, class material, announcements, presentations, handouts:

http://nsm.uh.edu/~dgraur/

5

Purpose of class: Fun & intellectual enlightenment

6

Textbook:

2000. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA

A rough (and constantly changing draft) of the Third Edition, which will be out at the end of 2012, will be emailed to you in pieces (at your email addresses on PeopleSoft/MyUH) for free!

7

Exams:Undergraduate Students:Two midterm exams (during class hours) + a final exam. The exams consist of yes/noyes/no questions + multiple choicemultiple choice questions + essayessay questions. The final exam is

cumulative (all course material is covered).

Graduate Students: Two midterm exams (during class hours) + a final exam + an assignment.

Honors Students: Two midterm exams (during class hours) + a final exam + an assignment.

8

Exams:

Midterm I: February 21 (8:30-10:00) Midterm II: April 3 (8:30-10:00) Final Exam: May 8 (8:00-11:00)

9

Assignments:Honors and Graduate Students: Honors and graduate students will be assigned the task of writing or improving selected molecular evolution and genome evolution entries in Wikipedia. Each student will have a separate Wikipedia account, and each student will write a completely new article and/or significantly expanding and updating upon an existing article. Particulars of the personal assignments will be coordinated in advance with Dr. Graur. Alternative assignments suggested by the student will be considered. Approval must be obtained in advance. Undergraduate students may participate in the program for bonus points.

10

Grades:Undergraduate Students:1st exam 25%2nd exam 30%Final exam 45%

Honors & Graduate Students: 1st exam 10%2nd exam 20%Final exam 30%Assignment 40%

11

Honors credit:

1. Honors Student obtains FORM at Honors College.

2. The FORM is taken to the Instructor of Record (Me).

3. The Instructor of Record (Me) and the Honors Student decide together what additional requirements the student must fulfill to receive Honors Credit for the course.

12

Allergies

=

13

“The shy cannot learn and the strict cannot teach”

Talmud, Avot 2:5

Please interrupt, Please ask questions, Please correct mistakes, Please take advantage of office hours.