UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
B.Sc. DEGREE COURSE IN Zoology
SEMESTER SYSTEM WITH CREDITS
(Effective from the Academic Year 2003-2004)

SYLLABUS

Semester VI - Paper XII - Evolution

Duration of Examination: 3 hrs
Maximum Marks: 100
Credits: 4

Unit I

Origin of Life and Evidences for Evolution.

Origin of life: Theories - creation - cosmozoic - spontaneous generation - Chemical evolution - Bio-elements - selection - opinion of J.B.S. Haldane and A.L. Oparin - UreyMiller Hypothesis - Origin of bio-molecules - Coacervation - Origin of Pro - and Eukaryotic cell.
Evidences - Comparative, anatomical, vestigial organs, physiological, embryological, Biochemical, Geographical distribution & realms.

Unit II

Theories of Evolution

Greek thinkers - ideas of evolution before Darwin - Lamarckism and Neo-lamarckism - Darwinism and Neo-Darwinism - Germplasm theory - Mutation Theory - Modem Synthetic theory - Hardy Weinberg law and its importance.

Unit III

Trends in Evolution

Geological eras - Fossils and fossilization - Dating of fossils - Extinctions - Living fossils. Adaptations - Variations & Origin - adaptive trends - Polymorphism - Transeint and stable - Mimicry & Colouration - Batesian and Muilerian. Convergent, Divergent and Parallel evolution - Co-evolution.

Unit IV

Isolation and its role in evolution

Isolating mechanisms - different types - species concepts - definition of species - Origin of species - Allopatric and Sympatric speciation. Genetic drift - Founder's principle.

Unit V

Evolutionary Processes

Natural selection in action - DDT and mosquitoes - Industrial melanism - adaptations of Carcinus and Aonidiella (Citrus insect) - Evolution of horses in the New World and Old World - Evolution of Man - Biological & Cultural.

REFERENCES:

1. Simpson, G.C. 1967 - The meaning of Evolution. Revised Edition - New Haven, Tale University Press.

2 Colbert, E.H. 1969 - Evolution of vertebrates, Wiley, New york.

3. Mayr, Ernst, 1973 - Animal species and Evolution. The Belknap Press of Harvard University, Cambridge.

4. Dobzansky, T. 1976 - Genetics and the origin of species. Oxford and TBH Publishing Co. New Delhi.

5. Savage, J.M. 1976 - Evolution. Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi.

6. Elic. Minkoff, 1983 - Evolutionary Biology, Addison Wesley.

7. Leninger, A.L., Nelson, D.L. and Cox, M.M. (1993) - Principles of Biochemistry, CBS Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi.

8. Life, Origin, Evolution and adaption (2002) - Sanjib Chattopadhyay. Books and Allied (p) Ltd.