GEOLOGY 128 - SPRING 2007

Instructor: Karla Parsons-Hubbard [karla.hubbard@oberlin.edu]
Office: Carnegie 403; Hours: W 10-11; Th 1:30-3:30

Life began nearly as far back in time as the origin of the earth itself. Since life evolved from non-living matter, it has gone through a number of major changes and upheavals. This course will examine the origin of life on earth and trace some of the major turning points in life history. The purposes of the course are to introduce basic concepts of evolution, explore some areas of current research and controversy, and familiarize you with some of the major events and processes in the history of life.

The textbook for this course will be The Book of Life (BOL). It will closely parallel my lectures and will be excellent reinforcement for the lecture topics. One copy of the BOL is available on reserve in the Science Library. Other readings for this course are accessible through Blackboard under 'Assignments'. Also, some readings are available on public web sites. Readings are required unless indicated on the syllabus by brackets. Bracketed readings are recommended, but not required.
The basis of your course grade will be three in-class response essays and one final exam. One essay grade will be dropped. Each essay is worth 15% of your grade and the final is worth 70%. The response essays will take place during the last 20 minutes of the lecture period while the final will be a closed book/note exam at 9am on March 21st.

Geology and Evolution - What causes adaptive change?
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vendian/critters.html
http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/~macrae/Burgess_Shale/
http://www.burgess-shale.bc.ca/

Response Essay 1: (topics through 2/12)

Life in the Sea - the first vertebrates
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vertebrates/vertsy.html

Life on Land: The Tetrapods & Modes of Reproduction
Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/synapsids/synapsida.html
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mammal/monotreme.html

Response Essay 2: (topics through 2/26)

Extinction - The K/T Boundary Event
http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/communication/kt.html
Rise of the Mammals
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/synapsids/synapsida.html

Life in the Air
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vertebrates/flight/enter.html

Response Eassay 3 (topics through 3/12)