1. komponenta

Lecture type	Total
Lectures	30
Practicum	15
Seminar	15

* Load is given in academic hour (1 academic hour = 45 minutes)

Course objectives:
Introduction to the basic principes and mechanisms of evolutionary biology on different levels. Review of the main areas of modern evolutionary science. Introduction to experimental work in the evolutionary biology.

Course content:
LECTURES
1. Evolution as a scientific discipline and its historical development
2.-3. Material evidences of evolution
4. Mass extinctions and the rate of evolutionary processes
5. Origin of life (chemical and biological evolution)
6.-7. Evolution of the eukaryotic cell; Endosymbiosis
8. Metazoa; Cambrian explosion
9. Levels of evolutionary processes (microevolution, macroevolution, megaevolution)
10. Speciation and Isolation mechanisms
11. Molecular evolution and phylogenetics
12. Geological evolution-aspects
13. Factors of evolution (variability, mutation, migration, selection, genetic drift)
14. Population genetics and evolution
15. Human evolution

PRACTICAL WORK
1.-2. Cosmic evolution
3.-4. Origin of life
5.-7. Material evidences of evolution
8.-10. Symbioses
11. Microcosm models
12.-13. Adaptations, Tardigrada
14.-15. Population genetics

SEMINARS
1. Evolution of the universe
2. The origin of life
3. Definitions of living systems
4. Universal ancestors of living beings
5. Evolution of eukaryotic cell (endosymbiosis)
6. Metazoans and the Cambrian explosion
7. Phylogenetic trees
8. The rate of evolutionary processes
9. Fossils
10. Megaevolution, macroevolution, microevolution
11. Neanderthals extinctions
12. Selection
13. Mimicry and convergence
14. Human evolution
15. Theories of migrations from Africa and the colonization of continents

Possible visits: Planetarium, Zagreb Astronomical Observatory, Archaeological Museum, Institute for Quaternary Paleontology and Geology (HAZU), ZOO, Rokov Perivoj Park