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  2. Diversity of Life [SCI2116]

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Diversity of Life

  • Unit Code

    SCI2116

  • Year

    2019

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kristina Louise LEMSON

Description

Diversity of Life provides an overview of major groups of organisms, with a strong emphasis on eukaryotes. The unit adopts an evolutionary (phylogenetic) approach, and explores how the relationships among major clades of eukaryotes are revealed in their body structures, genetics and biochemistry. Australian organisms will be emphasised. Note that practical activities in this unit may include the use of animals, animal products and tissues.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed 3 units from SCI1125 Professional Science Essentials, SCI1183 Origins and Evolution of Life , SCI1187 Form and Function in Biology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the defining characteristics of the Domain Eukarya, and identify the evolutionary changes that distinguish it from Bacteria and Archaea.
  2. Explain current understandings of high-level evolutionary relationships within Eukarya, and discuss the places of traditional taxonomic groupings (e.g. animals, plants and fungi) within it.
  3. Characterise major monophyletic super-groups within Eukarya on the basis of morphological, reproductive and/or biochemical features.
  4. Describe major evolutionary trends within Metazoa (animals) and Embryophyta (land plants).
  5. Explain how morphological, reproductive and molecular evidence inform understandings of phylogenetic relationships and illustrate the processes of organic evolution.
  6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the theoretical basis of phylogenetic systematics, including the interpretation of phylogenetic trees.

Unit Content

  1. General principles of evolution, phylogenetic systematics and classification: monophyly, paraphyly and polyphyly; introduction to methods and interpretation of phylogenetic trees; the fossil record and geological time scale.
  2. Vascular embryophytes: Monilophytes, Lycophytes, seed plants and flowering plants.
  3. The origin of Eukaryotes.
  4. Eukaryote radiation and super-groups: Alveolates, Stramenopiles, Rhizaria, Amoebozoa, Excavata, Opisthokonta, and Archaeplastida.
  5. Opisthokonta: Fungi, animals (Metazoa) and their relatives, including mycorrhiza and lichens.
  6. Major clades of animals (Metazoa): Parazoa, Eumetazoa, Radiata, Bilateria, protostomes and deuterostomes.
  7. Coelomate Protostomes (Annelida and Mollusca) and Deuterostomes (Echinodermata and Chordata).
  8. 'Protist' groups: Stramenopiles, Rhizaria, Chromists and others
  9. Archaeplastida: red and green algae, and the origins of land plants (Embryophytes).
  10. Embryophyte origins; non vascular plants; evolution of early vascular plants.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit has a strong focus on laboratory work. Following recorded or live lectures, laboratories have a distinct focus on evolution of animals and plants and the relationships between different groups. Coursework and additional support materials and activities are available online.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkIndividual and group practical work and related theory. 30%
AssignmentOnline fact sheet20%
TestMid-term test10%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI2116|2|1

School: Science

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Diversity of Life

  • Unit Code

    SCI2116

  • Year

    2019

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    2

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kristina Louise LEMSON

Description

Diversity of Life provides an overview of major groups of organisms, with a strong emphasis on eukaryotes. The unit adopts an evolutionary (phylogenetic) approach, and explores how the relationships among major clades of eukaryotes are revealed in their body structures, genetics and biochemistry. Australian organisms will be emphasised. Note that practical activities in this unit may include the use of animals, animal products and tissues.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must have passed 3 units from SCI1125 Professional Science Essentials, SCI1183 Origins and Evolution of Life , SCI1187 Form and Function in Biology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the defining characteristics of the Domain Eukarya, and identify the evolutionary changes that distinguish it from Bacteria and Archaea.
  2. Explain current understandings of high-level evolutionary relationships within Eukarya, and discuss the places of traditional taxonomic groupings (e.g. animals, plants and fungi) within it.
  3. Characterise major monophyletic super-groups within Eukarya on the basis of morphological, reproductive and/or biochemical features.
  4. Describe major evolutionary trends within Metazoa (animals) and Embryophyta (land plants).
  5. Explain how morphological, reproductive and molecular evidence inform understandings of phylogenetic relationships and illustrate the processes of organic evolution.
  6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the theoretical basis of phylogenetic systematics, including the interpretation of phylogenetic trees.

Unit Content

  1. General principles of evolution, phylogenetic systematics and classification: monophyly, paraphyly and polyphyly; introduction to methods and interpretation of phylogenetic trees; the fossil record and geological time scale.
  2. Vascular embryophytes: Monilophytes, Lycophytes, seed plants and flowering plants.
  3. The origin of Eukaryotes.
  4. Eukaryote radiation and super-groups: Alveolates, Stramenopiles, Rhizaria, Amoebozoa, Excavata, Opisthokonta, and Archaeplastida.
  5. Opisthokonta: Fungi, animals (Metazoa) and their relatives, including mycorrhiza and lichens.
  6. Major clades of animals (Metazoa): Parazoa, Eumetazoa, Radiata, Bilateria, protostomes and deuterostomes.
  7. Coelomate Protostomes (Annelida and Mollusca) and Deuterostomes (Echinodermata and Chordata).
  8. 'Protist' groups: Stramenopiles, Rhizaria, Chromists and others
  9. Archaeplastida: red and green algae, and the origins of land plants (Embryophytes).
  10. Embryophyte origins; non vascular plants; evolution of early vascular plants.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit has a strong focus on laboratory work. Following recorded or live lectures, laboratories have a distinct focus on evolution of animals and plants and the relationships between different groups. Coursework and additional support materials and activities are available online.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

Due to the professional competency skill development associated with this Unit, student attendance/participation within listed in-class activities and/or online activities including discussion boards is compulsory. Students failing to meet participation standards as outlined in the unit plan may be awarded an I Grade (Fail - incomplete). Students who are unable to meet this requirement for medical or other reasons must seek the approval of the unit coordinator.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Laboratory WorkIndividual and group practical work and related theory. 30%
AssignmentOnline fact sheet20%
TestMid-term test10%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination40%

Core Reading(s)

  • Urry, L. A. (2017). Campbell biology: Australia and New Zealand Edition (11th edition.). Melbourne, Vic: Pearson Australia. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1006605617
  • (2013). The Princeton guide to evolution. (pp. xiii, 853). Princeton ; Oxford: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/861200134

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCI2116|2|2