In this course, questions such as:
1. How do biologists distinguish and categorize Earth’s diverse life forms?
2. How has life on Earth changed over time?
3. What causes the similarities and differences among Earth’s many different species?
4. What mechanisms can cause the evolution of populations?
5. How do new species originate from existing species?
will be addressed. These questions are linked to concepts such as taxonomy, evolution, genetics, speciation, and phylogenetics (evolutionary relationships) which are core components of Systematics. Thus, Systematics is the study of the diversity and relationships among organisms.
For a biology student, answering the questions mentioned above is integral to understand science from a broader perspective and various lens. Many biological studies (e.g., ecology, evolution, genetics, botany, anatomy) as well as, research in technology and industry (i.e., food, textiles, drugs and medicine development) rely on species identity and phylogeny. The goals of Systematics, for example, defining species and the evaluating the mechanisms that best explains the origin of species is essential to understand life and nature and impacts society in general.
This course emphasizes the utilization of evaluative tools, i.e., data types (morphological and molecular), model systems, statistical methods, spatial (continental versus island) and temporal perspectives to augment and enrich discussion in addressing the core questions in Systematics.
- Teacher: Archie Along
- Teacher: Jeszianlenn L. Plaza