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.