Plant Biology: Evolution of Plant Sex

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Instructor will email students about meeting location Prerequisites: BCOR 2100 or BCOR 2300 or instructor permission Open to Degree and PACE students Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations

The flower is a relatively recent innovation that is implicated in the remarkable rapid diversification of angiosperms from their gymnosperm-like ancestors. In this course we will discuss the evolutionary basis for success of the flower in terms of changes in form and function, arrangement, timing of development, strategies for cross-pollination, and coevolution with pollinators. In addition to learning about key aspects of plant biodiversification, students will acquire skills in how to read and critically assess scientific literature, identify and discuss major evolutionary questions, and present/defend oral and written scientific arguments through peer-based learning.

This course will be based on primary literature spanning classic papers of the 20th Century to recently published contemporary readings. These readings will be supplemented with a few 'basic concept' lectures at the beginning of each section. Students should read materials BEFORE coming to class, and should identify at least three questions that they'd like to discuss per paper. For each discussion section, two papers (primary and secondary) will be posted in Brightspace. Everyone should read the primary paper; the secondary paper must be read by at least the Discussion leader.

Students will be evaluated through a mix of quizzes, discussion leadership, class participation, a group presentation, written abstracts, and peer review.