Biology : Diversity and Evolution of Living beings

Duration

42h Th, 38h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Pierre Delaplace, Eric Haubruge, Ludivine Lassois

Coordinator

Ludivine Lassois

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This course unit provides an integrated approach to the diversity of life and the processes underlying its evolution. It brings together perspectives from genetics, botany, and zoology around a common theme: how do the mechanisms of heredity, variation, and selection contribute to the evolution and diversification of living organisms?

The genetics component introduces the fundamental concepts of heredity and genetic variation, from Mendel's laws to contemporary approaches in genomics. It covers patterns of inheritance and gene interactions, as well as the main sources of genetic diversity, including recombination, mutations, polyploidy, and hybridisation. Modern genome-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, and the ethical issues associated with their use are also discussed.

The botany component explores plant diversity from an evolutionary perspective. It examines changes in life cycles, vegetative structures, and reproductive modes that have accompanied the diversification of the major plant groups, from algae to flowering plants. Speciation processes and the roles of symbioses, mutualisms, and coevolution in plant evolution are also addressed.

The zoology component introduces the principles of evolution by natural selection and applies them to understanding animal diversity and classification. It covers the concept of species, phylogeny, and the major evolutionary innovations that have shaped animal diversity. Adaptations to different environments, adaptive radiations, and reproductive strategies are examined in relation to the diversification of the major animal groups. The ecological importance of animal biodiversity is also considered, together with issues related to conservation, global health, and biotechnology.

Practical sessions provide opportunities to apply this knowledge through the observation, analysis, and comparison of genetic, morphological, and reproductive traits. In particular, they aim to develop students' ability to interpret evolutionary relationships among organisms, identify evolutionary innovations, and relate observed patterns of diversity to the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms that underpin them.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Upon completion of this course unit, students will be able to:

• Explain the fundamental principles of heredity and the mechanisms that generate genetic diversity, and relate them to evolutionary processes.
  
  
• Explain the main mechanisms underlying evolution and the diversification of life, including variation, natural selection, speciation, and interactions among organisms.
  
  
• Describe and compare the diversity of the major groups of organisms, identifying the key characteristics and evolutionary innovations associated with their diversification.
  
  
• Compare the life cycles, reproductive modes, and main adaptive strategies found among the major plant and animal groups, and place them within an evolutionary context.
  
  
• Interpret phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary trees, identifying the continuities, divergences, and innovations that characterise the evolutionary history of the major lineages of life.
  
  
• Use biological observations and data to analyse the diversity of life, compare organisms, and develop evidence-based genetic or evolutionary interpretations.
  
  
• Read and interpret simple phylogenetic trees to identify evolutionary relationships, shared traits, and evolutionary innovations among living organisms, particularly within the major animal groups.
  
  
• Compare the main animal body plans and relate selected morphological, anatomical, physiological, and reproductive characteristics to environmental constraints and diversification processes.
  
  
• Identify the major evolutionary innovations in plants and relate their functional significance to the aquatic origin of plants and the strategies involved in the colonisation of terrestrial environments.
  
  
• Identify and interpret biologically relevant traits from specimens, prepared samples, diagrams, photographs, or dissections in order to compare organisms and support evolutionary interpretations.
  
  

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

BIOL2218-A-a Cours de Biologie - Organisation et fonctionnement du vivant.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching is organised through lectures covering the main concepts of the course. Each topic is complemented by practical sessions designed to illustrate, apply, and further explore the theoretical concepts introduced during the lectures.

Organisation: 42 hours of lectures and 38 hours of practical sessions.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

Lectures and practical sessions are delivered in person and complemented by online support activities.

Participation in learning activities is mandatory. Practical sessions are an essential component of the course and provide students with opportunities to apply the concepts covered during lectures. Any unjustified absence may result in a penalty, which may include being denied admission to the examination.

Supporting documentation for any absence must be submitted to the Student Affairs Office, with a copy sent by email to ludivine.lassois@uliege.be.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The following learning materials are made available to students on the course platform:

• Slides used during lectures.
  
  
• Supporting documents and instructions for selected practical sessions.
  
  
• A textbook and specific learning materials for the botany component.
  
  
• Additional resources selected by the teaching staff to consolidate or further explore specific topics.
  
  

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam


Further information:

Assessment for the course unit takes an integrated approach and covers the genetics, botany, and zoology components.

It includes two continuous assessments organised during the semester. These assessments cover topics addressed across all three components of the course unit. Their purpose is to support students' learning progress, assess the gradual acquisition of knowledge, and identify any learning difficulties.

The summative assessment during the examination period consists of a written examination covering all content taught in genetics, botany, and zoology.

The continuous assessments and written examination may include:

• Short-answer or extended-response theoretical questions designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of fundamental concepts.
  
  
• Multiple-choice questions.
  
  
• Exercises related to the course content and similar to those practised during the practical sessions.
  
  

• Continuous assessment (2 tests during the semester) - June: 10% - August: 10%**
  
  
• Practical/Laboratory work - June: 10% - August: 10%
  
  
• Theory examination - June: 50% - August: 50%** (60% if the continuous assessment component is not taken into account)
  
  
• Problem-solving examination - June: 30% - August: 30%
  
  

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

• Ludivine Lassois - Course Unit Coordinator and Lecturer for the Genetics Component (Ludivine.Lassois@uliege.be)
  
  
• Rudy Caparros Megido - Lecturer for the Zoology Component (R.Caparros@uliege.be)
  
  
• Éric Haubruge - Lecturer for the Zoology Component (E.Haubruge@uliege.be)
  
  
• Pierre Delaplace - Lecturer for the Botany Component (Pierre.Delaplace@uliege.be)
  
  

Association of one or more MOOCs