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Evolution and Biodiversity

Evolution and Biodiversity

This course is part of Introduction to Biology Specialization

Instructor: Pearson

Included with Learn more

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1 module

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

1 module

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Analyze the mechanisms of evolution, including natural selection, and their effect on the genetic makeup of populations.
Interpret phylogenetic trees to explain how evolution results in speciation and contributes to biodiversity.

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This course is part of the Introduction to Biology Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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There is 1 module in this course

Discover how natural selection acts upon biodiversity to drive long-term changes in populations, a fundamental process of evolution. This course examines how advantageous traits are retained while others are lost, and how isolated populations can genetically diverge to become entirely new species. By the end of this course, you will be able to explain how the natural environment "selects" for certain traits and how this can lead to the formation of new, distinct species.

In this course, we will step back and look at how the natural environment selects winners and losers from the biodiversity created in the previous module, resulting in long-term changes in populations. We’ll see how traits that help a species thrive will be retained in populations and traits that are not useful will get lost. And we’ll see how when populations of a species no longer share a gene pool, they can drift apart genetically and become separate species, no longer able to interbreed.

What's included

1 video2 assignments5 app items4 plugins

1 videoTotal 3 minutes

Geographic Isolation & Speciation3 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Practice Quiz30 minutes
Graded Quiz30 minutes

5 app itemsTotal 105 minutes

Reading: Darwin Changes Views pp. 468-47515 minutes
Reading: Evidence in Support of Evolution pp. 476-48420 minutes
Reading: Genetic Variation and Natural Selection pp. 486-49620 minutes
Reading: Adaptive Evolution and the Origin of Species pp. 497-50415 minutes
Reading: Adaptive Evolution and the Origin of Species pp. 506-52335 minutes

4 pluginsTotal 20 minutes

Interactive: Galapagos Finches5 minutes
Interactive: Evidence of Evolution5 minutes
Interactive: Sources of Variation in a Population5 minutes
Interactive: Types of Selection5 minutes

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Instructor

Pearson

80 Courses66 learners

Offered by

Pearson

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.

If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.

Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.