BIOS 405/505 QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES IN COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY

A major new focus of modern organismal biology is the comparative method by which the evolution of diverstiy is studied by comparing various types of data among species to elucidate historical relationships and map evolutionary change. Central to this emerging emphasis on comparative biology is the advent of new technologies and analytical methods that enable us to quantify and integrate many levels of organismal variation and design. The purpose of this course is to provide the opportunity for students to explore several of the most important quantitative methodologies and analytical techniques used in comparative biology and to understand the empirical utility and limitations of integrating various types comparative data. This approach synthesizes the study of anatomy, behavior, ecology, physiology, genetics, morphometrics, evolution, and statistics. Students will be trained through lectures, technical demonstrations, readings, and via hands on experience in using the techniques, data collection, data analysis and presentation of results and conclusions in an oral and written report to the class. Each student will prepare an oral and written report on a specific simple hypothesis that they experimentally test during the quarter using one of the types of data covered.

the comparative method

ecological morphology

levels of organismal design and types of data (laboratory overview of techniques to be used)

things to consider:

-intra- and interspecific variation

-allometry, size and scaling

-homology and convergence

-ontogeny and heterochrony

- characters and morphmetrics

-cladistic methods and conventional data (laboratory demonstration and exercises)

-molecular "phylogenies"

-choosing a "consensus" tree

-video image technology

-video demonstration

-acquiring, downloading, and enhancing video imagery

-digitization of images and data collection

-conventional and coordinate data

-muscle design, electrical properties, and contractile physics

-technical description of EMG hardware

-electrode designs and construction

-anesthesia, electrode implantation, and hookup

-recording EMG signals

-analog to digital conversion and digital analysis of EMG signals

-characterizing the "motor pattern"

-the motor pattern and muscle function in complex morphological systems

-biomechanics and skeletal design

-force plate technology

-hardware and software demonstrations

-analysis of force data and comparative locomotion studies

5th week (Oct. 7/9): Allozyme electrophoresis & molecular systematics (Matt White)

-gel electrophoresis runs & tree generation

-genes and gene products

-molecular probes of phylogeny

-electrophoretic techniques

-application of allozyme data in population and species comparisons

-generating hypotheses of phylogeny from allozyme data

-fat metabolism and hibernation

-measuring fat in natural populations

-data loggers

-reproductive and life history data

-oxygen analyzers

-last meeting ( Nov. 13th) mini seminar series

-overhead projector presentations of projects (20 -30 min.)

-last meeting (Nov. 13th) turn in written reports

Each student will choose one type of "data" (electromyographical, kinematic, conventional morphometric, allozyme, phylogenetic, force, etc) they wish to analyze to address some simple hypothesis. They will then actually collect the data, quantify patterns, statistically analyze it, graphically record it and then prepare an oral and written report to present to the class. The area to be studied must be chosen by the 7th week and your idea or proposal should be discussed with the professor in that area so that a plan for the quarter can be finalize in time to complete the project. In addition, graduate students will be assigned 2-3 published papers in their data area to study and critique as part of their oral presentation to the class. Thus, all of the students will benefit from the experiences of the others in carrying out and presenting their study, and critically reviewing published papers using their techniques. In this way each student will learn how the various studies using different types of data are done, and what critical aspects should be kept in mind when evaluating the results of studies using that type of data. The projects will be simple enough that they can be effectively completed during the quarter. For example, one might ask: what is the timing and kinematic pattern of some one snapping their fingers? The student would film several finger snaps, download the images to the computer, digitize landmarks from each frame, average the kinematic profiles for the movements and then work up a report on it.

The course grade will be based on the oral and written reports. 3 hours a week are allotted to TBA - that is time you spend on your own, working on your readings and projects.