Evolution of Humans and Other Animals

The primary aim of this module is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of comparative animal biology in an evolutionary context. Humans are part of the animal kingdom, and our own evolution is also best understood from this perspective.

We will explore examples that point to the fact that evolution shapes biodiversity, not merely by the rise and fall of species over millions of years, but also by the often rapid transition of species traits from one form to another at pace with rapid environmental changes, some caused by humans. We will focus on the processes by which evolution operates, resulting in adaptation and/or speciation, by studying key themes in animal biology, such as the evolution of the, sociality.
Insodoing, the course will expand student understanding of core evolutionary concepts such as convergent evolution and units of selection, and will broaden their knowledge of the origins and maintenance of biodiversity. 

By the end of the module you should be able to:

• Explain how human adaptations show that modern humans and our ancestors have been subject to the same evolutionary processes as the rest of the animal kingdom .
• Explain how human adaptations show that modern humans and our ancestors have been subject to the same evolutionary processes as the rest of the animal kingdom .
• Understand and discuss evolutionary principles sufficiently well to be able to 1) conduct thought experiments on the evolutionary consequences of future events and 2) convey evolutionary principles and events in an appropriate way for a lay audience to understand.
• Construct a logically sound well structured argument when writing and be able to recognise and critically analyse weak arguments when reading them.