This course aims to provide a rigorous and as comprehensive as possible overview of the evolution and diversity of chordates, including vertebrates.
- Providing an overview of the biodiversity of chordates
- Understanding the phylogenetic relationships within this group
- Understanding the evolution of the morphology, physiology, and development of these organisms
The course takes a mixed approach by addressing jointly the phylogeny of chordates and the evolution of their characters. For each clade, evolutionary innovations are explained by comparing ancestral and derived states, in order to trace the evolutionary history of the characters.
- Overview of the place of chordates in the tree of life
- The chordate clade
- The craniate clade
- The gnathostome clade
- The sarcopterygian clade
- The amniote clade
- The mammal clade
- The reptile clade
- The bird clade
The lab component consists of 6 mandatory sessions:
- Introduction to the amphioxus
- Embryology of echinoderms and amphibians
- Embryology of amniotes
- Dissection of a small dogfish
- Dissection of a mouse
- Visit to the zoological museum
Lectures and hands-on exercises.
Theory component: oral exam with Jean-François Flot (closed-book).
Practical component: continuous assessment (pre-lab tests, post-session drawing corrections, and a final grade for the practical work portfolio on the day of the exam) and an oral exam during the session with Marie-Laurence Hubin and Justine Bélik; this includes a preparation period (1 hour 30 minutes) to perform a dissection, observe a histological section, and produce the appropriate scientific drawings. Assessment breakdown: 10% pre-lab tests/drawing reviews, 10% practical work portfolio, and 80% exam.
- Brusca & al., 2016 (3rd edition). Invertebrates. Sinauer Associates. 936
pp. ISBN 9781605353753
- De Iuliis & Pulerà, 2011 (2nd edition). The Dissection of Vertebrates.
332 pp. ISBN 9780123750600
- Hickman et al., 2020 (18th edition). Integrated Principles of Zoology.
McGraw-Hill. 844 pp. ISBN 9781260565973
- Kardong, 2014 (7th edition). Vertebrates: Comparative Anatomy, Function,
Evolution. McGraw-Hill. 794 pp. ISBN 9780078023026
- Raven et al. 2017 (11th edition). Biology. McGraw-Hill Education. 1281
pp. ISBN 9781259188138
- Poinsot et al. 2018. Diversité animale. Deboeck Supérieur. 448pp. ISBN
9782807315396
| Training | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Biology | 2 | 5 | Yes |