Unit PALEONTOLOGY AND LIFE EVOLUTION
- Course
- Earth science and environment
- Study-unit Code
- A004567
- Location
- PERUGIA
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Marco Cherin
- CFU
- 12
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2024
- Offered
- 2025/26
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa integrata
LIFE EVOLUTION
| Code | A004568 |
|---|---|
| Location | PERUGIA |
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Manuela Rebora |
| Teachers |
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| Hours |
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| Learning activities | Affine/integrativa |
| Area | Attività formative affini o integrative |
| Academic discipline | BIO/05 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | Evolution: History of evolutionary theories, main concepts in evolution, species concept. Origin of life on Earth. Emergence and diversification of major animal phyla. Conquest of terrestrial environments. Morphological and functional adaptations for life in aquatic and terrestrial environments. |
| Reference texts | Evolution. Mark Ridley. Editor: McGraw-Hill Education |
| Educational objectives | The course aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge regarding the evolution of life on Earth and the adaptations of animals in relation to different living environments. |
| Prerequisites | Basic knowledge of Animal Biology |
| Teaching methods | Frontal lessons |
| Other information | Frequency not compulsory but advised |
| Learning verification modality | Oral exam. The test consists of a discussion of approximately 30 minutes to assess the level of knowledge and understanding of the contents covered in the program. Verification of communication skills, proper use of language (especially technical scientific language), and the ability to relate theoretical knowledge to practical aspects. For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or SLD: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa |
| Extended program | Evolution: History of Evolutionary Theories (Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics, Natural Selection, Gradualism, Theory of Punctuated Equilibria), Main Concepts in Evolution (Vestigial Organs, Analogies and Homologies, Natural and Artificial Selection, Sexual Selection, Coevolution, Abiotic and Biotic Factors, Competition, Predation, Symbiosis), Species Concept (Biological Concept, Phenetic Concept, Ecological Concept, Evolutionary Concept, DNA Barcoding, Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation, Reproductive Barriers). Origin of Life on Earth (Endogenous and Exogenous Theory, Abiotic Synthesis of Organic Molecules, Heterotrophic and Autotrophic Prokaryotes, Unicellular and Multicellular Eukaryotes. Appearance and Diversification of Major Animal Phyla (Symmetry, Coelom, Protostomes and Deuterostomes, Origin of Sexual Reproduction). Conquest of Land. Morphological and Functional Adaptations for Life in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments (Integument, Support, Respiration, Circulation, Excretion, Sensory Systems). |
| Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile | The course deals with topics that allow to acquire the skills necessary to pursue the aims of the 2030 Agenda |
PALEONTOLOGY
| Code | GP004066 |
|---|---|
| Location | PERUGIA |
| CFU | 6 |
| Teacher | Marco Cherin |
| Teachers |
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| Hours |
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| Learning activities | Caratterizzante |
| Area | Discipline geologiche e paleontologiche |
| Academic discipline | GEO/01 |
| Type of study-unit | Obbligatorio (Required) |
| Language of instruction | Italian |
| Contents | Paleontology: origins and general information. Paleontology and Geological Time. Notes on systematics and taxonomy. Taphonomy. Biostratigraphy and biochronology. History of life on Earth and mass extinctions. Identification of the main groups of fossil invertebrates. |
| Reference texts | Main book: Società Paleontologica Italiana (a dura di) - 2022 - Manuale di Paleontologia. Fondamenti-Applicazioni. Seconda Edizione Edizioni Idelson Gnocchi Other books: Benton M.J. & Harper M.T. - 2020 - Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record. Second Edition. Wiley Blackwell |
| Educational objectives | The main skills that the students will acquire are the knowledge of (1) the foundations of the general and evolutionary Paleontology; (2) the relationships among Geology, Biology, Paleontology, and other Natural Sciences; (3) the main applications of biostratigraphy; (4) the criteria to recognize the main groups of fossil invertebrates. |
| Prerequisites | Basics of systematics, taxonomy and zoological nomenclature. Basics of evolutionary biology. Basics of general geology, with particular reference to sedimentary rocks. |
| Teaching methods | Lectures and laboratory sessions with analysis of paleontological samples. |
| Other information | n/a |
| Learning verification modality | Oral exam. The exam consists of an oral examination of about 30 minutes in order to understand the capability acquired by the student on theoretical and practical contents of the program. The exam will also test the communication skills (especially technical-scientific language) and the capability to correlate the theoretical and practical knowledges. |
| Extended program | THEORETICAL PART (5 CFU): - Introduction to Paleontology - Origins of Paleontology - Geological Time - Basics of Classification and Taxonomy - Taphonomy - History of life on Earth and mass extinctions - Biostratigraphy and Biochronology PRACTICAL PART (1 CFU): Morphology, systematics and paleontological importance of the following animal phyla: - Porifera - Cnidaria (especially corals) - Brachiopoda - Bryozoa - Arthropoda (especially trilobites) - Mollusca - Echinodermata - Hemichordata (especially graptolites). Recognition and description of fossil specimens belonging to the aforementioned phyla. |
| Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile | The course provides information related with the following objectives of the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development: (13) Climate action; (14) Life below water; (15) Life on land. In particular, thanks to the study of the history of life on Earth through the paleontological record, students acquire fundamental notions for the knowledge of the evolution of climate, environments and life on the planet in Deep Time, which are crucial for understanding current biodiversity and its vulnerability and climate change. |