This is a 3-credit basic to mid-level course on evolutionary biology. It is meant for PhD and Integrated PhD students of biology who do not have prior training in evolutionary biology. It is designed to encourage evolutionary thinking among biology students from various disciplines, and to provide academic framework necessary for such thinking. Academic requirements for this course are minimal, so we will start with very basic concepts and slowly ramp up to more advanced topics. At the end of this course the students are expected to have a broad understanding of the concepts and theories in evolutionary biology, including principles of natural and sexual selection, basic population genetics, molecular evolution, phylogenetics, speciation and diversification, co-evolution, life history evolution, and evolutionary developmental biology. The hope is that this broad training will lead to greater interest and research in evolutionary biology in India, and application of evolutionary concepts in other fields of biology such as developmental and cell biology, molecular genetics, and ecology, by students who will subsequently specialize in different fields.

Course outcome:

• To have a broad understanding of the concepts and theories in evolutionary biology

• To understand principles of natural and sexual selection, basic population genetics, molecular evolution, phylogenetics, speciation and diversification

• Evaluate the role co-evolution, life history evolution, and evolutionary developmental biology have played in the formulation of evolutionary thought

• Critically evaluate research articles in evolutionary biology