CHEM-647  BIOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION Course Home Page Fall Semester 2002

Amino acid conservation  and replacement in Cytochrome c R. E. Dickerson Sci. Am. 226(4):59 (1972)

Brief Course Description: Biochemical Evolution is a graduate and upper-level undergraduate course taught in the fall of even-numbered years by Professor Hal White. A fundamental general background in biochemistry at the level of CHEM-527 or CHEM-641/642 is assumed.

This course is not about memorization of evolutionary details. You will have a lifetime to do that, if you want. This course is about understanding concepts, thinking logically, pursuing knowledge, identifying resources, and communicating. It is about making the biochemical study of evolution understandable, hopefully interesting, and possibly exciting enough that you will want to continue learning about it for the rest of your life. In order to emphasize those objectives, Biochemical Evolution is taught using a Problem-Based Learning format in which groups of students work cooperatively on complex problems (case studies) during class time and turn in individual assignments after each. In addition, there is term paper (or case study) assignment and oral presentation on the same topic. Personal initiative in the form of outside reading and class participation is expected. There are no formal examinations. Please examine the course-related documents linked below:

Syllabus Fall 2002

• What's a good learning issue?

Case Study Problems (Links will be created after problem is distributed in class)

• Getting to know your ancestors ..........................Case Summary
• CS#1 Fugu, Poison Frogs, and Pitohuis ...........  Page [1] Case Summary
• CS#2 Aerial Ancestors? ..................................... Page [1], [2], [3], Course Summary
• CS#3 Dating Eve ............................................... Page [1], [2]
• CS#4 Feverishly Evolving Antigens ................... Page [1], [2], [3], Summary Concept Map
• CS#5 The Eyes Have It ..................................... Page [1], [2], [3]
• CS#6 Selective Neutrality ................................... Page [1], [2], [3]
• CS#7 Proteins Lipograms................................... Page [1], [2]

• Case Study Request Form
• Concept Mapping
• Case Study Evaluation Check List
• What's an "A?"