Evolution and the origins of life

applied geology
biology
biotechnology
environmental protection
geography
geology
psychology

elective courses

(in Polish) -

Classroom and field classes

The main goal of the lecture is to show how much the present complexity and diversity of the living world depends on its evolutionary history. A laboratory class is connected with the lecture, dealing with basic methods of palaeobiology and phylogenetics, as well as ways of inference enabling presentation and testing of phylogenetic and evolutionary hypotheses.

The lecture aims to elucidate the present state of nature by referring to its history. Beginning with knowledge of modern man, animals and plants and using retrodiction as the method inference, we will delve into the past of the Earth to explain the observed course of evolution. An attempt will be made to tie in the history of man and nature with environmental changes. Real and supposed ecological catastrophes in the distant geological past will be discussed. Lineages of plants and animals will be traced, up to the origin of life on Earth. Hypotheses regarding mechanisms ruling evolution at a stage of development beyond analogy with extant organisms, when there were no genes nor enzymes and the sources of energy driving life were different than those we know, will be reviewed.

Every exercise starts with 20 min talk presenting issues related with following tasks. Time consuming techniques are presented by the tutor for the whole group. However most tasks students will do individually or in small groups. Particular exercises will focus on:

• Vertebrate taphonomy (from caracass to fossil) and preparation techniques used by paleontologists. Species composition of fossils compared to original ecosystem.

• 3D fossil modeling.

• Chemical extraction of phosphatic and organic microfossils from the host sediment; sample enrichment in electromagnetic separator and heavy fluids.

• Paleobiological issues related with these kinds of fossils.

• Basics of palynology; preparation of samples, spores and pollen identification, preparing palinological diagram and its climatic interpretation.

• Electron microscopy (SEM); preparation of specimens, mounting them on the platform, work with the microscope; micro-CT scanning and spectrometry.

• Sequencing ancient and fresh DNA; sample preparation, work with amplificator and sequencer.

• Molecular phylogenetics; sequence databases, data preparation, various phylogenetic methods, obtaining a tree.

• Numerical methods in paleobiology; interpretation of quantitative paleobiological data in environmental and climatic categories.

• Interpretation of fossil traces left during life activity of extinct organisms.

• Field trip in Holy Cross Mountains with collecting of microfossil samples, large fossils, and identification of environmental changes based on paleontological data.

Dzik, J. 1997. Ewolucja życia. Wielka Encyklopedia Geografii Świata, Vol. 8, 360 pp., Wydawnictwo Kurpisz, Poznań.

Dzik, J. 2011. Dzieje życia na Ziemi. Wprowadzenie do paleobiologii (wyd. 4 unowocześnione). 577 pp. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Krzanowska, H., Łomnicki, A., Rafiński, J., Szarski, H., & Szymura, J.M. 1995. Zarys mechanizmów ewolucji. 402 pp. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Stanley, S.M. 2002. Historia Ziemi. 711 pp. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

Urbanek A. 2007. Jedno istnieje tylko zwierzę... Myśli przewodnie biologii porównawczej. 260 pp. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa.

Weiner, J. 2005. Życie i ewolucja biosfery. Podręcznik ekologii ogólnej. Wydanie drugie poprawione i unowocześnione. 610 pp. Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa.

To pass the exercises, student has to attend to the labs and prepare an essay about fossils he collected. To obtain a grade, a candidate has to pass an oral exam.