Biological Bases of Behaviour II

Basic principles of genetics:

This part of the course is an introduction to the basic terms and concepts of classical and molecular genetics. Students will learn about the arrangement, distribution, transmission and alternation of genetic information as well as how it functions and the way of maintaining it in populations.

Ethology:

This half of the course focuses on the study of animal behavior, always with an eye on human behavior. Its major tool is the theory of evolution that maintains all life evolved from prior life forms through natural selection. Basically all complex organisms must do two things: eat to survive and have sex to get into the next generation.

Ethology:

All animal behavior is the product of evolution. The founder of modern biology Darwin immediately realized this. He also took note that human psychological functions are products of evolution. In ‘The expression of emotions in man and animals’ he showed how similar these expressions can be between mammal species.

As all evolved through natural selection in a more or less continuous way, the behavior of animals is relevant for understanding human behavior. Ethology hence is an interesting field to learn about these continuities. After dealing with the bare bones of the theory of evolution, some key concepts and insights of ethology will be handled. Concepts such as fixed action patterns, adaptation and fitness will be introduced. Then we will explore some general patterns of answering the second most important activity of animals: finding food (and for many species: not ending up as food for another species). Socially organizing this activity for some species is essential. The core of the course will focus on the most important activity: sex and offspring. This is how genes of an animal get into the next generation, so a huge machinery of mating systems and ways of dealing with offspring has evolved. One major message of the course is that all evolutionary outcomes are liable to be temporary equilibriums full of conflicts that must be handled to survive. At all times comparisons between the behavior of humans and other animals will de leading.

We will end this brief journey by looking at some more complex human behaviors, such as the powerful communication tool of language, unique in many ways to our species. As with all scientific perspectives, there are limits to it, and we will finish by looking at some of the problems those ideas in the evolution of human behavior face.

Basic principles of genetics:

Basic knowledge on classical and molecular genetics is essential in understanding the origins of human behavior. The lecture is an introduction to molecular biology and genetics. Students will be presented with the basic terms and concepts of genetics (e.g. inheritance, gene, allele, genotype vs. phenotype) as well as the cell cycle and different types of cell division. During the course we will focus on nucleic acids (types, structure, arrangements and basic mechanisms of encoding and processing genetic information). In particular, processes of DNA replication, transcription and translation will be analyzed. In addition, mechanisms of gene regulation and expression, types of genetic mutations, their effects and DNA repair as well as the basics of epigenetics will be discussed.

The second part of the course will be dedicated to the inheritance of genetic information. Fundamental mechanism and laws of inheritance and exceptions to them will be presented. Additionally, the basic types of genetic variation and fundamentals of population genetics will be described.

Ahluwalia, K. B. (2009). Genetics .Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi.

Carey, G. (2002). Human genetics for the social sciences (Vol. 4). Sage publications.

Pasternak, J. J. (2005). An introduction to human molecular genetics: mechanisms of inherited diseases. John Wiley & Sons.

These two textbooks are available online at no cost to students at eBook Academic Collection (EBSCOhost) at www.buw.edu.pl – the University Library

After this course the student:

 should be able to describe the cell cycle and types of cell division;

 should be able to determine the types, structure and location of

nucleic acids;

 should be able to explain the molecular basis of transmission of

genetic information from nucleic acids to protein

 should be able to list the different levels of regulation of genetic

information

 should be able to example different types of mutations and their

consequences

 should be able to distinguish between polymorphisms and mutations

 should be able to analyze basic gene interactions

 should be able to interpret the fundamental laws of inheritance and

its exceptions.

 will have knowledge of basic concepts in the theory of evolution,

such as natural selection, fitness, inclusive fitness, adaptation,

proximate and ultimate causes of behavior

 will know basic notions in ethology and evolutionary psychology

 knows systems of mating and taking care of offspring, and the

conflicts that may occur

 will have knowledge of problems that the evolutionary perspective

on human behavior may encounter

For Basic principles of genetics:

A written exam (20% of questions will have an open-ended format). Open questions will have 20% weight of the final grade.

For Ethology:

A written exam with essay questions

Attendance rules

2 unexcused absences are allowed, additional absence are only permitted with formal excuse. Missing more than half of the lectures leads to course failure.

Students must respect the principles of academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism (including copying work from other students, internet or other sources) are serious violations that are punishable and instructors are required to report all cases to the administration.