HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH (SC1090)

How did we get here? Why do we look the way we do? Are we alone in the universe? How and when did life begin? Why are there so many different species of plants and animals on the planet today, and how did humans become so dominant? Scientists have made enormous headway in mapping the evolution of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms as early as 4.1 billion years ago to the huge diversity of organisms that currently roam our planet. The aim of this course is to explore this long and exciting history of life (and death). We will meet many life forms that have long since gone extinct, such as the dinosaurs, and uncover the possible reasons for their demise. As we go, we will learn about the underlying mechanisms that drive the evolutionary process, ultimately generating the diversity that we see today. The final section of the course will focus on human evolution – from our roots in the African plains several million years ago to our recent rise to the top of the food chain. We will address the enormous impact that humans have had on this planet since our arrival, an epoch known as the Anthropocene. We will end by speculating on what is to come – how will we ultimately affect life and the planet? Will our brains get bigger or smaller? Can we control the evolutionary process? Each week, you will attend two 1-period (80 min) lectures and a 2-period lab.