Subject Code : SLE370
Assignment Task

 

Background: It is often suggested that evolution by natural selection is hard (or even impossible) to demonstrate because you can’t use a time machine and observe it
occurring. However, as you will have learnt early in the unit (particularly in week 2), there are a range of different methods that can be used to study evolution by natural
selection. Some of them demonstrate it directly, some indirectly (more like circumstantial evidence). Here you will examine a recent evolutionary study and identify the approaches used in the study to demonstrate evolution by natural selection.

Brief: You will choose from one of four recent papers as the basis for your assignment. You will then answer a series of questions, which will require you to:

1) correctly identify the adaptive hypothesis in the study (i.e. what is being selected for, and what is driving that selection)
2) Recognise the methods used to demonstrate natural selection (see week 2 lecture) being employed to test the hypothesis, and describe how the study is using those methods.
3) Identify whether evolution by natural selection has been directly or indirectly shown by the study
4) Propose a follow-up study which might help demonstrate evolution more directly, or identify the strength of selection
5) Use the literature to find another study addressing the same question that complements the present study and describe how it does this.

Purpose of this assignment: This assignment is designed to assess your capacity to: 1) correctly identify and summarise how evolution is demonstrated through a piece of research; 2) think critically about how future research might demonstrate further that evolution by natural selection is taking place 3) utilize the scientific literature sources to identify similar research on the same topic; and 4) communicate through clear writing and referencing in an appropriate scientifically professional style. As such the assignment relates directly to the Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes of demonstrating field-specific knowledge of issues concerning evolutionary biology as gained through reading of the literature, your capacity for critical analysis, and your skills of written communication. All three are essential elements for being a scientist, and are especially valuable for evolutionary biologists.

Suggested approach:
1. Read the paper and identify what the main adaptive hypothesis is. By this I mean you should be able to identify what the trait or character is that under selection,
and the hypothesis that underlies why it is the way it is. What is the proposed selective advantage for why the trait exists. This should be reasonably clear from the abstract. Note that the papers may actually address several possible hypotheses, but typically there will be a main hypothesis that is the key ‘message’ of the paper, and this is the one you should focus on.

2. Work out the method used to test the hypothesis. You should be able to categorise this in relation to the ‘methods used to test natural selection’ which will be discussed in the class in week 2, and additionally the tutorials in weeks 1 and 2 will be helpful.

 

 

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  • Uploaded By : Brett
  • Posted on : April 24th, 2019
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