1. Early earth and the origin of life
1.1 Major events in the history of life: a preview
1.2 The origin of life
1.2.1 Theory of special creation
1.2.2 Theory of spontaneous generation
1.2.3 Theory of biogenesis
1.3 Primitive environment and chemical evolution
1.3.1 Modern theory or Naturalistic theory of origin of life
1.3.2 Formation of Earth
1.3.3 Synthesis of simple organic compounds
1.3.4 Synthesis of organic monomers
1.3.5 Synthesis of organic polymers
1.3.6 Aggregation of organic polymers
1.4 RNA may have been the first genetic material
1.5 Controversy about the origin of life
2. Evolutionary theories and evidences in favour of evolution
2.1 Lamarckism
2.1.1 Main postulates of Lamarckism
2.1.2 Criticism
2.2 Darwinism
2.2.1 Main postulates of Darwinism
2.2.2 Artificial selection
2.2.3 Sexual selection
2.2.4 Critics of Darwinism
2.3 The Modern synthesis
2.4 Evidences in favour of evolution
2.4.1 On small scale: Natural selection provides evidence of evolution
2.4.1.1. The evolution of insecticide-resistant insects
2.4.1.2 The evolution of drug-resistant HIV
2.4.2 Evidences of large scale evolutionary changes
2.4.2.1 Evidences from Biogeography
2.4.2.2 Evidences from Fossils
2.4.2.3 Geological time scale
2.4.2.4 Evidences from comparative anatomy
2.4.2.5 Evidences from embryology
2.4.2.6 Evidences from Biochemistry and molecular biology
3. The Mechanism of evolution
3.1 The foundation of genetics
3.1.1 Mendel’s Experiments and the laws of inheritence
3.1.2 Monohybrid cross
3.1.3 Dihybrid cross
3.1.4 Some Exception to Mendal’s Laws
3.2 Population genetics
3.2.1 Integration of Darwinian selection and Mendelian inheritance to give rise modern evolutionary theory
3.2.2 Genetic structure of a population
3.2.3 Hardy-Weinberg theorem for non evolving populations
3.2.4 Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for two loci
3.2.5 Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for multi loci
3.2.6 Conditions required to maintain Hardy Weinberg equilibrium
3.3 Microevolution and its causes
3.3.1 Genetic drift
3.3.2 Gene flow
3.3.3 Mutation
3.3.4 Non random mating
3.3.5 Natural selection
3.4 Macroevolution
3.4.1 Mammal’s evolution from reptilian ancestors: a closer look
3.5 Extinction and Radiations
3.5.1 Cambrian explosion: One of the most important adaptive radiations in the history of life.
3.5.2 Mass extinctions
3.5.2.1 Permian extinction
3.5.2.2 Extinction of dinosaurs (The Cretaceous extinction)
3.5.2.3 Sixth mass extinction
3.6 Coevolution
3.6.1 Insect-plant coevolution
3.7 Adaptation and Natural selection
3.7.1 Adaptation
3.7.2 Types of adaptation
3.7.3 Coadaptation
3.8 Natural selection as the mechanism of adaptive evolution
3.8.1 Concept of fitness
3.8.2 The effect of selection on a varying characteristic can be stabilizing, directional, or diversifying
4. The Origin of species
4.1 Species concept
4.1.1The biological species concept
4.1.2 Recognition species concept
4.1.3 The phenetic species concept
4.1.4 The ecological species concept
4.2 Reproductive isolation barriers
4.2.1 Prezygotic Barriers
4.2.2 Postzygotic Barriers
4.3 Modes of speciation
4.3.1 Geographical barriers leading to Allopatric speciation
4.3.2 Adaptive radiation on island chains
4.3.3 Parapatric speciation
4.3.4 Sympatric speciation
4.4 Factors facilitating speciation
4.5 How much genetic change is required for speciation?
4.5.1 Punctuated equilibrium model
4.5.2 Phyletic gradualism
4.6 Polymophism
4.6.1 Balanced polymorphism
5. Molecular evolution and Phylogenies
5.1 Molecular Evolution
5.1.1 Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution
5.1.2 The Evolution of Macromolecules
5.1.3 Molecular evolution is driven by changes in nucleotide
5.1.4 Many mutations may be selectively neutral
5.1.5 Determining and Comparing the Structure of Macromolecules
5.2 Changes in macromolecules can serve as molecular clocks
5.3 Molecular Systematics and phylogenies
5.3.1 Homologous traits are inherited from a common ancestor
5.3.2 Identifying ancestral traits is sometimes difficult
5.4 Steps in Reconstructing Phylogenies
5.4.1 Morphological and developmental traits are used in reconstructing phylogenies
5.4.2 Molecular traits are also useful in reconstructing phylogenies
5.4.3 Reconstructing a Simple Phylogeny
5.4.4 Systematists use the parsimony principle when reconstructing phylogenies
5.5 Biological Classification and Evolutionary Relationships
5.5.1 Current biological classifications reflect evolutionary relationships
5.6 Phylogenetic Trees Have Many Uses
5.6.1 How many times has a trait evolved?
5.6.2 When did lineages split?
5.7 Genomes and Their Evolution
5.7.1 Proteins Acquire New Functions
5.7.2 The Evolution of Genome Size
5.7.3 Gene duplication can increase genome size and complexity
5.8 The Uses of Molecular Genomic Information
5.8.1 Molecular information is used to reconstruct phylogenies
5.8.2 Molecular data are used to determine the phylogenetic histories of genes
5.8.3 Molecular information provides new ways to combat diseases
6. Vertebrate evolution and diversity
6.1 Invertebrate Chordates and the origin of vertebrates
6.1.1 Four anatomical features characterize phylum Chordata
6.1.2 Invertebrate chordates provides clues to the origin of vertebrates
6.2 Introduction to the Vertebrates
6.2.1 Characteristics of Subphylum Vertebrates
6.2.2 Overview of vertebrate diversity
6.3 Superclass Agnatha: Jawless Vertebrates
6.3.1 Lampreys and hagfish are the only extant agnathans
6.4 Superclass Gnathostomata I: The Fishes
6.4.1 Evolution of vertebrate jaws from skeleton support of the pharyngeal slits
6.4.2 Class Chondrichthyes: A cartilaginous endoskeleton
6.4.3 Class Osteichthyes: A bony endoskeleton
6.5 Superclass Gnathostomata II: The Tetrapods
6.5.1 Amphibians are the oldest class of tetrapods
6.5.2 Evolution of the amniotic egg expanded the success of vertebrates on land.
6.5.3 Reptilian evolution
6.5.4 Evolution of Birds
6.5.5 Mammalian evolution
6.6 Primates and the evolution of Homo sapiens
6.6.1 Primate evolution provides a context for understanding human origins
6.6.2 Humanity: a very young twig on the vertebrate tree
6.6.3 Four main classes of change occurred during hominin evolution
6.6.4 Occurrence of hominids to be classified as genus Homo
6.6.5 The Emergence of anatomically modern humans: Homo sapiens
6.7 Cultural Evolution
7. Origin and Evolution of Angiosperms
7.1 Introduction: An Overview of evolution of land plants
7.2 Fossil evidences of Angiosperms
7.2.1 The Koonwara Angiosperm
7.2.2 Features of other fossil flowers
7.3 The origin and radiation of Angiosperms
7.3.1 Time period of Angiosperms evolution
7.3.2 Probable site of Angiosperms evolution
7.3.3 Causes of Angiosperms evolution and diversification
7.4 Evolutionary transformation of a Gymnosperm into a flowering plant
7.5 Angiosperm Phylogeny
7.5.1 The basal angiosperms
