This course provides an opportunity for participants to peruse provocative (or seminal) works in and, thereby, garner an historical and philosophical appreciation for Evolutionary Biology. Readings usually will comprise 12 among the most-original and most-influential papers in the discipline but, depending on participants' interests, instead could comprise a classic monograph ( e. g., The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection, by Fisher; Genetics and the Origin of Species, by Dobzhansky; The Causes of Evolution, by Haldane; Evolution: The Modern Synthesis, by Huxley; Systematics and the Origin of Species, by Mayr; Tempo and Mode in Evolution, by Simpson; Variation and Evolution in Plants, by Stebbins; or Evolution and the Genetics of Populations, by Wright), recent magnum opus ( e. g., The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, by Gould), relatively new interdisciplinary subject ( e. g., Evolutionary Developmental Biology, by Hall), or textbook ( e. g., a reference for univariate statistics, such as Biometry, by Sokal and Rohlf, examined critically from a Bayesian inference perspective). Participants will compose equally original and influential (or quintessential) manuscripts that are suitable for publication and describe these works by delivering brief conference-style seminars, for evaluation.
Paricipants' interests, preferences, and desires will be considered in determining course content, format, and evaluation.
To obtain additional information, please feel welcome to contact Jon Stone via email: jstoner@mcmaster.ca.