Comparative
Vertebrate Anatomy
Instructor: Curt Anderson, Ph.D.
Office: LS 331
Research lab: LS 330
Phone: 282-5813
e-mail: andecurt@isu.edu
homepage: www.isu.edu/~andecurt
Office hours: TBA
NOTE! download the entire syllabus and lab manual here
Link to laboratory page
Download
Study Guide for Exam #1
Download
Study Guide for Exam #2
Objectives
To explore the phylogenetic underpinnings
of vertebrates and to develop an appreciation for the comparative
approach
for understanding structure and functional design. This course
will
survey the gross structure of most major vertebrate groups with a focus
on the functional, evolutionary, developmental and physiological
mechanisms
that influence the design of organisms.
Required Texts
Vertebrates; comparative anatomy,
function,
evolution. 2002. Kardong. 3rd edition (second edition is
okay,
too, but the 3rd is better), Harcourt College Publishers. ISBN:
0072909560
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 2002. Kardong and Zalisko. 3rd edition (much better than 2nd edition) ISBN: 0072909579
(used copies may be available. try Half.com or Amazon.com)
Course Policies
Students are expected to attend all lecture
and laboratory sessions. If you have extenuating circumstances
and
must miss, notify me ahead of time in order to schedule a make up exam
(make up exams are generally more difficult). Unexcused absences
will result in a zero for that quiz/examination. Quizzes will
be given weekly in lab and missed quizzes can not be made up.
Throughout the semester, the correct answer to 'will this be on the
test?'
is yes.
Unavoidably, this course is a relatively expensive one. Please see the laboratory page for a list of required equipment in addition to the texts.
A note on dissections: EVERY student MUST participate in the dissection exercises. The specimens we will be viewing come from supply companies that are required by law to ensure that the animals are euthanized in a safe and humane manner. These animals were euthanized for our educational benefit and the proper level of professionalism will be maintained. If you have ethical or moral objections to dissecting animals, you should drop the course (BIOS 324 is the alternate course to fulfill the requirements of the zoology major).
The purpose of the assignment is to:
supplement the material you are learning in lecture and laboratory
force you to discover the primary literature (and where it is in the
library)
pursue a topic in comparative anatomy that is of interest to you
specific requirements:
Choose a topic of interest to you and
relevant
to the topic of comparative anatomy/functional morphology. Using
any literature sources you choose (but at least 5 MUST be from the
primary
literature!), you will summarize the appropriate research in an
8-10
page, double-spaced report. As budding scientists, you will
almost
certainly be writing many more such reports in your future. As
such,
writing, grammar and spelling in addition to content will be taken into
account when considering your grade for the report. Here are some
potential topics to give you an idea of what is expected:
allometry of the vertebrate brain
theories on the evolution of flight
functional anatomy and evolution of the lungs of flying vertebrates
moving on land: optimizing for minimum cost
optimality in the design of bony elements
Grading Procedures
The University has instituted a new grading
policy that includes
the use of a + and - in addition to the
letter grade. The new grading
averages will be as follows:
A
(93.0
- 100%)
A- (89.5 -
92.9%)
B+ (87.0 -
89.4%)
B
(83.0 - 86.9%)
B- (79.5
- 82.9%)
C+ (77.0
- 79.4%)
C
(73.0 - 76.9%)
C- (69.5
- 72.9%)
D+ (67.0 -
69.4%)
D
(63.0 - 66.9%)
D- (59.5
- 62.9%)
F
(< 59.5%)
Your course grade will be based roughly
on:
3 lecture
exams
100 points each
2 lab
exams
100 points each
lab
quizzes
50 points total
written
project
50 points
total
600 points