Major Events in Biological Evolution during Earth History
This course focuses on the major events of biological evolution during approximately 3.6 billion years of Earth history. The great events in the history of life that we’ll examine include the origin in the Archean period of the first prokaryotic cells including the familiar bacteria and the weird archaeans who live in environments such as thermal vents; the later rise of the eukaryotes in the Precambrian, whose more complex cells were plants and animals; and the emergence onto the land of the plants and animals in the Paleozoic Era.
We’ll also examine the major extinction events in history and the effect of plate tectonics, climate, and
other influences on evolution. We will also focus on how to track evolutionary change, and discuss the
relatively recent migration of mammals—including the hominids, the family of man.
We’ll also examine the major extinction events in history and the effect of plate tectonics, climate, and
other influences on evolution. We will also focus on how to track evolutionary change, and discuss the
relatively recent migration of mammals—including the hominids, the family of man.
Instructor - Jim Sorauf
JIM SORAUF is professor of geology (emeritus) of Binghamton University (SUNY). He taught geology and
paleontology for thirty-eight years and has taught several OLLI courses since settling in Durham. He is active in
research and publication on fossil corals.
paleontology for thirty-eight years and has taught several OLLI courses since settling in Durham. He is active in
research and publication on fossil corals.
Textbook
No text book is required. Your instructor will present the material and distribute relevant material through this web site. The presentation material shown in class will not be on this web site because of copyright protection. Instead, there will be material related to the topics presented in class.
Schedule for Winter 2014
Click HERE to view a Schedule of classes.