Paleontology: History of Life (formerly GEOL 3323)

3 credit hours · Undergraduate

An account of the 3800 million-year history of life on Earth, including theories of the origin of life, and modes of preservation of organisms as fossils, and the practical use of fossils for geological age, paleogeographic, and paleoenvironment determinations. The course covers the expression of biological evolution in the fossil record, and the major patterns and crises in the history of life, such as mass extinctions. Although the main focus is on the paleontology of invertebrate macrofossils, there will be some coverage of fossil plants, vertebrates, and microfossils. Classes 3 hrs. and lab 3 hrs. a week.