Ge 11b. Introduction to Earth and Planetary Sciences: Earth and the Biosphere. 9 units (3-3-3); second term. Prerequisite: Ch 1 a. Systematic analysis of the origin and evolution of life in the solar system, and its impact on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and climate of Earth. Archean surface environments and production of oxygen. Bacterial evolution, photosynthesis, genes as fossils. Banded iron stones, algal mats, stromatolites, global glaciation, and molecular evolution. Biological fractionation of stable isotopes. Numerical calibration of the geological timescale, the Cambrian evolutionary explosion, mass extinction events, and human evolution. The course usually includes one major field trip, and laboratory studies of fossils, Precambrian rocks, and geological processes.
Ge 136 abc. Regional Field Geology of the Southwestern United States. 3 units (1-0-2); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: Ge 11 ab or Ge 101, or instructor’s permission. Includes approximately three days of weekend field trips into areas displaying highly varied geology. Each student is assigned the major responsibility of being the resident expert on a pertinent subject for each trip. Graded pass/fail.
Ge 174. Geobiological Constraints on Earth History. 9 units (3-1-5); second term. Prerequisite: instructor’s permission. Systematic analysis of the origin and evolution of life in the solar system as read through the geological record. Effects of global glaciations, volcanism, and impact processes on the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and climate of Earth. Magnetofossils, genes as fossils, banded iron stones, algal mats, stromatolites, global glaciation, mass extinction events, the Cambrian Explosion, human and molecular evolution. The course usually includes one or two major field trips, in which each student is assigned the responsibility of being the resident expert on a pertinent subject for each trip.
Ge/Bi 244. Paleobiology Seminar. 5 units (3-0-2); third term. Critical reviews and discussion of classic investigations and current research in paleoecology, evolution, and biogeochemistry.
Last updated: December 17, 2007 10:42
