Dr. Steven M. Carr
Department of Biology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's NL A1B 3X9,
e-mail: scarr@mun.ca
Bio4270 Course Outline for Fall 2026 (updated 2026 Sept 10)
Required Text: R Hopkins (2026). A History of Biology. [available through Amazon as paperback or e-text]
Recommended Texts:
WF Bynum, EJ Browne, R Porter (1981). Dictionary of the History of Science. Princeton.
M Morange (TL Fagan & JM, translators) (2021). A History of Biology. Princeton. [Available through Amazon and (or) online]
Resource List (updated 2026 Sept 10)
Names in History of Biology (.zip file) (updated 2026 Aug 19)
Project Presentation suggestions & instructions (updated 2026 Aug 19)
Other web pages of interest:
Genetic Research in my lab
Bio2900 (Principles of Systematics & Evolution)
Bio4241 (Advanced Genetics)
Bio4250 (Evolutionary_Genetics)
Click here to e-mail me questions, comments, or suggestions.
Please include '4270' in the subject line
Labs: Fri 1400 - 1700 CSF-3250
Office Hours: TuTh 1015 - 1200 CSF-4342
Course lecture notes:
These notes are revised before & after lectures; check frequently for revisions.
| Week |
Lecture Topic |
Lectures Tu, Th |
Lab Topic |
Lab 2026 M |
| 1 |
Introduction &
Natural
History in the Ancient World |
Th,
Sept 10 |
||
| 2 |
Evolutionary
Biology: Darwin's
Century |
Sept 15, 17 |
"The Voyage
of Charles Darwin" (1978)
Parts
1 & 2
(notes) |
Sept 14 |
| 3 |
Evolution
& Genetics: Mendel's Century |
Sept 22, 24 | "The Voyage of Charles Darwin" (1978) Parts 3 & 4 (notes) | Sept 21 |
| 4 |
History of
Classical Genetics |
Sept 29,
Oct 01 |
"The Voyage of Charles Darwin" (1978) Parts 5, 6 & 7 (notes) | Sept 28 |
| 5 |
History of DNA & Molecular Biology | Oct 06, 08 |
"DNA: Secret
of Photo 51" (notes) |
Oct 05 |
| 6 |
Fall Break | Oct 12 & 13 |
No
Lab or Lecture |
|
| 6 Th |
Midterm Exam |
Th, Oct 15 |
Sample Midterm exam
questions |
|
| 7 |
History of Developmental Biology: Ex Omnia Ovum | Oct 20, 22 |
"Great Scientists Speak Again:" Gregor Mendel (notes) & Hans Spemann (notes) | Oct 19 |
| 8 |
History of
Cell Biology: Omnis cellula e cellula |
Oct 27, 29 |
"The Story of Louis Pasteur" (1936) (notes) [alternative history] Louis Pasteur | Oct 26 |
| 9 |
History
of Sex Determination |
Nov 03, 05 | "Great Scientists
Speak Again": William Harvey [notes],
William Beaumont [notes] |
Nov 02 |
| 10 |
Genetics in Soviet Russia: the Lysenko Affair | Nov 10, 12 | Review by Borinskaya et al. (2019) |
Nov 09 |
| 11 |
Project Presentations (Example) | Nov 17, 19 | "The Andromeda Strain" (1971) (notes) | Nov 16 |
| 12 |
Project Presentation (cont'd); Guide
to PPT presentations |
Nov 24, 26 |
"GATTACA" (1997) | Nov 23 |
| 13 |
Philosophy of Science: Popper, Kuhn, et al. | Dec 01, 03 |
"Galileo" (1974) [Youtube] [notes] | Nov 30 |
| No lectures |
TBD |
Dec 08 |
||
| Final Exam |
TBA |
Sample
Final Exam questions |
> Dec
10 |
|
| Alternative Lectures: |
> Dec 10 | |||
| Extraordinary
Scientific Delusions .... |
||||
| History of
Paleontology: Bones & Dynamite |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS - sources for images
This page was first published on
Copyright statement:
The lectures, displays, and all other material delivered or
provided in Biol4270 - History of Biology © Steven M Carr, including
any visual, audio, or AI-assisted recording thereof, are
subject to copyright owned by Steven M Carr. It is
prohibited to record, copy or share by any means, in
any format, openly or surreptitiously, in whole or in part,
any of the lectures or materials provided or published in
any form during or from this course, without
express written permission from Steven M Car.