BIO 320 Research topics for presentation

Keep in mind that this research project is intended for students to learn about a specific research topic in comparative vertebrate anatomy that is beyond the scope of the lectures, and to present their findings in a 20 minute seminar to the other students. The goals are thus to research the topic in sufficient depth and breadth to be able to summarize the major research questions and findings, and to convey this summary to your fellow students in an understandable and hopefully interesting way. Check your course guidelines for the exact evaluation criteria.

Please let me know of your topic choice by March 13, and submit an outline of your research topic by April 3.

Outlines are the logical and natural step between doing a lot of reading and thinking, and sitting down to write a research paper or talk. An outline should explicitly state the topic being researched and the specific question(s) being addressed. It should also list in point form the subtopics that will be covered to answer the question(s) being asked. A good outline is a roadmap to your talk or paper; it saves you from getting lost or sidetracked during the writing.

Presentations will be done in the last week of class. Presentations must use some visual aids to illustrate graphical or diagrammatic information, to highlight key points, terms, concepts, etc., and to generally help guide the listener through your talk. If you want a mini-workshop on making a Powerpoint presentation package, let me know by April 9.

Function and evolution

1. Filter feeding by jawed fishes (whale and basking sharks) and mammals (whales) - Jess

2. Cranial kinesis and feeding in snakes - Jill

3. Comparisons of feeding styles in aquatic larval and terrestrial adult life history stages of amphibians

4. Evolution and function of lungs and gas bladders in fish

5. Respiratory adaptations of birds

6. Evolution of gait in running tetrapods

7. Evolution of venom injection - Thant

8. Evolution of bipedalism in tetrapods: basilisk lizard that runs on water

9. Evolution of primate locomotion - knuckle walking to bipedalism

10. Evolution and function of cooling devices in endothermic vertebrates

11. Evolution of endothermy in fishes

12. Evolution and function of electric organs

13. Evolution and function of pineal eyes

14. Evolution of swimming in birds and mammals

15. Evolution of suckling behavior in mammals

16. Evolution of some other specialization of locomotion or feeding in the vertebrate group of your choice

17. Evolution of sonar and echolocation in dolphins or bats - Sean

18. Evolution of the vertebrate auditory system - Sunny

Development and evolution

1. Role of Hox genes in fin and limb development (you should be prepared to understand and explain some developmental genetics for this topic)

2. Development and evolution of teeth

3. Development and evolution of placentas - Sarah T.

4. Development and evolution of anatomical specializations for internal fertilization - Caitlin

5. Development and evolution of the turtle shell

6. Effect of miniaturization on the skeleton and/or neural anatomy.

7. Development and evolution of pigment patterns in salamanders, fish or birds - Lauren

8. Development and evolution of antlers and horns

9. Development and specialization of feathers - the cellular basis and evolution of color pattern in feathers

Paleontology

1. Early evolution of birds and flight - Rebecca

2. Dinosaurs: arguments and evidence for their being warm-blooded versus cold-blooded – Sarah Y.

3. Early evolution of whales and other secondarily aquatic mammals