Vertebrate Structure and Function

This course offers an integrative exploration of vertebrate origin, evolution, diversity, and adaptive radiation, with a primary focus on understanding the relationship between an animal's form and its function. By examining the evolutionary ancestral build plans, students learn how morphology reveals insights into the adaptations and constraints shaping vertebrate diversity. Some basic biomechanics is introduced as a tool to uncover the physical constraints that influence structural evolution, helping students interpret the links between form and function within evolutionary contexts.

Key topics---such as comparing morphology at the organismal, organ, and tissue levels---are covered in lectures based on textbooks and research papers including the most current literature on these topics. Students engage in small group discussions guided by targeted questions, encouraging in-depth exploration of these subjects.

Laboratory sessions give a comprehensive view of vertebrate structural biology, training students to recognize connections among structure, function, behavior, and environment. During one module (spanning seven half-days), students study major body plans through dissection. Another module (four half-days) focuses on microscopic anatomy and its functional implications, bridging macroscopic and microscopic perspectives.

In the final segment, students collaborate in small groups on mini-research projects. After conducting individual measurements and dissecting a chosen bird, each group investigates a different aspect of avian functional morphology, such as wing and muscle design and adaptations for flight. Each group will present their findings, followed by group discussions to analyze and integrate the research results. An optional excursion to a museum or zoo is arranged to complement the learning experience.

• Identify synapomorphic traits across different vertebrate groups, recognizing the evolutionary relationships between them

• Recognize and interpret morphological tissues and structures in animal specimens and be able to accurately explain their functions and evolutionary and ontogenetic origin

• Explain theories on vertebrate origins and the common ancestry among vertebrate groups

• Compare evolutionary developments in the structural blueprints of various vertebrate species, relating these adaptations to specific functional needs

• Use physical laws - such as forces, diffusion, and scaling - to analyse the adaptations seen in the vertebrate body plan

• Assess an animal’s functional morphology by evaluating its behavior and ecological niche, connecting form and function to environmental demands

• Performance (10%) Short closed questions test and individual participation in discussion group. Students can only retake these tests and obtain a new individual participation mark if they join all the discussions in a next year.
• Assignment oral presentation (10%) On the mini research project of the art of bird flying. Students can retake this mini research project in the next year.
• Written test with open and closed questions (50%) Final exam on the subject of comparative functional morphology, basic biomechanics, and evolution of vertebrates. Students can retake this exam during the re-sit.
• Written test with closed questions (30%) Practical exam on the laboratory exercises (histology and morphology). Students can retake this exam during the resit, but only after communication with the coordinator. Please note that the practical exam will be at the same time during the re-sit as the final exam and it is not possible to retake both exams at the same time.

ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety EZO10306/EZO10806 Zoology (previously Human and Animal Biology I)
HAP20306 Human and Animal Physiology (previously Human and Animal Biology, part II)

• - Reader: 'Vertebrate Structure and Function' (available as PDF on BrightSpace) - Kardong Kenneth V. (2019) Vertebrates, Comparative Anatomy, Function and Evolution 8th ed. McGrawHill - Additional: Lecture hand-outs and information on Brightspace