Course content

The course covers evolution from the earliest life on Earth to modern life forms. Only fragments of life in earlier times are known, and we use fossils to best document the major stages in the evolution of life. Key themes are the transition from single-celled to multi-cellular life, the establishing of life on land, the main transitions within the vertebrates, the plants changing the landscape, species extinction and formation, and humankind’s earliest relatives. Studies of unique fossil deposits (lagerst?tten) and fossils from the Natural History Museum’s collections form the basis of the subject. The fossilisation processes that are reviewed require knowledge within geology and biology.

Lagerst?tten are sedimentary deposits that contain extraordinary fossils. These give unique possibilities to study both the environment and the biota connected to these extraordinary occurrences. We use such fossils during the course to develop an understanding of evolutionary lineages and fossilisation processes taking place over millions of years.

Learning outcome

After taking this?course, you will be able to

  • describe the e