Principles of Paleontology - G304

Topics for Research Papers

These are the topics selected for this semester.  You must use primary literature sources in preparing your report; the librarians will assist you, if needed. See the announcement in Oncourse for access to online resources during the month of March.

1.   The Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Debate –

2.   The Tommotian Fauna -

3.   Cambrian Explosion of Multicellular Life -

4.   The Organisms and Depositional Environments of the Burgess Shale -

5.   Paleobiology and Evolution of Archaeocyathids -

6.   Calculating Rates of Evolution For Fossil Organisms -

7.   The Origin and Early Evolution of Birds –

8.   The Preservation of Organisms in Amber –

9.   The Early Evolution of Animal Life on Land -

10. The Fossils and Depositional Environment of Solnhoffen Limestone -

11. The Early Evolution of Angiosperms –

12. Human Origins - DNA Studies -