Molecular Evolution
Understanding the theoretical concepts of molecular evolution and their application to solve biological questions.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Explain the fundamental principles of molecular evolution, including mutation, selection, drift, and speciation, and how these processes shape genetic diversity.
Analyze genetic sequences to identify mutations and infer their effects on protein structure and function.
Use bioinformatics tools for gene annotation, orthology detection, and phylogenetic tree construction.
Apply population genetics models to interpret evolutionary dynamics at the molecular level.
Evaluate genomic and transcriptomic data using high-throughput sequencing techniques and RNAseq analysis.
Interpret environmental and ancient DNA data to address evolutionary questions in ecology, conservation, and paleogenomics.
Recent advances in technology and software for analysis of genetic sequences have rapidly expanded our understanding of the process of evolution at the molecular level. Learn about the basic concepts of molecular evolution, and how they contribute to evolution on larger scales. Use modern tools for gene sequencing to determine changes in genes and their resulting protein changes, and discuss the impact of these on the biology of organisms. Learn how to use a number of widely-used bioinformatics tools for gene annotation, orthology, constructing phylogenetic trees, and genomics and proteomics. Apply these tools to answer important questions in biology such as the evolution of species. Explore the use of modern genetic sampling and sequencing tools and techniques in the analysis of environmental and ancient DNA.
1. DNA, RNA and protein
2. Replication and mutation
3. Building a genome
4. Gene
5. Selection
6. Drift and population genetics
7. Evolution of species
8. Using DNA to build phylogenies
9. Putting dates on trees
10.High throughput sequencing: the rise of genomics and transcriptomics
11.Working with genome-scale data: Annotation, gene orthology, RNAseq…
12.Genomics of symbiosis
13.Amplicon metagenomics and environmental DNA
14.Ancient DNA and protein
1/4 participation, 1/4 presentation, 1/2 homework and essay.
Assumes general knowledge in biology
An Introduction to Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetics, by Lindell Bromham (2015) Oxford University Press