BIOMG 4840 - Molecular Evolution

(PBS)

Spring. 3 credits.

Prerequisite: BIOMG 2800.

D. Barbash.

Explores the various processes by which DNA and protein sequences of individual genes and whole genomes evolve over time, and how this evolution at the molecular level relates to changes in organismal phenotypes that have occurred over time scales ranging from thousands to billions of years. After developing basic principles the course discusses the evolution and organization of genomes from microbes to higher eukaryotes, including humans, and the relationship between molecular evolution at the sequence level and the evolution of developmental pathways and systems.

Outcome 1: To understand how the study of variation and divergence of DNA sequence data is useful for understanding the process of evolution, including evolutionary relationships among organisms, the types of evolutionary forces that lead to different patterns of sequence variation, and the molecular mechanisms that are important for generating phenotypic variation.

Outcome 2: To develop an appreciation for how molecular evolutionary techniques are essential for investigating and interpreting genome-scale experimental and computational data sets.

Outcome 3: To develop a basic understanding of how quantitative methods are used to estimate DNA sequence divergence.

Outcome 4: To develop the ability to interpret phylogenetic trees derived from DNA sequence data, and to have a basic understanding of how such trees are generated.

Outcome 5: To develop the ability and confidence to learn from and critically evaluate the primary scientific literature.