Mechanisms of evolution I 1400-217ME1
Mechanisms of evolution on the level of sequences, genes, and genomes.
• theoretical basis of evolution in information theoryi;
• elements of population genetics - allele changes due to selection and drift, neutral evolution;
• origins and early stages of evolution of genetic information - from the first replicators to the cells;
• evolution of nucleotide and peptide sequences, substitution models, rate of evolutionary change, neutral molecular evolution and the molecular clock;
• origin of the eukaryotic cells, the endosymbiotic theory;
• genome evolution - duplication of genes and genomes, evolution of gene families, horizontal gene transfer, co-evolution of the nuclear and organellar genomes;
• phylogenetics and phylogenomics - principles and applications;
• fundamentals of evolution and development - allometry, evolution of body plans, deep homology;
• evolution of developmental control in plants and animals;
• evolution of complexity - mathematical models and empirical data, origin of evolutionary novelties - cooptation and functional change, the limits of complexity;
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE
- knows and understands the complexity of evolution of genes and genomes of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes that requires the interdisciplinary approach based on empirical data from genetics, genomics, and organismal biology (K_W01)
- knows and understands the complex problems of evolution at the level of populations that require the application of mathematical models of evolution at the population level (K_W02)
- knows and understands the phylogenetic relationships between all living organisms as the consequence of evolution from the last common ancestor. Knows the advanced phylogenetic methodology for inferring the relationships between organisms (K_W07)
ABILITIES
- applies methods and techniques appropriate for the study of evolution at the level of populations, genes, and genomes (K_U01)
- is able to critically analyse and select information pertaining to the modern evolutionary theory, in particular form media and electronic sources (K_U04)
SOCIAL AWARENESS
- is ready to educate the society in knowledge-based approaches to the evolutionary theory and its importance in modern biology (K_K02)
- communicates the most recent advances of evolutionary biology and its importance in the study of the diversity of life on Earth (K_K03)
Assessment criteria
written exam
Practical placement
n.a.
Bibliography
1) DL Hartl, AG Clark, Principles of population genetics, Oxford University Press, 2006
2) D Futuyma, Evolution, Sinauer, 2013
3) JC Herron, S Freeman, Evolutionary analysis, Pearson 2021
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: