Course Description
The genome is each organism's complex digital set of instructions for making a phenotype. This course places genomics in an explicit evolutionary context. We will approach fundamental questions in evolutionary biology with the new tools of genomics.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to produce an integrated,
synthetic and critical review of primary research that is
extended and applied towards a topic in evolutionary genomics.
Athena Title
Evolutionary Genomics
Prerequisite
GENE 3000-3000D or GENE 3000H or GENE 3200-3200D or GENE 3200H
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
1. Provide a background in evolutionary biology so that students can appreciate the evolutionary context of genomics. 2. Provide access to the primary literature on evolution and genomics. 3. Become familiar with genomic approaches to fundamental questions in evolution. 4. Become critical of the strengths and limitations of genomic approaches in evolution.
Topical Outline
1. Primer of evolutionary biology (mutation, selection, drift, inbreeding, migration) 2. The origin of new genes 3. Lateral gene transfer 4. Molecular adaptation and genetic networks 5. Expression profiling 6. How gene expression evolves 7 Developmental regulatory networks & canalization – sea urchin 8. Developmental regulatory networks & canalization – fly 9. Robustness of networks 10.Population genomics and genomic resequencing 11.Transposable elements and amplification 12.Network motifs and macroevolution 13.Genome comparisons & comparative genomics 14.Evolution of microbial communities & metagenomics