EFB 409/609: "Molecular Basis of Evolution"

Instructor: Dr. Annette Kretzer

Two hours of lecture and one hour of paper discussion. The major processes of evolution (basis of genetic variation, selection and genetic drift) are discussed in a molecular-level context. Coverage ranges from changes to genic and nongenic regions of the genome to the evolution of entire genomes. Methods used to study molecular evolution and to reconstruct phylogenies are described and demonstrated. Spring.

Prerequisites: EFB 307, EFB 308, EFB 325.

Note: Credit will not be granted for both EFB 409 and EFB 609.

Attention: EFB 409/609 is not offered in the spring semesters of 2008 or 2009. Instead, 'Introduction to Molecular Ecology' is offered in those years. Molecular Basis of Evolution and Introduction to Molecular Ecology will be on biannual rotations after that. Check time schedule of classes for current offerings.

2007 Syllabus

• [PDF]*

2007 Tentative Schedule

• M Jan. 15: MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
• W Jan. 17: Organizational Meeting
• F Jan. 19: PCR [PDF]*

• M Jan. 22: The Basis of Genetic Variation: Mutation, Duplication, Transposition [PDF]*
• W Jan. 24: The Basis of Genetic Variation: Recombination [PDF]*
• F Jan. 26: Redfield et al. (2001) [PDF]*

• M Jan. 29: Dynamics of Alleles in Populations: Genetic Drift and Gene Flow [PDF]*
• W Jan. 31: Dynamics of Alleles in Populations: Selection [PDF]*
• F Feb. 2: Surridge et al. (2003) [PDF]*

• M Feb. 5: Functional Constraints: Genes and Genetic Codes [PDF]*
• W Feb. 7: Functional Constraints: Patterns of Nucleotide Substitution [PDF]*
• F Feb. 9: Gu et al. (2003) [PDF]*

• M Feb. 12: Nongenic DNA: C-Value Paradox and Repetitive DNA [PDF]*
• W Feb. 14: Junk or not (Independent Reading)
• F Feb. 16: Kondrashov, 2005 [PDF]*; Check, 2006 [PDF]*

• M Feb. 19: 1ST TEST
• W Feb. 21: Nongenic DNA: Mobile Elements [PDF]*
• F Feb. 23: Kalendar et al. (2000) [PDF]*

• M Feb. 26: Molecular Markers: Single-locus, Co-dominant [PDF]*
• W Feb. 28: Molecular Markers: Multi-locus, Dominant [PDF]*
• F Mar. 2: Kretzer et al. (2004) [PDF]*

• M Mar. 5: Ribosomal RNA Genes and Concerted Evolution [PDF]*
• W Mar. 7: Tree of Life and Origin of Organelles [PDF]*
• F Mar. 9: Hillis et al. (1991) [PDF]*

• M Mar. 12: SPRING BREAK
• W Mar. 14: SPRING BREAK
• F Mar. 16: SPRING BREAK

• M Mar. 19: Non-cultivated Bacteria I [PDF]*
• W Mar. 21: Non-cultivated Bacteria II [no new notes]
• F Mar. 24: Morris et al. (2002) [PDF]*

• M Mar. 26: Phylogenetics: Introduction and Definitions [PDF]*
• W Mar. 28: 2ND TEST
• F Mar. 30: Frigaard et al. (2006) [PDF]*

• M Apr. 2: Phylogenetics: Homology and Sequence Alignment [PDF]*
• W Apr. 4: Phylogenetics: Character-based Phylogenetic Methods [PDF]
• F Apr. 6: EASTER BREAK

• M Apr. 9: Phylogenetics: Distance-based Phylogenetic Methods [PDF]*
• W Apr. 11: Phylogenetics: Rooting, Consensus, and Branch Support [PDF]*
• F Apr. 13: Morrison & Ellis (1997) [PDF]*

• M Apr. 16: Phylogeography I [PDF]*
• W Apr. 18: Phylogeography II [PDF]*
• F Apr. 20: Hrbek et al. (2005) [PDF]*

• M Apr. 23: Caccone et al. (1999) [PDF]*
• W Apr. 25: 3RD TEST
• F Apr. 27: Independent Reading [TBA]

• M Apr. 30: Conclusions

*Sorry, all PDF files are accessible from campus only.