Entry requirements

Molecular Biotechnology - Starting Course or Bioinformatics - Starting Course

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• describe how evolutionary processes at genome level, such as substitutions, duplications, deletions, gene transfers and sexual recombination, create variation within populations
• describe how evolutionary mechanisms such as genetic drift and selection influence the variation in different populations
• discuss organisms' genetics and function in relation to physical, environmental and population factors
• interpret phylogeny
• use biological knowledge when evaluating bioinformatic methods
• discuss social, ethical and scientific aspects of gene-modified organisms

Content

Population genetics and evolution theory; selection, adaptation, genetic drift, genetic flow, macroevolution. Phylogeny as a tool to illustrate and analyse evolution. Demonstrations in the field. Bioinformatic methods for the analysis of evolutionary processes. Seminar about gene-modified organisms.

Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of lectures and demonstrations, seminars and computer exercises.

Assessment

Written examination (3 credits), computer exercises and seminar (2 credits).