Postgraduate Course: Molecular Evolution (PGBI11082)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This specialist course builds on lectures in population genetics in PGBI11001 and examines the use of modern molecular genetics methods to study evolution. There is a particular emphasis on applications to study the origins and evolution of human pathogens (bacteria and viruses). |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2013/14 Block 4 (Sem 2), Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
24/02/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| On successfully completing the course, students will have gained an understanding of how molecular evolutionary analysis can be applied to gain insights into the origins and evolution of microbes, including bacteria and viruses. |
Assessment Information
| In course assessment (one essay) (40%) & class test (60%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Session Topic
1 Introduction to Evolutionary Genetics.
2-3 Identifying the effects of natural selection on gene sequences.
4-6 Evolutionary genetics of bacteria. Horizontal gene transfer and the nature of bacterial species. The rates and timescale of bacterial evolution. Codon usage bias. The origins of pathogens, including E.coli and plague bacteria.
7-9 Evolutionary genetics of viruses. The rates and timescale of virus evolution. The origins and evolution of human viruses, including Herpesviruses, AIDS viruses, and Influenza viruses.
10: Conclusions.
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | ME |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Paul Sharp
Tel:
Email: paul.sharp@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Jennifer Morris
Tel: (0131 6)50 5513
Email: jennie.morris@ed.ac.uk |
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