Molecular Evolution

AY2014/2015 Semester 1

This course introduces you to basic principles and concepts of the theory of molecular evolution. Topics will include the chemical theories of Origin of Life, evolution of the Genetic Code, natural selection and other forces driving evolution, speciation, evolutionary genetics, phylogeny, hominid evolution, and major lines of evidence supporting the theory of evolution. In the course we survey recent breakthrough discoveries in the field of molecular evolution such as RNA and protein replicators, human genome projects, Arsenic DNA utilising bacteria, cloning of extinct animals, Neanderthal?s genome sequencing and evidence of recent accelerated human evolution. You will be able to use quantitative methods of sequence analysis and 3D structure analysis to compare evolutionary relationships between species or individual genes, proteins or biological mechanisms. In this course you will acquire practical methods of evolutionary genetics and will be able to identify, analyse and compare genes and phylogenetically date the corresponding species. They will quantitatively analyse differences and similarities in genetic makeup of humans, Neanderthals and Chimps. By doing the small group project, they gain practical experience in working with phylogenetic trees and genetic dating of species. You will be introduced to the first steps in the appearance of the modern life forms on the face of the Earth: how the membranes were created, the purpose of membranes, and how they later resulted in the creation of cells and organelles. Further, the early life forms created under extreme conditions will be discussed and finally how the life forms changed based on the availability of oxygen. In addition, you will be introduced to the idea of natural selection and what it actually means, and whether the evolution is still going on. The Out-of-the-box session will work on the evolutionary concepts from a scientist?s point of view, such as whether there are other life forms we don?t know of, when did the viruses appeared, etc. Lectures will be highly interactive and lead by direct discussions with and among the students. In addition, you will be introduced to the evidence for a common genetic toolkit directing the development of all animals. By ?genetic toolkit?, we mean a small set of genes encoding transcription factors and signalling proteins that have been inherited by all animals and which direct similar developmental processes across phyla. You will then assess the experimental findings which indicate that the molecular functions of proteins encoded by the genetic toolkit have not changed significantly in evolution. Rather, changes in the regulatory cis-acting elements (enhancers) directing gene expression are the driving force behind the diversity of animal morphologies. These principles will be exemplified through the study of how the dorso-ventral and antero-posterior axes are established in insects and vertebrates, and by special consideration of the transcriptional control of eye and limb development in these two groups.