Molecular Evolution

3 Credits

This course will focus on evolution at the level of individual genes, proteins, and genomes, alternating between lecture and discussion of papers from the recent primary literature. Topics include pathways for adaptive evolution, directionality in evolution, epistasis, evolvability, genome rearrangements and speciation, gene duplication, and evolutionary dynamics. We will draw on examples of molecular evolution in nature, laboratory model systems, and human pathogens. Prerequisites: BIOS 317 or BIOS 345 Can be taken Concurrently: BIOS 317 , BIOS 345 Attribute/Distribution: NS