MASC510 MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
| Course Code: | 9500510 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Graduate School of Marine Sciences |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. ARZU KARAHAN |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the students are expected to
- understand the general concepts used in evolutionary modeling (e.g., genetic drift, selection, adaptation, etc.),
- understand the general concept of evolution
- understand the evolution at the molecular level
Course Content
The main goal of this course is to give an introduction to theory and algorithms in the field of molecular evolution. Course will cover basic evolutionary theory (common descent, natural selection, genetic drift, models of growth and selection), and the main types of algorithms used for constructing and analysing phylogenetic trees (parsimony, distance based methods, maximum likelihood methods, and Bayesian inference). The role of statistical modelling in science more generally will be discussed also. The course will consist of lectures, computer exercises, and home works. The student will acquire practical experience in the use of a range of computational methods by analysing sequences from the scientific literature.
Course Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding of the molecular level of evolution