? Credit Points : 10  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : BIO-4-GEevolgen

The elective will cover in depth four aspects of the evolution of genome composition and organisation. The course will deal with how to relate genomic data to evolutionary processes that may underlie observed patterns in the data. While some basic knowledge of population genetics and statistics is assumed, the course is not primarily conerned with theoretical modelling.

There will be two lectures each week, followed either by a discussion of a paper, or by a computer-based session to give hands-on experience at analysing information from genomic databases. The topics are as follows.

1. Molecular evolution and variation in the presence and in the absence of sex and recombination.

2. Selfish genetic elements and their contribution to the genome.

3. The effects of weak natural selection, gene conversion, mutation and genetic drift on base composition.

4. The functional importance of non-coding DNA. A maximum of 10 students is permitted.

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Permission of the Curriculum Approval Officer.

? Costs : Notepads

Home subject area

Genetics, (School of Biological Sciences, Schedule K)

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 45 hour(s) 30 minutes per week for 5 weeks

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Monday 09:00 10:50 KB Lecture Friday 09:00 10:50 KB

Increased understanding of Biological processes. Detailed learning outcome will be provided later.

Essay - Semester 2 (February)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Miss Donna Wright
Tel : (0131 6)51 7051
Email : Donna.Wright@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr Peter Fantes
Tel : (0131 6)50 5669/8693
Email : P.Fantes@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.scieng.ed.ac.uk/