Diversity and Evolution of Microbial Eukaryotes

The course provides the most current understanding of the diversity of protists and fungi, from photosynthetic groups ('algae') to free-living micro-predators, to symbionts and parasites. These represent most branches in the eukaryotic tree of life. We will examine the major theories on the origin of eukaryotes, the diversification of the major groups, endosymbioses, life cycles and nutrition modes, peculiar cell structures, and genomes. We will also train the next generation of biologists on the relevance of these micro-eukaryotes for society, covering aspects such as their key roles in ecosystems and biochemical processes and as serious infectious disease agents on humans, livestock and crops.