Evolutionary Genetics

The course deals with evolutionary processes on a molecular and genetic level. The course provides training in molecular methods for studying genetic variation and relationships as well as the detection of mutations (microsatellite analyses, DNA profiles, SNP analysis, DNA sequencing); genetic diversity; phylogeography; paternity and sex tests. The course contains three theoretical parts: * molecular evolution: dealing with the mutation process, evolutionary rates, the molecular clock, selection and neutral evolution at the molecular level, genetic variation and its significance * genome evolution: dealing with genome size, the evolution of chromosomes, multigene families, the evolution of introns, different types of repetitive DNA and gene conversion and * evolution of genetic systems: the evolution of sex and sexual reproduction, recombination rates, sex ratios, intranuclear conflicts, the evolution of ageing, immunogenetics, mitochondrial DNA, human evolution, the evolution and genetics of domesticated animals and plants.