Course Syllabus
Biology 596 Molecular Evolution
Time: 1400- 1515
Place: LS 270
Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Waters
Office: LS 208 (in the back of the lab)
Office Hours: Monday 2:30- 3:30
Wednesday 11:00- 12:00
Other times by appointment. I will also be available before and after each
lecture for questions.
Office Phone: 594-7036
Email: ewaters@sciences.sdsu.edu
Final Examination: Thursday May 15 at 1300-1500 (1-3PM) in LS 270
Required Text: Fundamentals of Molecular Evolution by D. Graur and W-H. Li
Available at SDSU bookstore
Additional materials will be placed on reserve as needed.
Assignments and
Requirements:
1. Regular attendance and participations. Students will be expected to read assigned materials before class and be able to contribute to class discussions.
2. Two in-class exams. (Short answer and essay)
3. One written 5-7 page research paper with bibliography. Students should choose a topic in consultation with the instructor by March 18. Research should be based on published peer-reviewed research articles, reviews and books. Late papers will have one half grade deducted (i.e. A to A-) for everyday past the due date.
4. One 20-minute class presentation. The student giving the
presentations will chose one research article to be read by the class.
The instructor must approve this article.
5. A cumulative final exam. (Short answer and essay)
Grades and Evaluations:
Student grades will be based on attendance, classroom participation, in-class exams, one research paper, one in-class presentation and a final exam. The in-class presentation should be based on the research paper.
Attendance and participation 15%
Exam One 20%
Exam Two 20%
Research Paper 15%
In-class presentation 10%
Final Exam 20%
Date Lecture Topic Readings
Jan. 21 Molecular Evolution
Homology
Jan. 23 Gene Structure Chapter One
Genetic Codes
Jan. 28 Mutation Chapter One
Amino Acids
Jan 30 Estimating Rates of Substitution Chapter Three
Feb, 4 Rates and Patterns of Evolution Chapter Four
Feb. 6 Rates and Patterns of Evolution Chapter Four
Feb. 11 The Molecular Clock Chapter Two
The Neutral Theory
Feb. 13 The Nearly Neutral Theory
Feb. 18 The Nearly Neutral Theory Reserve Readings
Feb. 20 Adaptive Evolution and Detecting Reserve Readings
Selection
Feb. 25 First Exam
Feb. 27 Protein Evolution Structure-Function
March 4 Multi-gene Family Evolution Chapter Six
March 6 Multi-gene Family Evolution Reserve Readings
March 11 Transposable Elements Chapter Seven
Horizontal Evolution
March 13 Directed Evolution Reserve Readings
March 18 Genome Evolution Reserve Readings
The Tree of Life – Origins
Paper Topics due
March 20 Genome Evolution– cellular evolution Chapter Eight
March 25 Genome Evolution Chapter Eight
Date Lecture
Topic Readings
March 27 Genome Evolution
April 1 Spring Break
April 4 Spring Break
April 8 Evolutionary Genomics Reserve Readings
April 10 Evolutionary Genomics Reserve Readings
April 15 Second Exam
April 17 Special Topics
April 22 Special Topics
April 24 Class Presentations Student Chosen Readings
Research
Papers Due
April 29 Class Presentations
May 1 Class Presentations
Map 6 Class Presentations
May 8 Review
May 15 Final Exam