BIO2022 2019 - Timetable and Topics

Week

Date

Lectures

Practical

 

1

30/7

1

Introduction to Evolutionary Ecology - Natural selection

DD

No prac class

 

1/8

2

Evolution and Adaptation

DD

 

2

6/8

3

Life-history theory I

DD

Adaptation under natural selection

[Assessment: Evolution case study – 5 % due Week 3]

DD

 

8/8

4

Life-history theory II

DD

 

3

13/8

5

Sex Allocation

DD

Workshop-based appraisal of a current topic in evolutionary biology.

[Assessment: Written report – 10% due Week 5]

DD

 

15/8

6

Evolution of Ageing

DD

 

4

20/8

7

Sexual Selection I

RT

No prac class

  

22/8

8

Sexual Selection II

RT

 

5

27/8

9

Speciation I

RT

Phylogenies

[Short report – 5% due Week 7]

RT

 

29/8

10

Speciation II

RT

 

6

3/9

11

Levels of Selection I

RT

Comparative analysis

[Short report – 5% due Week 8]

RT

 

5/9

12

Levels of Selection II

RT

 

7

10/9

13

How mutations change phenotypes

MM

Making predictions about fitness effects of mutations.

MM

 

12/9

14

Hardy-Weinberg

MM

 

8

17/9

15

Bottlenecks and founder effects

MM

Calculating the fitness effects of new mutations.

[Assessment: mini quiz - 10%]

MM

 

19/9

16

Distribution of fitness effects

MM

 

9

24/9

17

Genetic variation and its measurement

PS

Population genetics – genetic drift and diversity

PS

 

26/9

18

Evolutionary genetics in real populations

PS

 

Semester Break: Mon 30th September to Fri 4th October

 

10

8/10

19

Population differentiation

PS

Population genetics – local effects

PS

 

10/10

20

Population connectivity, dispersal and gene flow

PS

 

11

15/10

21

Ecological & Evolutionary genomics

PS

Population genetics – population differentiation

PS

 

17/10

22

Adaptive potential & rapid evolution

PS

 

12

22/10

23

Genetic time machines

PS

Population genetics [Assessment: mini-quiz – 15%]

PS

 

24/10

24

Untangling natural selection, drift and population history

PS

 

Lectures:    Tuesday 9am (16Rnf/S4) and Thursday 5pm (21Col/E3)
Practicals:  Mondays 2pm-5pm (25Rnf/115) OR Tuesdays 10am-1pm (25Rnf/115 and 111)

 

Lecturers: DD – A/Prof Damian Dowling; RT – Dr Reid Tingley; MM – Dr Mike McDonald; PS – Prof Paul Sunnucks