Course: Molecular Ecology

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Course title Molecular Ecology
Course code KZO/412I
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Lesson
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In each academic year, in the winter semester.
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional, Optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Štefka Jan, doc. RNDr. Ph.D.
  • Hypša Václav, prof. RNDr. CSc.
  • Dehkordi Masoud Nazarizadeh
Course content
Content of lectures: Introduction to Molecular Ecology: questions and problems studied by Molecular Ecology. Population structure, speciation, reproductive strategies (inbreeding, sex ratio), demography (population expansion, bottlenecks). Molecular markers and methods of their analysis. Characterization, availability and informative value of various types of molecular markers (DNA sequences, nuclear vs. mitochondrial/plastid DNA, coding vs. non-coding DNA, microsatellites, AFLP, SNP). Analytic procedures vs. simulations (MCMC). Introduction to population and evolutionary genetics. Intraspecific genetic and phenotypic variability, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, neutral theory, genetic drift, molecular clock. Measures of genetic variability within and among populations, metapopulations. Genealogy vs. phylogeny. Population splitting and genetic diversification, coalescent theory, ancestral polymorphism, concerted evolution, hybridization. Demographic history. Effective population size, expansions, bottlenecks, migration. Kin selection. Reproductive strategies: sex ratio, mating system, inbreeding, social and brood parasites. Speciation, phylogeography, coevolution. Speciation process, delimitation of species, geographic distribution and methods of phylogeographic analysis. Genetic diversity mediated by geographic distance, nested clade analysis. Coevolution. Genome scan. Identification of loci under balancing/diversifying selection. Quantitative trait loci. Ecology-mediated changes in genomes (degeneration, horizontal transfer of genes). Applied aspects of molecular ecology: Study of biodiversity, barcoding, molecular ecology and conservation biology, molecular microbiology and epidemiology. New methods and programs in molecular ecology. Content of practices: Practical course on using phylogenetic and population genetic software for solving ecology and evolutionary problems.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Group work
Learning outcomes
The course provides students with basic information on the role of ecological and evolutionary processes in shaping molecular characteristics of organisms (e.g. genetic structure of the populations or genome modifications) and the main methods of solving ecological problems using molecular data.
Students will obtain basic knowledge of the molecular ecology theories and methods and their connection to other fields of biology.
Prerequisites
Students are not obliged to undertake any specific classes prior their enrolment in this class. Any prior knowledge of evolutionary biology and ecology is however advantagous for a full understanding of the class content.

Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination

In order to pass this class, the students are obliged to actively participate in its theoretical and practical part. They have to prove their ability to use softwares for which the hands on training have been provided. Finally the students undertake a written exam based on the content of both theoretical and practical part of this course.
Recommended literature
  • Beebee T., Rowe G.: Molecular evolution. Oxford university press, 2005.
  • Christansen FB. : Theories of population variation in genes and genomes. Princeton uni. press, 2008.
  • Mayhew P.: Discovering evolutionary ecology. Oxford university press, 2006.
  • Templeton A.: Population genetics and microevolutionary theory. Wiley-Liss, 2006.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Bioinformatics (1) Category: Informatics courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Botany (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Botany (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Winter