GENOME EVOLUTION: 

Description

The course aims to provide students with a solid theoretical basis that will enable them to understand what the organization of genomes and what are the molecular mechanisms that underlie their evolution. To the modern formulation of molecular evolution have contributed the most diverse disciplines: genetics, population genetics, molecular biology, mathematics, statistics, ecology, etc. The study of this matter allows the student to be placed in a logical perspective and unifying many of the knowledge acquired in other courses contributing substantially to understanding what a genome is, how it has become so and especially how it is evolving and the functional consequences of this genomic plasticity.

ITA: Il corso intende fornire solide basi teoriche che permettano di comprendere quale sia l’organizzazione dei genomi e quali siano i meccanismi molecolari fondamentali nell’evoluzione degli stessi. Alla moderna formulazione dell’evoluzione molecolare hanno contribuito le più diverse discipline: genetica, genetica di popolazioni, biologia molecolare, matematica, statistica, ecologia ecc. Lo studio di questa materia consente di collocare in una prospettiva logica e unificante molte delle nozioni acquisite in altri corsi contribuendo in modo sostanziale a comprendere “cosa sia un genoma e soprattutto come sia diventato tale”.

 

Learning objectives and evaluation criteria

Genome Evolution is structured to achieve some key objectives: to understand what a genome is, how it operates, what processes affect its stability and what are the consequences of genomic changes. 

To achieve these goals, the students are asked to familiarize with relevant terminology including specific scientific jargon, understand the biological and molecular processes, and critically interpret the relevant scientific literature and experimental data.

The classes are structured in three ways: (1) formal lectures, including invited speakers that are expert scientists in their field; (2) journal clubs, where we’ll understand, analyze and discuss the scientific literature in the field; (3) teamwork and specific activities toward identification of outstanding research questions and projects’ design. The course includes 12 hours of laboratory/practical work which will include assays and/or supervised mini research projects performed in silico.     

The final exam will require both an understanding of the material covered during the lectures, as well as conceptual integration of the knowledge acquired for scientific reasoning.