Biodiversity and Evolution
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course aims to contribute to the training of master's graduates who have a full understanding of the fundamentals of evolutionary biology and the mechanisms underlying the generation of biodiversity. These fundamentals will be declined both in a theoretical and in a methodological way (e.g. in relation to the methodologies for phylogenetic reconstruction and for the study and classification of biodiversity, also on a molecular basis). The objective will be to clarify how the methodological tools represent both the translation of theoretical knowledge, but also a new source of data, in turn stimulating the generation of new theoretical formulations. The fundamental concepts of the discipline will be presented in a historical key, with particular emphasis on the main discussions, sometimes diatribes, which have accompanied the development of the different areas of experimental research and theoretical elaboration of evolutionary biology.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will acquire:
Knowledge of the basic concepts of biological evolution (such as: fitness; natural selection; mutation; homology; analogy).
Knowledge of specific issues (such as: the targets of natural selection; altruism; neutrality theory; origin of life and cells).
Knowledge of evolutionary mechanisms at the molecular level.
Knowledge of the principles underlying the main approaches for the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees, and their applications.
A general picture of the current knowledge on the evolution and diversity of life on earth: bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes; main lineages in the eukaryotes.
Knowledge of the basic concepts of biological evolution (such as: fitness; natural selection; mutation; homology; analogy).
Knowledge of specific issues (such as: the targets of natural selection; altruism; neutrality theory; origin of life and cells).
Knowledge of evolutionary mechanisms at the molecular level.
Knowledge of the principles underlying the main approaches for the reconstruction of phylogenetic trees, and their applications.
A general picture of the current knowledge on the evolution and diversity of life on earth: bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes; main lineages in the eukaryotes.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Elements of the history of evolutionary biology.
Natural selection and sexual selection.
Hierarchies and targets of natural selection.
Altruism in biology: group selection and kin-selection. The role of sexual reproduction.
Phenotypic plasticity, phenotypic accommodation, genetic accommodation.
Epigenetic modifications and epigenetic inheritance.
The neutral theory of molecular evolution.
Basic knowledge on the concepts of species and the mechanisms of speciation.
Biodiversity: its distribution and origin.
EVO-DEVO (evolutionary developmental biology).
Origin of life and origin of the eukaryotic cell.
Mechanisms and modalities of genetic changes: duplication of sequences in genomes, homology, paralogy, orthology.
Methods for isolating and sequencing genes.
Databases, sequence data formats, tools for database search (e.g. BLAST).
Methods and software for the alignment of homologous sequences.
The concept of outgroups and the interpretation of phylogenetic trees in terms of organisms and genetic families.
Approaches and software for building trees through maximum parsimony.
Saturation of substitutions, models and methods to correct estimates of genetic distances.
Tree construction through genetic distances.
Evaluating the robustness of phylogenetic reconstruction and the bootstrap.
Interpretation of phylogenetic trees.
Natural selection and sexual selection.
Hierarchies and targets of natural selection.
Altruism in biology: group selection and kin-selection. The role of sexual reproduction.
Phenotypic plasticity, phenotypic accommodation, genetic accommodation.
Epigenetic modifications and epigenetic inheritance.
The neutral theory of molecular evolution.
Basic knowledge on the concepts of species and the mechanisms of speciation.
Biodiversity: its distribution and origin.
EVO-DEVO (evolutionary developmental biology).
Origin of life and origin of the eukaryotic cell.
Mechanisms and modalities of genetic changes: duplication of sequences in genomes, homology, paralogy, orthology.
Methods for isolating and sequencing genes.
Databases, sequence data formats, tools for database search (e.g. BLAST).
Methods and software for the alignment of homologous sequences.
The concept of outgroups and the interpretation of phylogenetic trees in terms of organisms and genetic families.
Approaches and software for building trees through maximum parsimony.
Saturation of substitutions, models and methods to correct estimates of genetic distances.
Tree construction through genetic distances.
Evaluating the robustness of phylogenetic reconstruction and the bootstrap.
Interpretation of phylogenetic trees.
Prerequisites for admission
Participants should posses a sound grasp of basic concepts in molecular biology (DNA replication, transcription, translation, the genetic code, PCR).
Teaching methods
Mainly frontal teaching with a high level of teacher interaction. Projected teaching material which is available to students from a dedicated website (https://ariel.unimi.it/). Demonstration of use of software tools (all materials available to students to replicate the analyses performed). Extensive discussions to allow development of critical faculties and encourage constructive individual involvement in the teaching/learning process.
Teaching Resources
Chapters from: "Introduzione alla bioinformatica" (Zanichelli, autori: Valle - Helmer - Attimonelli - Pesole)
The slide used by the teachers during the lessons will be available to the students, through the Air portal of the University of Milano (https://ariel.unimi.it/), at the page of the course in Biodiversità ed Evoluzione.
Articles provided by the teacher.
The slide used by the teachers during the lessons will be available to the students, through the Air portal of the University of Milano (https://ariel.unimi.it/), at the page of the course in Biodiversità ed Evoluzione.
Articles provided by the teacher.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The acquisition of knowledge and the achievement of the expected learning outcomes are verified through a two-stage examination. The first phase is written and consists of multiple-choice questions (15) and open questions (3-4; requiring a short answer). The second phase consists of an interview/discussion. The written phase focuses mainly on bio-molecular arguments (from the mechanisms of genetic changes to the interpretation of phylogenetic trees), the interview/discussion on other program topics. The final mark expressed in thirtieths is the result of an overall evaluation carried out by the teachers, based on the answers given in the two phases of the exam.
BIO/02 - SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY
BIO/05 - ZOOLOGY
Lessons: 48 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 14.00 - 17.00
Via Celoria 26, Tower B, 2nd floor