Molecular Evolution: Principles and Practice

 [Lectures]
This course is to introduce the fundamentals and methodology on research of molecular evolution. We will introduce the evolutionary changes and patterns of sequences, methods for phylogenetic analyses, and inferring sites under positive selection. Topics on recent advances of molecular evolution studies will be offered at the end, on phylogenomics, horizontal gene transfer, and genome evolution. Students are highly recommended to take evolution, genetics or equivalent subjects before taking this course. Laboratory practice will be offered for students to be familiar with data retrieving, analyses and interpretation. Homework assignments will be distributed weekly, which require substantial extra work time.

[Laboratory Practice]
We will have computers available in class, but you are welcome to bring your own laptop computer. In the later case, you should download the corresponding software before the class. Date sets will be provided for the homework assignments but you are welcome to use your own data for the final presentation project.