OEKB002245 Phylogenetic principles in genetic and genomic analysis (in Eng.)

Art
Vorlesung und Übung
Semesterstunden
2
Vortragende/r (Mitwirkende/r)
Cardoso Curto, Manuel Antonio
Organisation
Integrative Naturschutzforschung
Angeboten im Semester
Wintersemester 2026/27
Unterrichts-/ Lehrsprachen
Englisch
Lehrinhalt

This course introduces students to phylogenetic analysis, from its fundamental principles to the latest developments in phylogenomics. Through a combination of theoretical lectures and practical exercises using real datasets, students will explore how modern sequencing technologies generate evolutionary information and learn to infer and interpret phylogenetic trees using parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian approaches. The course also examines how genome-scale datasets are transforming the study of evolution, allowing researchers to address complex processes such as incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. By introducing concepts including coalescent theory and species-tree inference, the course provides students with a strong foundation for applying phylogenetic and phylogenomic methods to contemporary questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation, and biodiversity research. Throughout the course, these methods will be placed in the context of their diverse applications, including DNA barcoding, spatial phylogenetics, speciation research, phylogeography, ecology, conservation, and biodiversity research.
Inhaltliche Voraussetzungen (erwartete Kenntnisse)

Basic knowledge in evolutionary biology and genetics
Lehrziel

The course provides a foundation in phylogenetic analysis, covering the process from data generation, retrieval, and curation to phylogenetic inference and biological interpretation. After completing the course, students should be able to:
1)Explain the fundamental principles of phylogenetics and describe its major applications in evolutionary biology, ecology, conservation, and biodiversity research.
2)Identify and compare the main types of molecular data used in phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses.
3)Describe how commonly used sequencing technologies and molecular approaches generate data for phylogenetic research.
4)Search public databases and retrieve appropriate sequence data and associated metadata.
5)Assess sequence homology and prepare molecular datasets for analysis, including sequence alignment and data curation.
6)Explain, compare, and apply major phylogenetic approaches, including distance-based methods, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference.
7)Interpret phylogenetic trees, including their topology, branch lengths, rooting, and measures of branch support.
8)Select an appropriate analytical approach for a given research question and evaluate its assumptions, limitations, and sources of uncertainty.
9)Explain the causes of phylogenetic incongruence and distinguish between gene-tree and species-tree approaches, including the roles of incomplete lineage sorting and introgression.
10)Interpret phylogenetic and phylogenomic results in the context of evolutionary and ecological questions.
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