Hi to everybody,
I'm lecturer in Malaga University (Spain) and two years ago I'm trying
to give to students a program in Molecular Evolution. But my experience is
very reduced because before I werk in Fish Cytogenetics and Population Genetics
The change in my researching line has been tempted by some circumstances but
I like very much this new field.
My current researching centres in protein motifs although I previously
tested other things. However, I wish give to students a program as complete
as possible program.
This one that I'm teaching is as follow:
1.-INTRODUCTION - Sources of molecular variability. Mutation. Recombi-
nation. Gene horizontal transference.
2.-GENETICS VARIANTS IN POPULATIONS - Evolutionary factors. Genetics
polymorphism. Neutralist and Seleccionist theories.
3.-PREBIOTIC EVOLUTION - Primitive genes. Primitive organisms. Setting
of metabolic routes.
4.-EVOLUTION OF THE GENETIC CODE - The mRNA or pattern sequence. The
Aminoacyl-tRNA-synthetase and the tRNA. The peptydil-transferase function and
the ribosome. Rudiments of the Genetic code.
5.-MOLECULAR FOSSILS - Phage MS2. Transcription in viruses. The intron
in the rRNA of Tetrahymena. Catalytic capacity of tha RNA.
6.-EVOLUTION OF THE SEQUENCES - The evolutionary molecular clock. Kind
of proteins in a evolutionary perspective. Substitution rates and patterns.
Nucleotid versus aminoacid sequences.
7.-CONSTRUCTION OF PHYLOGENIES - Sequence alignments. Phylogenetic trees
Estimating the branch lengths. Estimating divergence times.
8.-SEGMENTED GENOMES - Domains and exons. The origin of introns. Partial
duplications in genes. Mosaic proteins.
9.-GENE FAMILIES - Evolution in concert. Isozymes. Pseudogenes. Alter-
native way to adquire new functions.
10.-TRANSPOSITION IN MOLECULAR EVOLUTION - Insertion sequences, transpo-
sons and retroelements. Hybrid dysgenesis. Consequences of the transposition.
11.-OTHER MECHANISMS IN THE MOLECULAR EVOLUTION - Regional increase of
the genome size. Maintenance of ungenic DNA. GC content in bacteria.
This program has a duration of four months. I'll like to receive ideas
to improve it and to get that it is more practical.
Thanks to everybody in advance.
GUILLERMO THODE
Genetics DepartmentFaculty of Sciences
University of Malaga (SPAIN)
