|
|
|
||
|
Evolutionary genetics is a field that combines knowledge from classical genetics, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology. The discipline emerged in the first half of the 20th century through the synthesis of Darwin’s theory of evolution and Mendel’s theory of inheritance, known as the Modern Synthesis. It explains evolution from the perspective of the mechanisms that create and shape genetic variability within populations and transform it into differences between species.
The foundations of evolutionary genetics were laid by the theoretical work of R. A. Fisher, S. Wright, and J. B. S. Haldane, who described the effects of genetic drift, selection, and gene flow on the genetic variability of populations. After the discovery of DNA structure, evolutionary genetics was enriched by the neutral theory of evolution and coalescent theory. Today, the field is gaining new dimensions thanks to the influx of vast amounts of molecular data, including whole-genome sequences from various organisms. The existence of theoretical models of evolution and the availability of real molecular data now provide us with a unique opportunity to explore the specific mechanisms responsible for the emergence of adaptive traits and the biological diversity we observe around us. The lecture content includes: (1) a current view on the principles of inheritance, (2) an introduction to genome structure and evolution as well as methods of functional genomics, (3) an explanation of the processes involved in the origin and shaping of genetic polymorphism within and between species, (4) a description of processed leading to the emergence of new species (5) an explanation of key population genetic and molecular evolution theories, including their applications in empirical data analysis. As evolutionary genetics is a rapidly developing discipline, students are encouraged to keep up with current advances in the field through short student presentations on the selected topic. Last update: Reifová Radka, RNDr., Ph.D. (18.10.2025)
|
|
||
|
Presentations from the lectures, recommended articles and selected books on population genetics, molecular evolution and speciation: E.g., Last update: Reifová Radka, RNDr., Ph.D. (18.10.2025)
|
|
||
|
The exam is oral. Additional credits are awarded for giving a presentation on a selected topic. In addition to attending lectures, it is recommended that you learn from presentations given during the course and the articles discussed. Further information can be found in the recommended literature. Last update: Reifová Radka, RNDr., Ph.D. (18.10.2025)
|
|
||
|
1. Genes and genomes: Composition of genomes, coding and non-coding sequences, repetitive content, transposons and their role in evolution of organisms, polyploidization, programmed DNA elimination 2. Mechanisms of inheritance: Mendelian and non-mendelian inheritance, recombination and its evolutionary importance, gene conversion, meiotic drive, horizontal gene transfer, epigenetic inheritance 3. Introduction to population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, assortative mating, inbreeding, population structure, genetic drift, mutations, migration 4. Neutral theory of molecular evolution: Substitution rates, nucleotide substitution models, molecular clocks. 5. Selection: Positive, negative, balancing selections and methods of their detection. Selective sweeps, background selection, genetic basis of adaptations. 6. Functional genetics: Genetic mapping using experimental crosses, association mapping, admixture mapping, linkage disequilibrium, methods of gene editing. 7. Speciation and hybridization: Species concepts, speciation with and without gene flow, methods to measure levels of gene flow, importance of gene flow in evolution, origin and evolution of intrinsic postzygotic isolation from genic, chromosomal and genomic perspectives 8. Gene trees and species trees: Theory of coalescence, gene genealogies, lineage sorting, ancestral polymorphism, how to construct phylogenetic trees Last update: Reifová Radka, RNDr., Ph.D. (18.10.2025)
|
|
||
|
After completing the course, students will be able to: Explain the principles of Mendelian and non-mendelian inheritance, genome organization and evolution and their role in evolution of organisms. Describe the mechanisms generating and shaping genetic variation within and between populations, including mutation, recombination, gene flow, genetic drift and natural selection. Explain key theories of evolutionary genetics, including the Modern Synthesis, neutral theory of molecular evolution, and coalescent theory. Explain genetic processes underlying speciation and the role of hybridization in evolution. Explain the relationship between gene trees and species trees and the causes of their incongruence. Interpret phylogenetic and coalescent-based analyses of gene genealogies and species relationships. Apply methods for detecting selection, genetic structure, and gene flow in molecular data. Analyse genetic mapping and association studies to identify loci underlying phenotypic traits. Critically evaluate empirical studies in evolutionary genetics, including methodological assumptions and limitations. Integrate classical genetics, molecular biology, and evolutionary theory to explain biodiversity patterns. Communicate clearly complex evolutionary genetic concepts in oral presentations. Last update: Reifová Radka, RNDr., Ph.D. (30.01.2026)
|