SL40110: Microbial evolution - from the laboratory to nature (BB40117)
[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]
| Academic Year: | 2023/24 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Life Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7) |
| Period: |
- Semester 2
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 10%, EX 50%, SM 40% |
| Assessment Detail: |
- BB40117 Seminar (SM 40%)
- BB40117 Handout (CW 10%)
- BB40117 Examination (EX 50%)
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
- Re-assessment Essay (where allowed by programme regulations)
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| Requisites: |
Before taking this module you are advised to take BB20040 OR take SL20006
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| Learning Outcomes: |
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* explain basic population genetics principles and phylogenetic methods with respect to bacteria;
* explain the major mechanisms of bacterial molecular evolution; in particular the significance of mobile genetic elements and horizontal gene transfer;
* explain the rationale and applications of microbial experimental evolution;
* describe the insights provided by microbial studies into the ecological and genetic causes of evolution;
* integrate methodology and data from epidemiological case studies with theory and experimental data.
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| Aims: | To provide the students with an holistic understanding of the causes and consequences of microbial evolution, by consideration of both experimental and wild populations.
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| Skills: | Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F.
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| Content: | The main forces shaping bacterial populations, the different kinds of selection pressures, mutation and stochastic forces. The consequences of evolutionary forces over different time scales, from intra-species variation (micro-evolution), to the differences between unrelated species (macro-evolution), and the relevance to the management and epidemiological surveillance of important human pathogens. The relationships between ecology, evolution and epidemiology. Design and analysis of laboratory selection experiments. Theory and data explaining the evolution and maintenance of diversity, the evolution of evolvability, the evolution of altruism, the evolution of virulence and host-parasite coevolution.
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| Course availability: |
SL40110 is Optional on the following courses:
Department of Chemistry
- USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
- USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) (Year 4)
- USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 5)
- USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 5)
Department of Life Sciences
- USSL-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
- USSL-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
- USSL-AFM02 : MBiol(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
- USSL-AKM02 : MBiol(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
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Notes: - This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
- Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
- Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
- Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.
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