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The Workshop on Molecular Evolution
has been the finest course of its type in the world since it was started
in 1988. The workshop consists of a series of lectures, demonstrations,
and computer laboratories that cover various aspects of molecular
evolution. A distinguishing feature of the workshop is a well-equipped
computer laboratory with Linux workstations and servers for comparative
analysis of molecular data. Authors and experts in the use of computer
programs and packages such as Clustal W and Clustal X, FASTA, GCG,
LAMARC, MrBayes, PAML, PAUP*, and PHYLIP provide demonstrations and
consultations. This two-week program is designed for established investigators,
postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students with prior experience
in molecular evolution and comparative genomics. Scientists with a
strong interest in molecular evolution, systematics, and population
genetics are encouraged to apply. Enrollment is limited to 60 students,
and 20 students will be admitted to an extended topics session for
the purpose of analyzing their research data sets. Many participants
find the extended topics session to be especially useful.
Topics to be covered include:
- Databases and sequence matching: database searching: protein sequence versus protein structure; homology; mathematical, statistical, and theoretical aspects of sequence database searches
- Phylogenetic analysis: theoretical, mathematical and statistical bases; sampling properties of sequence data; Bayesian analysis; hypothesis testing
- Maximum likelihood theory and practice in phylogenetics and population genetics: coalescent theory; maximum likelihood estimation of population genetic parameters
- Molecular evolution integrated at organism and higher levels: population biology; biogeography; ecology; systematics and conservation
- Molecular evolution and development: gene duplication and divergence; gene family organization; coordinated expression in evolution
- Applied molecular evolution: molecular evolution in bioinformatics; evolution of large multigene families
- Comparative genomics: genome content; genome structure; genome evolution
- Transposable elements: types; history; evolutionary dynamics; as a major component of genomes
- Molecular evolution integrated at lower levels: biochemistry; cell biology; physiology; relationship of genotype to phenotype
Partial funding support for the Workshop comes from the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Computer equipment
is generously provided by Apple Computer and the University of Maryland
Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, and some software is generously
provided by Accelrys.
2007 Course Faculty & Lecturers:
Peter Beerli, Florida State Unviersity
Joseph Bielawski, Dalhousie University
Alexei Drummond, University of Auckland
Scott Edwards, Harvard University
Joseph Felsenstein, University of Washington
Mary Kuhner, University of Washington
Paul Lewis, University of Connecticut
Axel Meyer, University of Konstanz, Germany
Michael Miyamoto, University of Florida
William Pearson, University of Virginia
David Rand, Brown University
Fredrik Ronquist, Florida State University
David Sinclair, Harvard Medical School
David Swofford, Florida State University
Steven Thompson, Florida State University
Paul Turner, Yale University
Daniel Voytas, Iowa State University
Anne Yoder, Duke University
Shozo Yokoyama, Emory University
Derrick Zwickl, NESCent
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