Biology Department - Course Materials

Bio 263 - Molecular Ecology


Catalog
Description
Course
Staff
Web
Links
Course
Schedule

CATALOG DESCRIPTION

263 Molecular Ecology
One-half unit course for one semester. A survey of how molecular genetic tools are used to investigate ecological processes in natural populations of plant and animal species. Specific topics will include methods for sudying genetic variation at the protein and DNA levels, quantitative predictions from ecological and evolutionary theory, and application of molecualr genetic markers to research questions related to natural selection, gene flow, genetic drift, and non-random mating. Conferences will be student led and based on the primary literature. Prerequisites: Biology 101/102. Lecture-conference.


COURSE STAFF
The course is taught by Keith Karoly.


WEB LINKS


Moodle for Moelcular Ecology We will be test-driving the Moodle "course management" system that Reed is adopting.
(Access to these pages is only available to studnets registered in the course).
Library Resources This page was developed by Linda Maddux (Reed's Science Librarian) with information and links to the library's resources that will be useful when researching topics in Molecular Ecology.
E-Reserves A direct link to the library's page where you can log on to download e-reserves (.pdf format) of articles for this course. Logging on requires a password.
Molecular
Ecology
A direct link to the Reed library's electronic holdings for the journal Molecular Ecology.
ISSR Resource
Web site
This site is maintained by Dr. Andrea Wolfe at Ohio State Univ. and provides information about the technique as well as methods for data analysis.
HOMEWORK When needed, images required for the homeowrk will be posted here:

POPBIO: You will find that the program you used in Bio101 to study questions in populaiton genetics and ecology will be a very useful tool in helping you to understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of the processes we are discussing in Molecular Ecology.

This software was developed in the Biology Department at Reed College under the guidance of Robert Kaplan. The software is available free for your use and can be downloaded from the Biology Department's software web page. Click here or on the POPBIO icon to the left to download a copy of PopBio.


COURSE SCHEDULE: (Fall 2006)

The class meetsare from 1:10 to 2:30 PM, Tu & Th, in B215

Conference will take place during a portion of each Thursdays class

Date
Lecture
Conference
see below for reading

 

Reading:
unless otherwise noted, reading from Beebee TC and G Rowe. 2004. An introduction to molecular ecology. Oxford University Press, NY. (two-hour reserve in the Reed Library)

Aug 29
Aug 31
scope of molecular ecology
genetic markers
 
no conference
Preface, Chapters 1 & 2., Appendix 1. Beebe and Rowe (2004) An Introduction to Molecular Ecology.
you may also wish to consult your Bio 101/102 text : Purves et al. (2004) Life: the science of biology, 7th ed.
Sept 5
Sept 7
genetic markers
selection vs. neutrality

morphological markers
 
Sept 12
Sept 14
allozymes
allozymes

allozyme markers

  • Parker, PA, AA Snow, MD Schug. GC Booton, and PA Fuerst. 1998. What molecules can tell us about populations: choosing and using a molecular marker. Ecology 79: 361-382.
  • Sept 19
    Sept 21
    DNA-based markers
    DNA-based markers


    comparing allozymes and DNA markers
     
    Sept 26
    Sept 28

     

    DNA-based markers
    problems with DNA-based markers
     


    problems with DNA-based markers

    Oct 3
    Oct 5
    measuring identitiy
    measuring identitiy
    Identity & paternity Chapters 3 ., Appendix 2 . Beebe and Rowe (2004) An Introduction to Molecular Ecology.
    Oct 10
    Oct 12
    mating systems & relatedness
    inbreeding coefficients

    genetic variation & population structure

    Oct 17
    Oct 19
     
    FALL BREAK
     



     

    Oct 24
    Oct 26
    population structure
    population structure

    inbreeding coefficients

    Oct 31
    Nov 2
    migration rates
    migration rates 

    population structure and migration

    Nov 7
    Nov 9
    phylogoegraphy
    phylogeography 

    phylogoegraphy

    Nov 14
    Nov 16
    population size & genetic variation
    population size & genetic variation

    genetic drift in natural populations
     
    Nov 21
    Nov 23
    molecular genetics and adapatation
    NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)

    NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)

    Nov 28

    Nov 30
    Special Topics: TBA (Michael & Noah)
    Special Topic: TBA (Maggie & Ryan)
    special topics


    Dec 5 research proposals


     

    Dec 13 FINAL EXAM
    (1 PM - 4 PM)




    CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: (Fall 2006)

    Conference will during our Thursday class (1:10 to 2:30 PM inB215)

    You can download the boiler-plate for analyzing a paper by clicking on this link and choosing "SAVE TO DISK". The downloaded file will be an MS-Word document.
    Date
    Topic
    Reading
    Sept 7 morphological markers
  • Burlingame (1921) Variation and heredity in Lupinus. American Naturlaist 60: 427-448.
  • Harding (1970) Genetics of Lupinus. II. the selective disadvantage of the pink flower color mutant in Lupinus nanus. Evolution 24:120-127.
  • Sept 14 allozyme markers
  • Hubby, JL, and RC Lewontin. 1966. A molecular approach to the study of genic heterozygosity in natural populations. I. The number of alleles at different loci in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Genetics 54: 577-594.
  • Lewontin, RC. 1991. Twenty-Five Years Ago in GENETICS: Electrophoresis in the development of evolutionary genetics: milestone or millstone? Genetics 128: 657-662.
  • Sept 21 comparing allozymes and DNA markers
  • Esselman, EJ, L Jianqiang, DJ Crawford, JL Winduss, & AD Wolfe (1999) Clonal diversity in the rare Calamagrostis porteri ssp. insperata (Poaceae): comparative results for allozymes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Molecular Ecology 8: 443-451
  • Sept 28 problems with DNA-based markers
  • Saar, DE, NO Polans, PD Sorensen, and MR Duvall. 2001. Angiosperm DNA contamination by endophytic fungi: detection and methods of avoidance. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 19(3) 249-260.
  • Oct 5 identity & paternity
  • Constable, JL, MV Ashley, J Goodall, & AE Pusey. 2001. Noninvasive paternity assignment in Gombe chimpanzees. Molecular Ecology 10: 1279-1300.
  • Oct 12 genetic variation & population structure
  • Stenström, A, BO Jonsson, IS Jónsdóttir, T Fagerström, & A Magnus. 2001. Genetic variation and clonal diversity in four clonal sedges (Carex) along the Arctic coast of Eurasia. Molecular Ecology 10(2): 497-513.
  • Oct 26 mating system
  • Schmidt-Adam, Young, & Murra (2000) Low outcrossing rates and shift in pollinators in New Zealand pohutukawa (Metrosideros excelsa; Myrtaceae). Am. J. Bot. 87: 1265-1271.
  • Nov 2 Library Resources
  • [theis week: library resources with Linda Maddux]
  • Nov 9 phylogoegraphy
  • Ehrich, D, VB Fedorov, NC Stenseth, CJ Krebs & A Kenney. 2000. Phylogeography and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity in North American collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus). Molecular Ecology 9: 329-337.
  • Nov 16 Drift in natural populations
  • Waldick RC, Kraus SS, Brown M, and N White. 2002. Evaluating the effects of historic bottleneck events: an assessment of microsatellite variability in the endangered, North Atlantic right whale. Molecular Ecology 11 (11): 2241-2250.
  • Nov 23 NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)
    Nov 28 Noah & Micahel
  • (Michael) Ernest, HB, MCT Penedo, BP May, M Syvanen & WM Boyce. 2000. Molecular tracking of mountain lions in the Yosemite Valley region in California: genetic analysis using microsatellites and faecal DNA. Molecular Ecology 9: 433-441.

  • (Noah) Reichman , JR, LS Watrud , EH Lee, CA Burdick, MA Bollman, MJ Storm, GA King, & C Mallory-Smith. 2006. Establishment of transgenic herbicide-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) in nonagronomic habitats. Molecular Ecology 15 (13): 4243-4256.
  • Nov 30 Maggie & Ryan
  • (Ryan) Hoglund, J, & L Shorey. 2003. Local genetic structure in a white-bearded manakin population. Molecular Ecology 12 (9): 2457-2463.
  • (Maggie) Dearborn, DC, AD Anders, EA Schreiber, RMM Adams & UG Mueller. 2003. Inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird. . Molecular Ecology 12 (10): 2835-2843.

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    Maintained by the Reed College Biology Department
    Last Modified 8/29/06
    Questions/Comments to Keith.Karoly@directory.reed.edu