431 Contemporary Topics: Molecular Genetic Analysis of Plant Evolution
Half-unit course for one semester. We will explore topics in plant evolution, highlighting places where molecular techniques and data are providing new insights for classical problems in plant evolution. Topics will center on issues of current controversy and active research.. Meeting time will be Wednesdays, 8-10 PM in B200A.
prerequisites: Junior or Senior class standing is recommended. Population Biology (BIO 366), Vascular Plant diversity (BIO 332), and one of the genetics courses (BIO 356 or 361) will be helpful.

• Keith's Office: B240; ext. 7846
  
• Keith's Office Hours: by appointment
  
• Send email to: kkaroly@reed.edu
  

Everyone taking part in the seminar is expected to:

• 1)read the assigned material each week. The reading will consist of several research articles or book chapters. The reading assignment for each meeting will be provided the preceding week. We will use ejournals and ereserves whenever possible for each week’s reading. If necessary, photocopies of the assigned reading will be available in the seminar room (Room B200A). Usually the material will be from journals that are also available in the library. The articles or chapters will often provide opposing opinions or evidence on the subject and should therefore be read critically.
  Everyone should come to seminar prepared to briefly summarize the assigned reading for the group. If it is necessary, each week I will randomly choose one person who will provide a brief (max of 5 minutes) description of each paper..
  
  

• 2) participate in the seminar discussion. The topics we will be addressing should lend themselves to lively discussion. The use of molecular markers for studies of plant evolution is a very active area of research with many diverse voices. Researchers can be found with strongly contrasting views for almost any of the evolutionary questions we will discuss. Empirical methods used to collect data usually involve unavoidable compromises. Interpretations of data may often be based on untested (or untestable) assumptions. It will be important for our discussions to have all participants contributing their views on the reading. I would also like our discussion to cover both positive and negative aspects of the papers.
  I expect everyone in this class to participate in all discussions.
  
  

• 3) assume the role of Discussion Leader in turn. Your primary responsibilities in this role will be to choose a topic for discussion, identify papers for the class to read, and facilitate discussion during the seminar meeting. This will require a thorough understanding of the reading you assign. You will also be expected to review additional literature on your subject so that you can place the assigned reading into a larger context. You are not expected to prepare (nor will you be allowed to present) a lecture on your topic.
  Discussion leaders will also provide a brief bibliography of the topic area they have selected (provided for the class the week they lead).
  
  

• 4) turn in 2 reviews of recent papers in which molecular data are used to investigate a question in plant evolution. These are expected to be short reviews (a maximum of 3 pages, double-spaced). One of these papers can be on the topic for which you lead discussion. Appropriate journals to search include: American Journal of Botany, Ecology, Evolution, Molecular Ecology, Oecologia, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal of Ecology, Canadian Journal of Botany, and American Naturalist. The articles you review should be reporting new research (i.e. do not use review articles) and should be from the current periodicals reading room. A sign-up sheet will be available outside my office (B240) and during seminar meetings with the dates for turning in these assignments (this is for my benefit to regulate the influx of papers).
  
  

• 5) complete a brief research proposal for one of the topics covered in class (this may be completed in pairs depending on the number enrolled). You will revisit one of the papers we discussed for seminar this term, and identify a follow-up question for additional research. You will then write a 2 to 3 page description of a research project that will build upon the report we read. More details will be provided towards the end of the term..
  
  

The following is intended to clarify the literature review assignments. Please see me for any questions regarding choice of papers or further clarification about the writing.

1) Find an article from the current (unbound) literature that presents original research. Do not use reviews unless an explicit hypothesis is being tested with the reviewed data. My hope is that you will go into the current periodicals room in the library and start thumbing through the most recent back issues of relevant journals (some suggested journals include Science, Nature, American Journal of Botany, Evolution, Molecular Ecology, Annals of Botany, American Naturalist, Candian Journal of Botany, Heredity, Genetics, Conservation Biology). Pick an article that looks interesting to you and suitable for the writing assignment. There is no penalty for choosing a short article or one with a straightforward experimental design.



2) Read the article carefully and critically. Consider whether the authors adequately motivate their study in their introduction. Sketch out a schematic of their experimental design for yourself and be certain you understand what they did. Compare the fit of their interpretations with the details of their results.



3) Write a short review of the article. The review should be typed, double spaced, and no longer than three pages. Virtuous papers will be characterized by brevity and clarity. Devote equivalent attention to





i) a description of what was done and why they suggest that it's interesting
ii) a summary of their results and the conclusions they reached
iii) an analysis of strong and weak aspects of their report, with special attention to the adequacy of the experimental design and the support that their data provide for their conclusions.

I have prepared a brief outlie of the quesitons you might consider when addressing each of these three topics in your review. You can download the file by clicking here.

Molecular Ecology	A direct link to the Reed library's electronic holdings for the journal 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.
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.

Maintained by the Reed College Biology Department
Last Modified 8/17/06
Questions/Comments to kkaroly@reed.edu