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Explore the revolutionary understanding of microbial evolution, diversity, and significance in the history of Earth. Dive into integrated lectures, readings, and discussions covering microbial diversity, horizontal gene transfer, symbiosis, experimental evolution, virus evolution, antibiotic resistance, and more. Join Professor Jeff Palmer for an exciting journey into the microbial world.
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A New Course on a Hot Topic! M460: Microbial Evolution Spring 2011 – 3 credits – T & Th, 11:15 AM-12:30 PM Professor Jeff Palmer Prerequisite: M250 or Permission of the Instructor Microbes Rule: Evolution, Diversity, & the History of Life on Earth Learn about the exciting revolution underway in our understanding of the evolution, diversity, and fundamental importance of microbial life on Earth Course will consist of integrated lectures, readings, and discussions Topics to be covered: Microbial diversity: the ubiquity, diversity, and importance of microbial life The “Tree of Life”: progress, controversies, and challenges Horizontal gene transfer: microbial genomes in flux Sex in bacteria: recombination, bacterial “species”, and the pangenome Symbiosis: from mitochondria to the human microbiome Experimental evolution: using bacteria to study evolution in action Evolution of viruses: from HIV to Mimivirus Origin and evolution of antibiotic resistance Evolution of pathogens and parasites Origin of Life and the RNA World