Click on the course titles or scroll down for detailed descriptions of the courses taught by Nancy Moran.
FUNCTIONAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS
(ECOL/BIOC/MCB 453/553, Fall)
This course surveys the basic findings and approaches in the developing field of genomics, covering conceptual aspects as well as methodology and technical advances that are central to obtaining and exploring genome sequences. A consideration of how the evolutionary process shapes genomes will be a continuing theme in the course.
This course is part of a graduate training program in Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, funded by the National Science Foundation.
GENOMICS: WHAT DNA CAN TELL US ABOUT DISEASE, ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(HNRS 295H Colloquium, Spring 2007)
THE BIOLOGY OF SYMBIOSIS
(ECOL 596C, Spring)
This graduate seminar will survey new findings on intimate associations of microbes with marine and terrestrial animals, plants, and other microbes. Evolutionary, genetic, genomic, physiological and ecological aspects will be included. Course aims are (1) to synthesize recent data from different fields and (2) to identify gaps in existing knowledge.
GENES, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
An intensive, hands-on, summer lab course in DNA technology and evolution for teachers, future teachers, and current high school students. This is a 2-credit course for classroom teachers and students preparing to teach high school biology.
FUNCTIONAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS
(ECOL/BIOC/MCB 453/553, Fall, 4 units)
Go to course site.
Overview:
Genetics—and biology generally—are being transformed by massive infusion of sequence data together with new computational and database capabilities. Central to this transformation are the determination of complete genome sequences and the exploitation of these sequences to answer biological questions. This exploitation involves integration of the new sequence information with established methods and information in genetics. Because much of genomics depends on comparative sequence analysis, an understanding of evolutionary processes is essential.
This course surveys the basic findings and approaches in the developing field of genomics. We will cover conceptual aspects as well as methodology and technical advances that are central to obtaining and exploring genome sequences. A consideration of how the evolutionary process shapes genomes will be a continuing theme in the course.
This course is part of a graduate training program in Evolutionary and Functional Genomics, funded by the National Science Foundation.
Organization:
The course consists of a lecture/reading portion and a hands-on computational portion. Lectures will be complemented by readings from two textbooks and the primary scientific literature. In the computational portion, basic tools for exploiting genomic sequence databases will be introduced and put into use by students.
GENOMICS: WHAT DNA CAN TELL US ABOUT DISEASE, ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
HNRS 295H Colloquium, Spring 2007, 2 units
Go to course web page.
THE BIOLOGY OF SYMBIOSIS
ECOL 596C, Spring, 2 units
Go to course web page.
This seminar will survey new findings on intimate associations of microbes with marine and terrestrial animals, plants, and other microbes. Evolutionary, genetic, genomic, physiological and ecological aspects will be included. Course aims are (1) to synthesize recent data from different fields and (2) to identify gaps in existing knowledge.
This is a graduate-level seminar class, intended for any students in biological sciences with an interest. Qualified undergraduates may also participate with permission.
We will meet once weekly for two hour sessions. Introductory lectures will be designed to give a foundation. Each week students will read articles on a specific example of symbiosis or on a set of studies using similar approaches. A student (or team) will cover relevant background research and will select and introduce recent articles for discussion.
Final topics will be decided jointly with the students in the group. Weeks 1-2 will be introductory lectures, weeks 3-13 will combine presentation of research in a field with discussion of readings, weeks 14-15 will focus on writing up a summary of the major advances and holes in knowledge of symbioses. If we agree that it is worthwhile, this final summary may be submitted for publication.
The following list illustrates the topics to be considered:
- What can and cannot be learned from phylogenetic studies of symbioses?
- What can genomic data tell us about symbiont function?
- Are symbiotic lineages evolutionary dead ends?
- What features differ between symbioses of terrestrial and marine invertebrates, between plants and animals?
- What are the main metabolic functions of symbionts in different systems?
- How do symbionts affect the metabolism of whole ecosystems?
- In which kinds of ecological systems are symbiotic systems most critical as players?
- What is the role of organelles and symbioses as routes for gene transfer among lineages?
- What are the nature and consequences of differences between genetic systems of symbionts and hosts: do symbionts have "frozen" genomes and, if so, how does this affect hosts?
- How are symbiotic associations compatible with immune functions of hosts?
Particular systems to be considered include: hydrothermal vent systems, insects and nutritional symbioses, reproduction manipulation by symbionts of insects and other invertebrates, fungal symbionts of plants, including mycorrhizae and endophytes, lichens, symbionts of mammals.
Grading will be based on (1) participation in the discussions, (2) presentation by individual student or team, and (3) participation in producing the summary of major results and future directions in the field of symbiosis research.