Ever wonder what functional clues might reside in the DNA sequence of your favorite gene? In this course, graduate students will learn the fundamentals of phylogenetics with an emphasis on evolutionary models that infer selective pressures in protein-coding DNA sequences (genes). During the course, students will be working on their favorite gene and using it as a case study for applying all of the concepts that we will cover. By the end of the course they will have generated a publication-quality summary figure, along with appropriate supplemental figures, of the selective pressures shaping their favorite gene. Additionally, they will learn how to design and execute an experimental approach based off of findings from the evolutionary analysis.
