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The Origins of Bacterial Species
BIOL537 SP

Bacteria and viruses are known to exchange genes by sexual recombination, as is the case for animals and plants. However, the nature of genetic exchange in microbes is quite different from that in the higher eukaryotes: microbial sex is rare; it is promiscuous (that is, microbes are not fussy about their choices of partners); and each recombination event is localized to a small stretch of genome. This course will explore how these peculiarites of microbial sex can impact on adaptive evolution and th e origins of new species of bacteria and viruses. Topics will include: the characteristics of microbial sex; how rare sex causes genetic drift to be unexpectedly intense in microbes; why barriers to genetic exchange and geographic separation are not necessary steps in the origins of microbial species; the potential for formation of new bacterial species; the evolutionary role of genetic gifts from other species, including genes for pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance; and the use of molecular mar kers to identify ecologically distinct populations of bacteria and viruses.

MAJOR READINGS

Recent journal articles.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One term paper; oral presentations of recent discoveries.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: GRAD    Credit: .5    Gen Ed Area Dept: NONE    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: BIOL349

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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