300127 VO Genomic approaches to variation and adaptation: a road map (2024W)

This course offers an introduction into the dynamic intersection of genomics, ecology, and evolution, equipping students with theoretical insights and skills to tackle fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how genomic approaches can be applied to study biological variation, the processes of adaptation, and the mechanisms underlying speciation. Students will explore modern techniques and theoretical frameworks to investigate how genetic diversity contributes to evolutionary change and species formation across different ecosystems and taxa.
By the end of the course, students will: (i) Gain a solid foundation in the principles of evolutionary and ecological genomics; (ii) Understand how genomic variation drives adaptation and speciation; and (iii) Understand key concepts used in the analyzes and interpretations of genomic data using modern bioinformatics tools. The course will also include examples of how these approaches are applied to real-world examples in both plant and animal systems.
Key methodologies that will be introduced include:
-Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), including genome assembly, and reduced-representation sequencing (e.g., RAD-seq);
-Population genomics, demographic inference and genome-wide association studies (GWAS);
-Comparative genomics across species and populations;
-Bioinformatic approaches for analyzing genetic variation (SNPs, structural variants, transposable elements);
-Genomic procedures to trace natural selection;
-Genomic and geographic clines and the impact of hybridization and gene flow on genomes;
-Phylogenomic approaches to infer evolutionary relationships;
-Functional aspects of genomes, and gene-environment interactions.