300627 SE Trends in Plant Genome Evolution (2025S)

This course offers the students the possibility to get acquainted with modern literature and recent views on plant (but also other systems, should there be interest) genome evolution (polyploidy, dysploidy, mechanisms of genome evolution, specialized chromosomal systems, types and evolution of tandem and dispersed repeats - including mobile genetic elements). The selected papers (papers will be available for course participants to choose from) will focus on types of patterns and mechanisms of genome evolution. One of the topics specifically addressed will be polyploidy as a driving force of plant genome evolution. The origin and establishment of polyploids as well as genetic and epigenetic changes following polyploidy will be discussed. Structural genome changes both on polyploid and diploid level will also be addressed, involving specifically the dynamics of changes of variuos types of repeats in the genome, including the mechanisms partaking in their evolution in the genomes of various organismal groups. The impact of repeats on genome restructuring on all levels of organization and evolution will be discussed, as well as their functionality in the genome (selfish junk DNA vs. useful collaborator hypothesis). Special chromosomal systems (sex chromosomes, B chromosomes etc.) will also be discussed. The course aims to provide broader understanding and appreciation of different aspects of evolution of chromosomes in shaping plant genomes, especially in the current era of genomics. The application of next generation sequencing to analyze complex plant genomes, both diploid and polyploid will also be a focus of this course.