Vorlesung/Übung: Molekulare Phylogenetik/Theory of Molecular Phylogenetics

We will have an introductory meeting on 21st of October 2026 at 13:15 in the Besprechungsraum in Soldmannstraße 23 (on the ground floor of the building, where the seminar rooms are). This first part of the module will be held from 22nd to 25th of March 2027 in Seminarroom 232 in Soldmannstraße 23 all morning. This belongs still to the winter term, so please register now! The seminar will follow in the summer term.

Felsenstein, J. 2004. Inferring Phylogenies. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts.

Knoop, V. & Müller, K. 2009. Gene und Stammbäume. Ein Handbuch zur molekularen Phylogenetik. 2. Auflage. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg.

Lemey, P., Salemi, M. & Vandamme, A.-M. 2009. The Phylogenetic Handbook. A Practical Approach to Phylogenetic Analysis and Hypothesis Testing. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Page, R.D.M. & Holmes, E.C. 1998. Molecular Evolution. A Phylogenetic Approach. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

Klausur/written exam in April (a second date will be offered late June or early July).

General principles of phylogenetics; comparison of data types (morphological vs. molecular data); tree reconstruction methods: maximum parsimony, distance analyses, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference; molcular clock; long branch attraction; challanges of genomics; coalescence

Theoretical presentations and computer practicals using standard software packages (all freeware; preferably in MS Windows) will alternate, thereby exploring performance, strenghts and weeknesses of the different approaches.

Students of the master courses Biodiversity and Ecology, Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution (BEE), and Biomathematics interested in phylogenetics/systematics/evolution and respective methodology.