Unit name | Phylogenetic Methods in Palaeobiology |
---|---|
Unit code | EASCM0035 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6) |
Unit director | Professor. Pisani |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The unit aims to introduce students to:
In this unit students will gain a general understanding of modern methods in macroevolutionary analysis through a series of lectures covering Phylogenetic reconstruction, Inference of divergence time and the Comparative method. Practicals will include how to use supercomputers (using a UNIX/LINUX shell interface) and how to use an array of standard software for data analysis (e.g. PAUP MrBayes Phylobayes).
Practicals 1 to 3 are formative: students complete a series of exercises to learn how to use a diversity of phylogenetic software. Feedback will be provided.
Practical 4 is a Graded Practical: students are given a problem to complete that will be marked. The mark for this work gives the overall unit mark.
Practical 5 is formative: students use this practical class to review the work undertaken in practicals 1 – 3 and continue to work on the assessed assignment set in practical 4. Students can request feedback on specific topics
Students will:
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete laboratory work, or alternative activities, in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.
Coursework (100%)
In Practical 4 students are assigned one assessed exercise. This consists of a paper to read and a dataset to analyse. During the practical students will complete phylogenetic analyses of the given dataset and compare their results with those of the published paper.
Students' results are written up as a short Research Paper (500 words minimum - 1200 words maximum & one figure, if necessary with panels) + References.
Essential
Further Reading: