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Paper instructions:
REMEMBER TO KEEP TO THE BRIEF AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Assignment Title: Molecular Clock Analysis
Learning Outcomes:
2. Analyse the significance of genetic variation to the process of natural selection
Rationale:
For the past 40 years, evolutionary biologists have been investigating the possibility that some evolutionary changes occur in a clock-like fashion. Over the course of millions of years, mutations may build up in any given stretch of DNA at a reliable rate. For example, the gene that codes for the protein alpha-globin (a component of haemoglobin) experiences base changes at a rate of 0.56 changes per base pair per billion years. If this rate is reliable, the gene could be used as a molecular clock and can be used as a tool for estimating the dates of lineage-splitting events. As part of the preparation for this assignment you will complete the ‘Phylogenetic Tree Puzzle’ worksheets, working in groups with real data from real populations of lizards of various islands in the Canary Island Archipelago http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html . The data will include observations of lizard morphology (body form), geological age estimates of the various islands, geographic distances, and genetic distances based on nucleotide base differences in DNA.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html
This written assignment has two tasks:
1. Discuss the significance of genetic variation in the process of natural selection and evolution.
2. Discuss and evaluate the use of molecular clocks in phylogenetic analysis using relevant examples http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html
Assessment Criteria:
1. Discussion of the significance of genetic variation in the in the process of natural selection and evolution (40%)
2. Explanation and evaluation of the use of molecular clocks using relevant examples (including a discussion of the Phylogenetic Tree Puzzle’ that we have completed in class) (50%) http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fosrec/Filson.html
3. Identification of relevant texts which the report will refer to using the Harvard referencing system (10%)
The writer must be English as it is to be written in English, not American or Chinese English. Would rather that not so many American (uni/college) websites were referenced either, I hope you know what I mean by this.
HAVE INCLUDED A FILE called example of a past paper that shows what harvard referencing should look like called EXAMPLE PLEASE LOOK AT THIS.
YOU MUST LOOK AT JOURNALS FOR THIS. Where possible reference from up to date journals (from the last four years) and reference from the suggested reading list at the bottom of the instructions. As a rule use around 1 reference (from different sources) for every 100 words, use journals mainly, up to date books and try to stay away from webpages.
Type of assignment: Structured written report
Word count: 1500 words
Format:
All text should be fully justified, size 12 Arial font, with 1.5 line spacing, and normal margins. The report should contain page numbers and a header indicating your name, the module code and the assignment title. You must include a completed assignment submission cover sheet. Reference relevant sources using the appropriate Harvard Referencing system.
Indicative reading:
Texts
Begon, M. Harper, J. & Townsend, C. (2005) Ecology: Individuals, Populations, Communities. Oxford: Blackwell Science
Campbell, N., Reece, J.B. (2010) Biology. 8th edn. London: Pearson Education
Chapman, J.L. & Reiss (1999) Ecology: Principles and Applications.2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press
Journals & articles
Bromham, L and Penny, D (2003) The Modern Molecular Clock. Nature Reviews Vol 4: 216-224
Ho, S.Y.W and Larson, G (2006) Molecular clocks: when times are a-changin’. Trends in Genetics Vol 22 (2): 79-83
Kumar. S (2005) Molecular clocks: four decades of evolution. Nature Reviews Vol 6: 654-662
Pulquerio, M.J.F. and Nichols, R.A (2006). Dates from the molecular clock: how wrong can we be? Trends in Ecology and Evolution Vol 22 (4):180-184
Zuckerkandel, E and Pauling, L (1965) Molecules as Documents of Evolutionary History Journal of Theoretical Biology 8: 357-366
