Molecular Ecology and Evolution

Question 1

What is molecular ecology and evolution?

Answer 1

Using DNA to measure things we cannot observe to reconstruct the past

Question 2

What are microsatellites?

Answer 2

Regions in the genome that are repeated in sequence, 2-6 bp long. They are highly variable due to copying errors

Question 3

What 5 factors affect genetic variation?

Answer 3

1. Population size
2. Mutation rate of the marker
3. Inbreeding
4. Gene flow
5. Population history

Question 4

How do you calculate distance methods?

Answer 4

1. Line up and number the base sequences
2. Draw a punnet square numbering the differences between each base sequence
3. Order them in ascending order of differences

Question 5

What is the parsimony method?

What are the limitations?

Answer 5

Prefer the tree that has the fewest changes (is the most parsimonious)
The number of possible trees is huge
DNA evolution is not always parsimonious

Question 6

What is the likelihood method?

Answer 6

Model the sequence evolution on trees and the distance method data

Question 7

How do you obtain a dated tree?

Answer 7

By using a molecular clock, fossils or biogeographical calibrations

Question 8

What markers and analyses do you use for the individual, the population and the species?

Answer 8

1. Individual - microsatellies and SNPs - pedigree population genetics
2. Population - mtDNA and SNPs - phylogeograph, coalescence
3. Species - mtDNA, nuclear DNA - phylogenetics