Biol 426L, Molecular Biology Lab Bioinformatics Project

For this project, You will work in a small group to create a learning experience for your peers that will allow them to investigate some of the evolutionary themes that emerge from studying the genomes and proteomes of various organisms. Your group will produce a lesson plan that explores one of the following themes, discussed in the Sean Carroll book, "The Making of the Fittest":

1. Gene/Protein extreme conservation through purifying selection on (usually) genes that encode products involved in central dogma processes.
2. Evolution of novel functions.
3. Vestigial (fossil) genes.
4. Arms races (signatures of selection)
5. Convergent evolution at the gene level.
6. Evolution of complexity through regulatory region changes in toolkit genes.

Your group will present your lesson plan at the end of the semester.

Grading of this project (group grade: everyone is expected to participate equally):

• 40% (40 points) Writing (clear, understandable presentation of lesson plan)
• 40% (40 points) Pedagogy (lesson plan leads students through material in a logical way, and affords them the opportunity to explore the gene/protein databases so as to learn key concepts)
• 20% (20 points) Presentation (group presentation should be a clear explication of the goals, methods, and processes of the lesson plan)