Molecular Evolution

Entry requirements

2:2 degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject.

Months of entry

February, September

Course content

Masters by Research (MRes) programmes allow students to undertake a substantial amount of independent research while gaining 20 credits of transferable skills training. The programmes are flexible in nature and allow students to take some additional accredited taught credits, in consultation with their supervisor.

The MRes Molecular Evolution involves the study of the evolutionary relationships among organisms and gene families using molecular methods, with evolutionary trees (phylogenies) generated from the analysis of DNA and protein sequences.

The programme involves both laboratory work (DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing) and bioinformatics (DNA sequence alignment and phylogeny reconstruction).

Research projects are available in:

• the evolutionary relationships in the molluscs (in particular, the land snails) and the link between molluscan phylogenies and biogeography
• the molecular taxonomy of spiders and the link between rates of molecular and morphological diversification
• studies on the evolution of spider silk gene families and the relationship between silk diversification and speciation
• studies on the phylogeny of the foraminifera and the distribution of different genetic types across the oceans