BIO9210 – Phylogeny and Classification

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The course presents a survey of research methodology in modern systematics with emphasis on phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data. Different approaches to phylogenetic analysis will be dealt with: distance methods, parsimony, network algorithms, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The connection between phylogeny and classification as well as a short introduction to basal nomenclature will be included.

Learning outcome

The students will obtain basal knowledge of phylogenetic theory as well as various analytic tools which will enable them to analyse different kinds of data and interpret the results in a larger context.

Admission

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.

If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.

PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.

The courses BIO4210 and BIO9210 have common admission. Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
1. PhD students and master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.
2. Other PhD students and visiting PhD students.
3. Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
4. Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Teaching will take place over five weeks in the beginning of the semester and will be organised in lectures and computer exercises where the students may work individually or in small groups.

First lecture is mandatory.  If you can not attend the first lecture, please send a note to studieinfo@ibv.uio.no, before the first lecture.

Examination

PhD students must hold a 30 minutes lecture on a relevant topic that is not already or shortly presented in the course. The topic will be decided on by the teacher and the student. Final written exam: 3 Hours.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: BIO4210 – Phylogeny and Classification (continued), BIOS5213 – Phylogeny and Classification, BIOS9213 – Phylogeny and Classification

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.

Evaluation

The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
PhD
Teaching
Every autumn
Examination
Every autumn
Teaching language
Norwegian (English on request)