This module provides laboratory experience in essential microbiology. You will do three evolution experiments in which different organisms mutate and evolve in interesting ways. You will see how evolutionary and ecological theory plays out in real life, and how it is relevant to human problems like cancer and antibiotic resistance. You will also learn general analytical and experimental skills that are transferrable to other fields of science and technology.

There are four introductory lectures, followed by nine laboratory practical sessions during which you will conduct your own experiments. In one experiment you will allow yeast to evolve resistance to an antibiotic, analyse the distribution of resistant individuals to determine the frequency and randomness of the underlying mutations, and measure the fitness costs and benefits of antibiotic resistance. In another experiment you will allow bacteria to undergo an adaptive radiation in a structured environment, so that different types evolve to specialize in different ecological niches. The third evolution experiment allows you to visualize and isolate adaptive mutants as they occur in a population of evolving fungi. You will use these mutants to test the theoretical prediction that earlier steps in an adaptive walk are larger than later steps.

Because your evolution experiments need to run continuously over four weeks, it’s important that you attend every lab session so that you can maintain them. You’ll also need to collect and submit data during each lab session in order to analyse it. There are data interpretation exercises to do after each lab session; you will understand and appreciate the following lab session best if you complete and submit these on time, before the next session starts. The module is best suited to students which can work to deadlines.

Learning objectives:

Develop useful laboratory skills including liquid handling, plating microbes, organising complex practical work-flows.
	Gain insights into evolutionary processes (mutation, selection, diversification) by direct observation, measurement, and analysis of evolving populations.
	Experience the pleasure of running your own experiments and the satisfaction using your original data to test scientific hypotheses.
	Learn by experience, by doing laboratory experiments yourself.
 