40BBL00301
Evolution and Environmental Biology 2
1st Half
1 Credit
47 Basic Biology Program
Niimi, Shigenobu, Kawaguchi, Uchiyama, Mano, Nakamura, Morita, Goto, Oikawa
■Outline
The course will introduce topics on modern evolutionary biology covering the fundamentals of the methods for comparative genomics analyses. The first topic includes variant detection, orthology analysis, whole genome comparison and detection of selection signature. Continuously, it will introduce the evolutionary mechanism that brings about the diversity of organisms. The evolutionary novelties acquired by insects through evolution will be discussed. Arbuscular mycorrhiza and root nodule symbioses are mutually successful and beneficial interactions on earth. The evolution of plant-microbe symbioses by recruiting or neo-functionalizing common factors will be discussed. Some eukaryotic organelles are thought to have originated from endosymbiotic relationships with ancestral microorganisms. A prime example of this is the acquisition of chloroplasts. Beyond their evolutionary origins, most organelles exhibit remarkable plasticity, dynamically modulating their function, size, abundance, and morphology in response to environmental cues. Chloroplasts, peroxisomes, vacuoles, and lysosomes exemplify this adaptive capacity. The molecular mechanisms underlying such organelle plasticity will be discussed.
■Learning objectives
1．Understand the principles of genome sequencing and the fundamentals of the bioinformatics techniques for genome analysis and molecular evolution study.
2．Understand the basic concepts, methods, and applications of comparative genomics.
3．Understand the diversity and evolution of insects.
4．Understand the evolution of symbiotic mechanisms between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
5．Understand the molecular mechanisms and evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis.
6．Understand the dynamic plasticity of organelles in response to environmental changes in eukaryotic cells.
■Grading policy
Grades are determined based on class attendance and the quality of papers submitted to the lecturer by the deadline. The subject of the paper must be one of the six course objectives.
■Lecture Plan
Session 1 Friday, May 22, 2026 (Shigenobu, S.) (45 minutes x 2 sessions)
14:40-15:25 Genome sequencing and the methods for evolutionary genomics I
15:30-16:15 Genome sequencing and the methods for evolutionary genomics II
Session 2 Friday, May 29, 2026 (Uchiyama, I.) (45 minutes x 2 sessions)
13:00-13:45 Bioinformatics for comparative genomics I
13:50-14:35 Bioinformatics for comparative genomics II
Session 3 Friday, June 5, 2026 (Nakamura, T., Morita, S., Niimi, T.) (45 minutes x 3 sessions)
13:00-13:45 Evolution of insects I（Nakamura, T.）
13:50-14:35 Evolution of insects II（Morita, S.）
14:40-15:25 Evolution of insects III（Niimi, T.）
Session 4 Friday, June 12, 2026 (Kawaguchi, M.) (45 minutes x 2 sessions)
13:00-13:45 Evolution of root nodule symbiosis I
13:50-14:35 Evolution of root nodule symbiosis II
Session 5 Friday, June 19, 2026 (Kawaguchi, M.) (45 minutes x 3 sessions)
13:00-13:45 Evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis I
13:50-14:35 Evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis II
14:40-15:25 Evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis III
Session 6 Friday, June 26, 2026 (Mano, S., Oikawa, K., Goto, S.) (45 minutes x 3 sessions)
13:00-13:45 Environmental adaptation strategies of organelles I（Mano, S.）
13:50-14:35 Environmental adaptation strategies of organelles II（Oikawa, K.）
14:40-15:25 Environmental adaptation strategies of organelles III（Goto, S.）
■Location
Online lecture using Zoom
■Language
English (Japanese may be used only when all students are native Japanese speakers).
■Textbooks and references
Not specified
■Notes for students of other programs
Students other than Basic Biology Program who wish to enroll in this class should contact Graduate Student Affairs Section, Okazaki Administration Center (r7139@orion.ac.jp) during the registration period.
■Contact for Course Inquiries
Teruyuki NIIMI niimi@nibb.ac.jp
