MSc Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution

Learn how taxonomy and systematics provide the foundation for our understanding of biological diversity.

Taught mostly at the Natural History Museum, this flagship course gives unparalleled access to our research staff and collections.

The course consists of:

• 20 weeks of taught modules from October to March, and includes a mini-project in phylogenetics and phylogenomics
• 16 weeks conducting a student research project from April to September

Aims and objectives

Students will be trained to a high level of competence in systematics and have a detailed understanding of the various uses and problems involved.

This course provides in-depth training in the study of biodiversity based on the principles of phylogenetics, evolutionary biology, palaeobiology and taxonomy. It emphasises quantitative approaches and current methods in DNA-based phylogenetics, bioinformatics, and the use of digital collections.

Taxonomy and systematics provide the foundation for studying the great diversity of the living world and its evolutionary history. These fields are rapidly changing through new digital and molecular technologies.

There is an ever-greater need for species identification and monitoring across environmental sciences, and evolutionary ‘tree thinking’ is now widely applied across most areas of the life sciences.

Course content

The taught course consists of the following modules:

• Taxonomy of major groups and the Tree of Life: An introduction to major branches of the Tree, including identification exercises.
• Statistics and computing: A two-week intensive course at Silwood Park.
• Field course: Trapping and collecting techniques for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
• Phylogenetic reconstruction: The principles of building phylogenetic trees.
• Molecular systematics: Generating and analysing molecular data; model-based phylogenetics.
• Phylogenomics: Genomic techniques for studying evolutionary processes and biodiversity.
• Biodiversity (concepts): Speciation, radiation, macroevolution, evolution and development.
• Biodiversity (applied): Measuring biodiversity, geospatial analysis, collection management and biodiversity informatics.
• Palaeobiology: Studying the fossil record and what we can learn about biodiversity.