SMS scnews item created by Uri Keich at Fri 9 Sep 2011 1804
Type: Seminar
Distribution: World
Expiry: 16 Sep 2011
Calendar1: 16 Sep 2011 1400-1500
CalLoc1: Carslaw 173
Auth: uri@purix (assumed)

# Statistics Seminar: Robert Lanfear -- Measuring mutants: statistical and mathematical challenges in understanding molecular evolution, and how to solve some of them

Robert Lanfear Centre for Macroevolution and Macroecology, Research School of Biology
Australian National University

Location: Carslaw 173

Time: 2pm Friday, September 16, 2011

Measuring mutants: statistical and mathematical challenges in understanding molecular
evolution, and how to solve some of them

Abstract: Understanding molecular evolution is both interesting in its own right, and
also central to how we use and interpret the information contained in DNA sequences.  It
is also fraught with statistical and mathematical challenges.  In this talk I will
discuss a number of recent attempts to overcome some of these challenges, and describe
how each new solution changed how we understand the information in DNA sequences.  These
challenges include how we account for variation in evolutionary processes at different
sites of DNA sequences, how we can statistically compare patterns of molecular evolution
in different lineages, and how we can use comparative methods to understand the causes
and consequences of molecular evolution.


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