Basic and deeper knowledge in the life sciences, primarily acquired through modules attended in life sciences and related fields during the first four semesters, or acquired during a completed bachelor degree. Qualifikationsziele: Die Studentinnen und Studenten erlangen einen Einblick in evolutionstheoretische Konzepte und ihre Anwendung in der modernen Medizin, um Gesundheit und Krankheiten zu verstehen. Sie können fundamentale Konzepte über Fächergrenzen anwenden und ein Verständnis entwickeln, weshalb solch ein multidisziplinärer Ansatz vertieftes Wissen in der Medizin generiert. Inhalte: Vertiefter Einblick in exemplarische Anwendung von Evolutionstheorien in der Medizin und die Bedeutung evolutiver Prozesse für die moderne Medizin. Dies beinhaltet u.a. die Virulenzevolution von Viren, Antibiotikaresistenz, Altern, und die Evolution von Tumoren. Kritische Analyse von Originalarbeiten. Synthesen ausgewählter Fachliteratur. Präsentation von Ideen, Hypothesen und Ergebnissen in Vortrag und Diskussion. Schließen

Estimated Course schedule:

27.10. Introduction to Evolutionary Medicine: concepts of Evolution, going to the roots and why are we susceptible? (Ulrich Steiner)
3.11. Neurodegeneration and Lifestyle diseases (Katja Nowick)
10.11. Cancer (Hochberg)
17.11. Resistance evolution (Jens Rolff)
24.11. Antibiotic resistance (Robin Michelet)
1.12. Tolerance (Sophie Armitage)
8.12. Parasite-host evolutionary arm race: parasite immune evasion versus host immune protection (Susanne Hartmann)
15.12. Evolution of sexual differentiation (Peter Hammerstein)

12.1. Life history evolution (Jessica Metcalf)
19.1. Evolution of aging (Ulrich Steiner)
26.1. Viral evolution (Christian Drosten)
2.2. Evolution of emerging viruses (Sandra Junglen)
9.2. Leaky vaccines (Dino McMahon)

Students will gain insights into evolutionary theoretic concepts and their application in modern medicine to understand health and disease. They will apply fundamental evolutionary concepts across disciplines and derive understanding why such cross disciplinary approach generates deeper knowledge in medicine.

Deeper insights into application of evolutionary theories in modern medicine through applied examples. Topics covered, include viral evolution, evolution of antibiotic resistance, diversification of cancer, evolutionary roots of neurodegeneration and lifestyle diseases, evolution of sexual differentiation, aging, and immunity and evolutionary arms races. The adjacent seminar trains to understand topic scpecific scientific publications, to discuss those topics in the context of the current scientific understanding and to present them in a scientific manner. Synthesis of selected scientific articles, presentation of ideas, hypotheses and results and their discussion.

Schließen