Centre for Research Informatics Training
Foundations of phylogenetic inference
Event details
Sessions
- 7 May 2027 — 09:30 to 17:30 — Craik-Marshall
Book this event
This event is not yet bookable.
Are you a University of Cambridge member?
About the course
Phylogenetic methods use molecular sequence data to reconstruct evolutionary relationships between organisms and genes. This course provides an introduction to the principles and practice of molecular phylogenetic inference, from preparing sequence data through to interpreting phylogenetic trees.
Participants will learn the fundamental concepts of phylogenetic analysis, including what phylogenetic trees represent and how to interpret them. The course covers the generation of multiple sequence alignments from DNA and protein sequences and discusses the strengths and limitations of different alignment approaches.
The course then introduces methods for phylogenetic tree reconstruction, with a particular focus on maximum likelihood inference and assessing confidence in inferred relationships using bootstrap resampling. Finally, participants will be introduced to Bayesian approaches for estimating uncertainty in phylogenetic parameters and incorporating additional information into more advanced phylogenetic analyses.
By the end of the course, participants should be able to reconstruct and critically interpret molecular phylogenies and make informed choices about phylogenetic methods and software.
Teaching is primarily hands-on, with short presentations and demonstrations introducing the concepts and methods needed to construct and interpret phylogenetic trees.
Intended audience
This course is suitable for:
- researchers with little or no prior experience in phylogenetic analysis
- participants interested in constructing phylogenies from relatively small sequence datasets, including viral genomes and targeted regions of eukaryotic genomes
- researchers seeking practical experience with phylogenetic inference methods and software
- participants interested in interpreting evolutionary relationships using molecular data
This course does not cover topics in phylogenomics or bacterial genomics.
Prerequisites
Participants should have:
- familiarity with the UNIX command line (for example through the Introduction to the Unix Command Line course)
- familiarity with basic concepts in evolution, including common ancestry, sequence divergence through mutation, and natural selection
- basic experience examining DNA and protein sequence data
Course fees
All fees are per full training day.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Industry full charge | £130.00 |
| Academic / Government / charity concessionary | £65.00 |
| Cambridge University staff members / postdocs / visitors | £65.00 |
| Cambridge University registered students | Free |
| Cambridge University registered students non-attendance | £22.00 |
| Special events | Per event |
Payment options will be provided in booking confirmation emails sent after registration.
General information
More detailed information is available on our dedicated cancellation and non-attendance policy, waiting list, accessibility, privacy policies and terms & conditions pages.
Guidance on visiting Cambridge and finding accommodation is available here.