Introduction to Evolutionary Dynamics Course | IIT Bombay | Prof. Supreet Saini
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 29 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Biological Sciences & Bioengineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 18 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Introduction to Evolutionary Dynamics: A 12-Week Course by Prof. Supreet Saini
Life on Earth, in its breathtaking diversity, is the product of a ~4 billion-year experiment governed by evolution. Understanding the principles that shape this process is not just a pursuit for biologists but a foundational framework for anyone interested in the dynamics of complex systems. The course Introduction to Evolutionary Dynamics, offered by Prof. Supreet Saini of IIT Bombay, provides a rigorous yet accessible gateway into this fascinating world.
This 12-week program is meticulously designed to bridge theory and cutting-edge research, making it an invaluable resource for students and professionals across scientific disciplines.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Supreet Saini
Prof. Supreet Saini brings a distinguished academic pedigree and a dynamic research perspective to the course. A Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a Fellow of the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance at IIT Bombay, his expertise is rooted in a strong interdisciplinary foundation.
- Education: B.Tech. from IIT Delhi, followed by an MS and PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
- Research Focus: His group tackles open problems in evolutionary biology using a powerful combination of experimental and theoretical approaches, ensuring the course content is grounded in real-world scientific inquiry.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is uniquely structured to cater to a wide audience, breaking down traditional disciplinary barriers.
- Biosciences & Bioengineering Students: Gain a deep, quantitative understanding of evolutionary principles that go beyond textbook descriptions.
- Physical Sciences & Engineering Students (Physics, CS, Math): Discover how your analytical and modeling skills can be applied to solve fundamental biological problems. As Prof. Saini notes, the foundational work in evolution was significantly advanced by statisticians, mathematicians, and physicists.
- Industry Professionals: Highly relevant for those in Biotechnology, Protein Design, and Engineering, where evolutionary principles are harnessed for drug development, enzyme engineering, and synthetic biology.
Course Layout: A 12-Week Journey into Evolutionary Principles
The course progresses from foundational concepts to advanced research applications, with a strong emphasis on microbial systems which allow for direct experimental observation of evolution in real-time.
| Week | Topic | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Theory of Natural Selection | Biological and mathematical background setup. |
| 2 | Studying Evolution in Prokaryotes vs. Eukaryotes | Fundamental differences in evolutionary study models. |
| 3 | Population Growth Models | Mathematical frameworks for population dynamics. |
| 4 | Concept of Fitness and Fitness Landscapes | Visualizing evolution as a navigation problem on adaptive peaks and valleys. |
| 5 | Selection and Drift | The interplay between deterministic natural selection and random genetic drift. |
| 6 | Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution | The dN/dS ratio and its variations to detect selection at the molecular level. |
| 7 | Horizontal Gene Transfer | Its crucial role in microbial evolution and adaptation. |
| 8 | Laboratory Evolution Experiments | Methods: Serial Subculture, Chemostat, Mutation Accumulation. |
| 9 | Lessons from the Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE) | Insights from 80,000+ generations of E. coli evolution. |
| 10 | Multicellularity Evolution Experiment | Analysis of yeast transitioning to multicellular forms over 10,000 generations. |
| 11 | Microbial Community Ecology | Studying evolution in complex, multi-species populations. |
| 12 | Speciation in Microbes & Course Summary | How new microbial species arise and a recap of core principles. |
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, participants will:
- Develop a conceptual and mathematical framework for how chance (drift) and necessity (selection) determine evolutionary outcomes.
- Understand core models like fitness landscapes and the Neutral Theory.
- Learn how modern experimental evolution is conducted in the lab, using workhorses like E. coli and yeast.
- Analyze landmark experiments such as the famed Long-Term Evolution Experiment (LTEE).
- Appreciate the application of evolutionary principles to solve pressing problems in healthcare and biotechnology.
Recommended Textbooks
- Evolutionary Dynamics by Martin Nowak (Harvard University Press, 2006). A more mathematical treatment of evolutionary concepts.
- Evolution by Douglas Futuyma & Mark Kirkpatrick (Oxford University Press, 4th Ed., 2017). A comprehensive and authoritative textbook on evolutionary biology.
Whether you are a biology student seeking a quantitative edge, a computer scientist interested in evolutionary algorithms, or an engineer looking at biological design principles, Introduction to Evolutionary Dynamics offers the tools and perspective to understand the forces that shape life itself. Enroll to begin your journey into the fundamental science of change and adaptation.
Enroll Now →