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The Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study has been formulated as a dynamic online publication in order to provide the most up to date information possible. Master versions of the Degree Regulations and Programmes of Study incorporating all changes to date are archived twice a year on 1 September and within the first three University working days prior to the start of Semester 2 in January. Please note that some of the data recorded about this course has been amended since the last master version was archived. That version should be consulted to determine the changes made.

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Population & Evolutionary Genetics (U00720)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : BIO-4-GEpopevg

This course will deal with several types of ways that genetic variants can be useful in biology, including evolutionary biology, medicine, agricultural production and conservation biology. We will critically discuss different approaches to analysing this genetic variation. The lectures will cover methods for finding and quantifying genetic variation for various types of markers that are currently important, together with illustrations of their uses. The basic principles of molecular evolution will include analysis of divergence between sequences of different species, phylogenetic tree estimation, the neutral theory of molecular evolution, polymorphism within species, and methods to detect natural selection acting on gene sequences. The principles of using markers in genetic analysis of quantitative characters will include some of the major current issues in this area, including the heritability of human IQ, and will provide concepts needed to understand the genetics of complex human diseases. Finally, the use of pedigree information to study selection in natural populations, including the effects of inbreeding on fitness and the maintenance of genetic diversity, will be covered.