Population Genetics

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Have you ever wondered why there is genetic variation among individuals? How is DNA used as forensic evidence in court cases? How do we know that all modern humans inherited a fraction of their genome from extinct Neanderthals? How do genotyping services like 23andMe determine ancestry or disease risk? Answers to these questions and many more are found in predictions for genotype frequencies, and the action of recombination, genetic drift, effective population size, gene flow, and natural selection that operate within all species. This class introduces foundational quantitative models that predict allele and genotype frequencies, often uses computer simulations, and will carry out a forensic DNA typing exercise. Students will emerge with stronger foundations in probability and computational biology as well as an understanding of hypothesis testing in evolutionary genetics. Prerequisites: BIOL 152 or BIOL 180 or BIOL 185 or BIOL 387 or BIOL 422.