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Lecture 1: Introduction to Population Genetics

Lecture 1: Introduction to Population Genetics. August 20, 2012. Instructors. Steve DiFazio 5200 Life Sciences Building Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs 1 to 2 pm Hari Chhetri (TA) 5206 Life Sciences Building Office Hours: Tue, Wed, Fri 11:30 to 12:30

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Lecture 1: Introduction to Population Genetics

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  1. Lecture 1: Introduction to Population Genetics August 20, 2012

  2. Instructors • Steve DiFazio • 5200 Life Sciences Building • Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs 1 to 2 pm • Hari Chhetri (TA) • 5206 Life Sciences Building • Office Hours: Tue, Wed, Fri 11:30 to 12:30 • Please use office hours, or make appointment!

  3. Course Structure • Two 50-minute lectures per week • Do readings before class • Bring a calculator to class • Be ready to participate! • Handouts of lecture slides will usually be distributed at beginning of class • Slides posted to website after class (don’t print old slides) • One 2-hour lab session, 6:30-8:20 each week

  4. Grading • Exam 1, Sept 26, 120 points • Exam 2, Oct 31, 120 points • Weekly Lab Reports, 12 X 10 pts = 120 points • Final Exam, Monday, Dec 11, 11 am, 3131 LSB, 140 points • Extra credit opportunities • Scale for final grades: (no curve)

  5. Class Website http://www.as.wvu.edu/~sdifazio/popgen/ or Google “difazio popgen” Home page has information from syllabus: • Course structure • Grading • Rules and policies

  6. Schedule Page • Updated continuously during course • Lecture slides available following lecture • Reading assignments • Exam schedule • Lab schedule

  7. Required Text Hedrick, P.W. 2011. Genetics of Populations. Jones and Bartlett • Available from WVU book store • Also partially on Google Books (searchable)

  8. Supplemental Reading Mountain Lynx Three books on reserve in WVU downtown library: • Hamilton, M. 2009. Population Genetics. • Gillespie, J.H. 2004. Population Genetics: A Concise Guide. • Falconer, D.S., and T.F.C. Mackay. 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics.

  9. Supplemental Reading

  10. Other Resources

  11. Laboratory • TA: Hari Chhetri • Tightly linked to lectures • Intended as “Active Learning” modules • Enhance understanding of concepts and principles • Provide hands-on introduction to Population Genetics software • Every Wednesday evening, 6:30 to 8:20 pm • 3306 Life Sciences Building (Biology computer lab) • Bring a calculator and your lab manual

  12. Required Lab Manual Slavov, G, E. Rodgers-Melnick, and S.P. DiFazio. 2012. BIOL 464/GEN 535 Population Genetics Laboratory Manual. WVU Press. 107 Pages. • Available only from WVU book store (~$20) • Please purchase by this Wednesday, August 22

  13. Extra Credit Opportunity Find a new error in the Lab Manual or Text • Typo/grammatical error: 1 point • Calculation, derivation or mathematical error: 5 points • First come, first served

  14. Laboratory Web Page • Schedule of lab topics • Links to required software and data • Due dates for lab reports

  15. Lab Reports • Lab reports due at beginning of lab period • 12 total, worth 10 points each • Deduct 0.5 points for each day late • Last report is optional: up to 10 pts extra credit • Guidelines for lab report are in lab manual • Email and/or paper versions are fine • Most weeks require a write-up with interpretations for each calculation or simulation • Please be careful to fully answer questions, including explanations of results from biological standpoint

  16. Working Together and Academic Honesty • Group work in laboratory is optional but encouraged • It is fine to discuss lab problems and work on them together • HOWEVER, your lab report must be your original work • See academic honesty policy on class website • Exams are based primarily on the lab exercises and examples worked in class

  17. Highlights from the Schedule • Introduction to Probability • Genetic variation in populations: Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium • Selection • Inbreeding • Genetic drift • Gene Flow and population structure • Phylogenetics • Genetic identity and forensic identification • Coalescence and neutral theory • Linkage disequilibrium • Quantitative genetics • Tying genotypes to phenotypes

  18. What is Evolution?

  19. Sewall Wright R.A. Fisher http://www.ars.usda.gov J.B.S. Haldane http://www.york.ac.uk http://www.ucc.ie/ Evolutionary Synthesis • Fisher, Wright, and Haldane were fathers of population genetics and modern evolutionary theory • Working in early 1920’s, worked out how to apply Mendel’s laws in a population context to provide mechanistic explanation for evolutionary change

  20. Mutation Drift + - + +/- Selection Migration Population Genetics Study of heritable variation in assemblages of organisms, and how this is affected by mutation, drift, selection, and gene flow Diversity

  21. Population Genetics is Important • Disease susceptibility, genetic testing, and personalized medicine • Statistical interpretation of forensic DNA evidence • Human evolution and cultural history • Crop and animal improvement • Traditional breeding • Genetic engineering • Conservation plans for plant and animal communities • Responses of plant and animal communities to climate change

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