Postgraduate Course: Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics (PGBI11087)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Postgraduate |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course covers the application of quantitative genetic analyses to key questions in evolutionary biology, with the aim of dissecting the processes of natural selection, microevolution within populations and the maintenance of genetic diversity. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Block 4 (Sem 2), Available to all students (SV1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
24/02/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
68 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the use of quantitative genetic analyses to address key questions in evolutionary biology, and of their application to studies of domestic, laboratory and wild populations. They will have experience of the main software packages used for estimating variance components and inbreeding coefficients.
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Assessment Information
| One class test (60%) and one assignment (40%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Session Topic
1-2. Introduction Measurement of natural selection on quantitative traits (directional, quadratic, correlational); approaches to quantifying fitness; empirical estimates of patterns of natural and sexual selection.
3. Predicting microevolutionary responses to natural selection: multivariate breeders¿ equation / Robertson-Price identity. Theory and empirical evidence.
4. Effects of a variable environment: phenotypic plasticity, reaction norms, genotype-environment interactions (computer practical).
5-6. Maintaining genetic variation: evolutionary trade-offs, antagonistic selection pressures, genotype-environment interactions, testing for genetic constraints via multivariate analyses of genetic variance-covariance matrix
7-8. Genomic approaches to studying microevolution.
9-10. Inbreeding and inbreeding depression (computer practical)
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | EQG |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Andrew Leigh-Brown
Tel: (0131 6)50 5523
Email: A.Leigh-Brown@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Jennifer Morris
Tel: (0131 6)50 5513
Email: jennie.morris@ed.ac.uk |
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