Postgraduate Course: Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics (PGBI11087)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | 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. |
| Course description |
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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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 4 (Sem 2) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| 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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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One class test (60%) and one assignment (40%) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
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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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
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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© Copyright 2014 The University of Edinburgh - 12 January 2015 4:28 am
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