Population Genetics

What happens to genetic variation initially created by mutations, and what is its fate in a population? What forces influence this variation at the molecular and organismic levels, and how does this lead to evolution, speciation, and biodiversity? The field of population genetics now plays an important role in many central biological questions, such as "how are human populations related?" and "How has selection influenced variation at the genomic level?" Through practice and investigating the primary literature, this class will introduce students to the basic theory and observations in this field, and students will learn the principles of genetics and statistics that provide insight into genetic variation in populations. Prerequisite: Some calculus, some genetics. Instructor Permission Required.