• Flatt Thomas

• Flatt Thomas

This course gives a thorough introduction to population genetics. Population genetics describes how genetic variation within and among populations of organisms changes through space and time. To understand the processes that affect patterns of genetic variability mathematical and statistical models are developed that describe the effects of mutation, genetic drift, migration and selection. Thus, these models allow us to detect and quantify evolutionary processes in natural populations. A major aim of this course is to introduce students to the evolutionary processes that affect genetic variability and to the underlying models.

Students will understand the basic principles of population genetics, including the effects of mutation, genetic drift, recombination, gene flow (migration) and selection. They will be able to understand these processes in terms of mathematical models and apply these to genetic data. They will further be able to formulate expectations from such models for how genetic variability is predicted to change under different evolutionary conditions. Finally, they will understand what genetic / genomic data can tell us about the evolutionary past of a species and how population genetic models can be used to quantify this evolutionary past.

1. Primary reference: Title: "An introduction to Population Genetics" Authors: Nielsen & Slatkin Editors: Sinauer, 2013 ISBN: 978-1-60535-153-7

2. In order to avoid the time conflict with the compulsory course SGG.00271 (Méthodes qualitatives II  en branche complémentaire GEOG-60), it is advisable to take SBL.00049 in semester 3 and SGG.00271 in semester 5.

Épreuve écrite (90 min.). Une note.