Course Description
Ecological genetics lies at the interface of genetics, ecology, and evolution. Concepts in population and quantitative genetics, including measuring selection on phenotypic traits, with a focus on methods applicable to field studies of ecologically important characters will be covered.
Athena Title
ECOLOGICAL GENETICS
Prerequisite
GENE 4000/6000 or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students successfully completing this course will have learned how population and quantitative genetics can be used to analyze the evolution of ecologically important traits, i.e., those characters important for adaptation of an organism to the environment. Successful students will review basic population genetic concepts such as mutation, selection, gene flow, drift and mating system. Successful students will understand quantitative genetics concepts as they apply to evolutionary and ecological studies, including the measurement of additive genetic variance. Successful students will know how QTL genome scans are performed and how they contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of traits of ecological importance. Students successfully completing this course will understand how the genetic basis of complex traits is determined. Successful students will understand how genetic correlations can speed or hinder evolution of ecologically important traits. Students will learn how organisms can adapt to ecological conditions by plasticity and understand the costs of the evolution of plasticity. Students will be able to apply basic science knowledge to applied ecological genetics situations, such as transgene escape, weedy and invasive species and the evolution of resistance, including costs of resistance. Students will complete problem sets and be evaluated by exams and a research paper. Students will read papers from the primary scientific literature and be prepared to present the methods and conclusions of those papers orally to the class.
Topical Outline
1. Population genetics: sources and measurement of genetic variation 2. Population genetics: changes in allele frequencies 3. Quantitative genetics: additive genetic variation 4. QTL mapping for ecological genetics 5. Phenotypic plasticity and genotype x environment interactions 6. Genetic correlations 7. Natural selection on phenotypes 8. Transgene escape 9. Evolution of resistance This course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.