Mathematical theory of population genetics, fall 2012

Last modified by priklopi@helsinki_fi on 2024/03/27 10:37

Mathematical theory of population genetics, fall 2012

Population genetics studies the genetic composition of biological populations, and its change under the influence of various factors, including natural selection, mutation, recombination and migration. Population genetics thus provides the basis for understanding the evolutionary processes that have led to the biodiversity we encounter today.

In this course we get familiar with focal concepts and build a theoretical framework to gain proper understanding of the relevant evolutionary processes. Course will cover elementary population genetics (e.g. Hardy-Weinberg law, selection at single locus), mutation-selection models at two or more loci, equations for quantitative traits under selection and basic principles of coalescent theory.

Lecturer

Tadeas Priklopil

Scope

10 cu.

Type

Advanced studies

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of dynamical equations (discrete dynamical systems and differential equations) and probability theory.

Lectures

Weeks 36-42 and 44-50, Monday 14-16 in room C122 (note the change!) and Wednesday 14-16 in room B322. Two hours of exercise classes per week.

Note! Monday lecture 26.11 cancelled.

Exams

Date, time and place: 17.12.2012, 14.15 - 16.00, room C122.

Bibliography

Lecture notes will be mainly based on the book by Burger (2000): The mathematical theory of selection, recombination and mutation, and on the book by Wakeley (2009): Coalescent theory: an introduction.

Registration

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Exercise groups

Group	Day	Time	Place	Instructor
1.	Thursday	10-12	B321	Tadeas Priklopil

Feedback!

Below you will find a link to a feedback page, where you can express (anonymously) your thoughts about the course. In particular, it would be interesting to know whether some topics dealt in the course were too superficial/too detailed, or whether you have suggestions for future topics, or whether the course material should be improved (and if so, in which way), or etc.. ALL THE COMMENTS ARE WELCOME! Note, that you have a big influence on the content of the course, which will be given also in future semesters (those who give signed comments will be in the acknowledgments of the course material!).

Link to the feedback page (note that the textbox can be enlarged by dragging the bottom right corner)

Course material

Lecture notes

week	topic	exercises
week 1
	5.9. Introductory lecture. Slides 1
week 2	10.9. Hardy-Weinberg
	12.9. Average effects	Exercise 1
week 3

week 4	24.9. Selection models - part I
	26.9. Selection models - part II	Exercise 2
week 5	1.10. Protected coexistence - part I
	3.10. Protected coexistence - part II	Exercise 3