Genetics and Genomics
This module covers the theory and practice of modern genetics. It is designed to provide biologists with the foundations upon which statistical genetics is built, and/or an introduction to the concepts of classical and contemporary genetics for statisticians and informaticians. It consists of ten 90-minute lectures.
The module starts with the key concepts of quantitative and Mendelian genetics and then illustrates how these have been reconciled with molecular biology. Three half-days are then spent on the basics of genome-wide association mapping as well as exome and whole genome sequencing; on evolutionary and population genetics particularly as they pertain to human biology; and on gene expression profiling and integrative genomics leading to systems biology, also touching on personalized medicine.
Learning Objectives: After attending this module, participants will be able to:
- Understand the difference between heritability and inheritance.
- Distinguish between mutations and polymorphisms, and explain how different classes of genetic variants contribute to phenotypic variation.
- Appreciate how genome sequencing, gene expression profiling, and cutting-edge genomics technologies are being used in contemporary medicine, agriculture, and ecology to understand and predict phenotypes.
- Know the basic contributions of mutation, migration, drift and natural selection to the evolution of populations, specifically to divergence among human groups.
- Take additional modules in the Summer Institute having a solid foundation of the fundamentals of statistical genetics.
Course Dates
- Wed May 29, 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
- Thu May 30, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
- Fri May 31, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
Instructors
- Greg Gibson
- Joe Lachance
Suggested Course Pairings
Integrative Genomics Stream
- Module 7: Quantitative Genetics
- Module 10: Epigenetics and Gene Regulation
- Module 14: Gene Expression
- Module 18: Gene Networks and Pathways
Course Materials
Visit the Box here.
About the Instructors
Greg Gibson is Regents Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech. His group conducts research on genomic approaches to biomedical genetics with particular emphasis on transcriptomics for personalized medicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Sickle Cell Disease. He is also interested in the theory of canalization and biological robustness. Learn more about Greg’s work here.
Joe Lachance is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at Georgia Tech. His research team uses population and evolutionary genetic principles to understand cancer risk in African ancestry populations, study adaptive processes associated with archaic introgression, and derive polygenic risk assessments across populations. Learn more about Joe’s work here.