Population Genetics
This module provides an introduction to the basic conceptual foundations in population and evolutionary genetics. Topics covered include genetic variation, dynamics of small populations, effective population size, population fragmentation and gene flow, phylogeography, inbreeding and inbreeding depression, natural selection, trait variation, and heritability. For some of the topics, motivating examples are derived from conservation genetics and genetics of endangered populations.
Learning Objectives: After attending this module, participants will be able to:
- Be aware of what population genetics is, what its connection is to our lives, and what its importance is for the scientific and public communities.
- Gain foundational knowledge for key models in population and quantitative genetics.
- Develop working knowledge of the types of approaches used to interrogate population genetic questions in natural populations.
- Understand connections between random genetic drift, small population sizes, inbreeding coefficients, and inbreeding depression; and articulate the consequences of these factors for real populations.
- Be able to articulate various uses of DNA polymorphism data.
Course Dates
- Mon June 1, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
- Tue June 2, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
- Wed June 3, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST
Instructors
- Dahlia Nielsen
- Nadia Singh
Suggested Course Pairings
Population Genetics Stream
- Module PE2: Statistical Genetics
- Module PE3: AI and ML for Genetics
- Module PE4: Molecular Evolution
Course Materials
Course materials will be available shortly before the class.
Please email sisg@biosci.gatech.edu if you have questions or would like more details.
About the Instructors
Dahlia Nielsen is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Her research focuses on methods development and applications in identifying genes underlying complex traits, including gene expression responses and molecular signaling between hosts and pathogens. She has been engaged in various projects to develop genomic resources for non-model species. Learn more about Dahlia’s work here.
Nadia Singh is Associate Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Faculty Affairs in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University, Corvallis OR. Her group’s research focuses on the causes and consequences of variation in fundamental genetic processes for evolution. She is particularly interested in phenotypic plasticity in recombination and the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, generally using Drosophila as a model organism Learn more about Nadia’s work here.