Population Genetics
Code: 101959 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500890 Genetics | OB | 2 | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Alfredo Ruíz Panadero
- Email:
- Alfredo.Ruiz@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- spanish (spa)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- Yes
Prerequisites
There are no official prerequisites but knowledge of Genetics and Statistics is presupposed. Also a basic level of reading comprehension of English is highly recommended.
Objectives and Contextualisation
Genetics of Populations is the study of genetic differences that occur naturally among organisms. Genetic differences between organisms of the same species are called polymorphisms whereas the differences that have accumulated between different species constitute genetic divergence. So Population Genetics is the study of polymorphism and divergence.
Genetics of Populations is one of the few biological sciences that combine theory, empirical information and experimentation. For this reason it is an enormously formative science. The theory of Population Genetics has developed considerably since the time of Fisher, Haldane and Wright, the founders of this science. In this respect, this course can be considered introductory and the mathematical level necessary to follow the lessons is quite elementary.
The Genetics of Populations course is in the 2nd year of the Genetics Degree (2nd semester) and aims to provide students with the basic fundamentals of this science. The syllabus of the course consists of 12 subjects that include: (1) a description of the variation that has been detected in the natural populations through different techniques; (2) an explanation of the expected characteristics in an ideal population of infinite size and random mating; (3) a review of factors influencing the genetic makeup of a population; and (4) a treatment of Molecular Population Genetics which includes an explanation of the Neutralist Theory of Molecular Evolution.
The main training objectives of the subject are: the understanding of the probabilistic aspects of the hereditary transmission in the populations; understanding the origin and maintenance of populations of genetic variation; the understanding of the effect of the different factors considered on the genetic constitution of populations; the ability to reason and contrast theoretical models through empirical observations and experimentation.
Competences
- Apply knowledge of theory to practice.
- Apply scientific method to problem solving.
- Be able to analyse and synthesise.
- Describe and interpret the principles of the transmission of genetic information across generations.
- Develop self-directed learning.
- Measure and interpret the genetic variation in and between populations from a clinical, conservational and evolutionary perspective, and from that of the genetic improvement of animals and plants.
- Reason critically.
- Use and interpret data sources on the genomes and macromolecules of any species and understand the basics of bioinformatics analysis to establish the corresponding relations between structure, function and evolution.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of theory to practice.
- Apply scientific method to problem solving.
- Be able to analyse and synthesise.
- Define genetic conservation strategies for endangered populations.
- Develop self-directed learning.
- Enumerate and describe the forces that modulate genetic variation in populations in isolation or in conjunction.
- Infer how the genetic variation of populations is maintained by Mendelian inheritance.
- Reason critically.
- Use genomic information to infer the evolutionary processes of genes, genomes and organisms.
Content
Content
Lessons 1 y 2. Phenotypic diversity and genetic variability.
Lessons 3 and 4. Organization of genetic variation.
Lessons 5 and 6. Inbreeding.
Lessons 7 and 8. Natural selection.
Lessons 9 and 10. Genetic drift.
Lessons 11 and 12. Mutation.
Lesson 13. Migration and population structure.
Lesson 14. Evolution of populations.
Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritzation or reduction of these contents.
Methodology
The teaching methodology includes three types of activities: theory lessons, problem-solving seminars, and individual tutoring sessions.
Theory lessons. They serve to provide the student with the basic conceptual elements and the minimum information needed so that he/she can then develop autonomous learning. PowerPoint presentations will be made available to the student through the Virtual Campus.
Problem-solving seminars. These seminars, which will be held in two small groups (max. 30 students), will serve to answer questions and to learn how to reason and apply knowledge by solving problems. Problems will be delivered weekly, some of which will be solved in class, while others will be left for autonomous or group work outside of class hours.
Tutorials. Tutoring sessions with the teacher, either individual or group, are planned for students who wish to do so. These sessions can be held online or face-to-face with the teacher in his office. These tutorials serve to gauge the student's progress in understanding the subject and to help with the most difficult concepts.
The proposed teaching methodology may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Problem-solving seminars | 15 | 0.6 | 2, 1, 5, 8, 3 |
| Theory classes | 30 | 1.2 | 4, 6, 7, 3, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual tutorials | 3 | 0.12 | 4, 6, 7, 3, 9 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Lesson study | 50 | 2 | 4, 6, 7, 3, 9 |
| Problem solving | 45 | 1.8 | 2, 1, 5, 8, 3 |
Assessment
The evaluation of the subject will be based on problem assignments and participation in problem-solving seminars (30%), and on exam scores (1st partial exam 35%; 2nd partial exam 35%; recovery of partial exams 70%).
Problem assignments
A list of problems will be delivered weekly to the students to work on their own or in groups. Students must individually submit the solved problems to the teacher through the Virtual Campus before the next problem-solving seminar. The set of problems turned in by each student will be evaluated and the grade obtained will represent 30% of the final grade.
Exams
There will be a partial examination of the first part of the subject (Topics 1-6) and another partial examination of the second part of the subject (Topics 7-14). The partial examination of each part of the subject will include a multiple choice test and two problems to be solved by the student. Each of the partial exams will account for 35% of the final score.
Students who pass a partial exam (grade of 5 or higher) will release this part of the subject. Students who get a grade equal to or greater than 4 can compensate (and therefore release the subject) if the average grade with the other partial exam is equal to or higher than 5. Students who fail or do not present themselves to a partial exam, should attend the final exam to pass the subject.
The final exam will follow the format of the partial exams and will also include a multiple-choice test and problems to be solved by the student. The grade obtained in the recovery exam will account for the same weight as the partial exams. In order to calculate the weighted average of the exams and the problem assignments, the student must obtain a minimum score of 4 in each of the two items.
In case the student's grade in the exams is less than 4, that will be his final grade.
To be eligible for the retake process, the student should have been previously evaluated in a set of activities equaling at least two thirds of the final score of the course or module. Thus, the student will be graded as "No Avaluable" if the weighthin of all conducted evaluation activities is less than 67% of the final score.
Student's assessment may experience some modifications depending on the restrictions to face-to-face activities enforced by health authorities.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st parcial exam | 35% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 3, 9 |
| 2nd parcial exam | 35% | 3 | 0.12 | 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 3, 9 |
| Weekly problem assignments | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 1, 5, 8, 3 |
Bibliography
The basic textbook for this subject is:
Hartl, D.H. A Primer of Population Genetics. Sinauer (3ª ed.) 2000.
Other useful reference books are:
Hartl, D. H. and A. G. Clark. Principles of Population Genetics (4ª edición), Sinauer. 2007.
Hedrick, P. W. Genetics of Populations (4ª edición) Jones & Bartlett. 2009.
Antonio Fontdevila y Andrés Moya. Introducción a la Genética de Poblaciones, Síntesis. 2000.
Useful links:
Campus Virtual de la UAB: https://cv2008.uab.cat/