Principles of Population Genetics

Catalog description

Population genetics studies the genetic composition of biological populations and how allele frequencies change over time and space. It serves as the theoretical foundation for understanding evolution. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the core concepts and methods of population genetics, with a focus on linking observed patterns of genetic variation to the underlying evolutionary processes that generate them. Throughout the course, we emphasize the interplay between analytical theory, computer simulations, and the analysis of genetic data from both natural and experimental populations. We will also explore current efforts to connect genotype to phenotype and, ultimately, to fitness. Case studies will include the evolution of drug resistance, genetic ancestry inference, experimental evolution, and the genetic structure and demographic history of human populations.