Human Evolutionary Genetics

Catalog description

An evolutionary perspective on human genetics and genomics, with an emphasis on current models and inference methods using medically important examples. The mechanisms of evolution shaping human genetic variation, as well as inference of evolutionary processes from genetic data. Topics include: population differences in disease risk; adaptation to local environments and pathogens; identifying regions of the genome underlying traits; models of neutral variation, migration, and genetic ancestry. Computational and quantitative skills will be emphasized throughout. Recommended prerequisite: Evolutionary Anthropology 101D, Biology 202, or equivalent; some probability and programming background helpful but not required.