Advanced Population Genetics

Catalog description

Broadly defined as the study of the genetic composition of populations, population genetics attempts to quantify the distribution of genetic variation and changes in the frequencies of alleles. Specifically, we will examine how the four evolutionary processes (mutation, genetic drift, natural selection, and gene flow) affect the genetic composition of natural populations. This includes how concepts in population genetics are advancing the field of Forensic Science. We will be exploring theoretical and practical components of population genetics through lectures and labs, respectively.