Entry requirements

Alternative 1): Biology 75 ECTS credits including Evolution and Diversity of Organisms, Genetics and Gene Technology , Cell Biology, and Ecology and Population Genetics, and in addition Chemistry 30 ECTS credits; alt. 2): Chemistry 60 ECTS credits including Biochemistry 15 ECTS credits and in addition Biology 45 ECTS credits including Evolution and Diversity of Organisms, Genetics and Gene Technology, and Cell Biology, alt. 3) corresponding knowledge from other courses.

In addition to one of the alternatives above 15 ECTS credits in genetics on advanced level is required.

Aims

The aim of the course is to give an advanced understanding of population genetics and functional genomics principles and techniques with emphasis on applications in organismic and genomic evolution, conservation biology and biodiversity. The course includes a project part during which students carry out a "real-life" project from beginning (planning) to end (presentation of results).

Content

Evolutionary genetics: development of the theory, basic forces in evolution (mutation, drift, selection, recombination).

Genetic diversity: genetic variation within and between populations, gene genealogies (drift and the coalescent), dispersal and gene flow, population structure, linkage disequilibrium, inbreeding and inbreeding depression, conservation genetics, analysis of DNA sequences, comparative methods.

Quantitative genetics: quantitative genetics in natural and experimental populations, molecular basis to quantitative traits (QTL).

Comparative genomics: genome evolution, transfer of information from model organisms.

Functional genomics: Identification of genes affecting adaptive traits (QTL mapping, association mapping, SNPs, gene expression, forward and reverse genetics), gene regulation in phenotypic diversity and evolution.

Instruction

The course consists of lectures, labs, seminars, computer and literature assignments and a 3-weeks project. Participation to the labs, computer assignments, seminars and project is obligatory.

Assessment

Written exams during the course and at its conclusion. A passing grade for the entire course requires passing grades for laboratory work,, literature work and projects.