This module provides training in basic conceptual foundations in population, evolutionary and quantitative genetics. Topics covered include genetic variation, dynamics of small populations, effective population size, population fragmentation and gene flow, phylogeography, inbreeding and inbreeding depression, natural selection, trait variation, and heritability. For some of the topics, motivating examples are derived from conservation genetics and genetics of endangered populations. This module serves as an excellent precursor to SISG Module 7: Applications for Population Genetics (both modules are stand-alone and one is not required for the other).



Learning objectives: After completing this module, students will:

1. Become aware of what population genetics is, what its connection is to our lives, and what its importance is for the scientific and public communities.
2. Gain foundational knowledge for key models in population and quantitative genetics
3. Develop working knowledge of types of approaches used to interrogate population genetic questions in natural populations
4. Articulate various uses of DNA polymorphism data
5. Understand connections between random genetic drift, small population sizes, inbreeding coefficients, and inbreeding depression; and, articulate the consequences of these factors for real populations.
6. Understand the concept of heritability on both a theoretical and an intuitive level.