Human Populations Genetics

Recommended Prerequisites

None.

Teaching Methods

The teaching methodology will include:
i) lectures by the teacher on the topics of the programme;
ii) practical lessons for learning laboratory techniques of extraction and analysis of DNA, and
iii) practical lessons for learning of appropriate statistical methods to determine possible genotype-phenotype relationships, with the help of IBM SPSS software and Plink. 

Learning Outcomes

This course aims to provide the student of i) a basic knowledge in the identification and description of the genetic diversity present in human populations and ii) a basic knowledge of both genetic and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for this diversity. In addition, students should be familiar with the basic technical and ethical procedures used in human population genetics research.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Basic principles of human population genetics: The theory of allele frequencies.  The Hardy–Weinberg theorem. Evolutionary genetics. Natural selection. Mutation. Gene Flow. Population structure. Genetic drift.Concept of effective population size. The genetic mechanisms of speciation. Contribution of molecular approach to the study of evolution and biology of human population: The origin of modern humans:  current genetic diversity and DNA evidences. Geographical distribution of genetic diversity: the colonization of the old world, Australia, America and Pacific. When populations meet: the impact of miscegenation. Phenotypic variation. Phenotypes and diseases. Adaptation to climate and diet: the persistence of lactase and gluten intolerance. Did humans stop evolving ? New environmental factors influencing human evolution.  Methods and techniques used in human populations genetics:  Ethical issues related to the research and collection of biological material: the informed consent.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Report drawn up by the student on the project developed in the laboratory: 25.0%
Exam: 75.0%

Bibliography

Hedrick, P. W. (2005). Genetics of Populations. Jones and Bartlett Publishers (Massachusetts, USA).

Jobling, M.; Hurles, M.; Tyler-Smith, C. (2004). Human Evolutionary Genetics. Garland Publishing (New York, USA).

Strachan, T. e Read, A. P., 2004 - Human Molecular Genetics. Garland Science. (New York, USA).