FSCI 3110U – Population Genetics

This course introduces the student to the study of allele frequencies in populations, concentrating on mathematical, theoretical and evolutionary concepts including random mating, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, linkage equilibrium, coalescence, inbreeding, genetic drift, mutation, effective population size and natural selection. The role and significance of molecular genetics, including next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques as they relate to population genetics, evolution, systematics and phylogeny are also considered and explored. Population genetics concepts in this course will be focused (although not exclusively) within a forensic context and, in particular, the formation of short tandem repeat (STR) allelic databases, estimating the weight of forensic DNA profile match evidence, and as well as understanding the genetic evidence underlying human evolution and migration. However, the population genetics concepts learned in this course are applicable for understanding and studying populations of all living organisms.
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): (MATH 1000U or MATH 1010U) and BIOL 1010U and BIOL 1020U and STAT 2020U and BIOL 2020U
Credit restriction(s): BIOL 3110U
Cross-listed: BIOL 3110U
Note(s): This course may be offered in a hybrid format with 1.5 hours of lectures and 1.5 hours of online lectures and self-learning material.