Course overview
The aim of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how evolutionary forces shape the gene pool and how gene expression can be regulated epigenetically.
Course learning outcomes
- Discuss the principles of population genetics, including allele frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and genetic drift and apply these to analysis of population structure, gene flow and effective population size
- Evaluate the origin, structure, function and evolution of genomes and chromosomes, molecular phylogenetics, and the roles of chance, mutation and natural selection in evolution at the molecular genetic level
- Examine the origin of humans, human migrations, and interactions with other hominid species with a focus on the importance of ancient DNA in evolutionary studies
- Define epigenetic modifications and their heritability and analyse the role of environmental influences on epigenetic marks and the role of epigenetic changes in diseases, including cancer
- Analyse the primary scientific literature in population genetics, evolutionary genetics and epigenetics
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