Principles of Population and Quantitative Genetics

Genetics 535 and Biology 464

Spring Semester 2004

Instructor: K. Garbutt
Class time: 4:30 - 6:50 PM Wednesday

Office Hours: - Monday and Tuesday 10:00 – 11:00 AM. If you can not make these times just talk to me after class or we can arrange an appointment at a time convenient to you. Please do not be afraid to ask for help. You may also make an appointment by calling my secretary.

To make an appointment by phone call 293 2100 and my secretary will make an appointment for you.

The class will meet from 4:00 PM - 6:50 PM, on Wednesdays in room G21 LSB.

Text:- Introduction to Quantitative Genetics by D.S. Falconer & T.F.C. Mackay pub Longman. 1996 Fourth Edition. This text is available at the bookstore.

Other materials required: Calculator, one that can calculate natural logarithms and exponentials with the press of a button. A pack of 3 x 5 index cards.

Attendance Policy

Attendance at the class is required.

With the exception of the first week of classes (Jan. 10th) and weeks when the oral presentations are given there will be a short problem set. Failure to take a problem set will result in a zero for that set. Similarly there will be group problems each week and non-attendance will lead to a reduction of your group grade.

Important Dates: -

March 13- March 21Spring Break.

Examination Dates: -

Since there will be problem sets each week there will only be a take home cumulative final exam. Final Exam given out on April 27th- back by 5:00 PM May 1st

Due Dates for Papers (Gen 535 only) (see below for more details): -

 

Activity
Date
Choose Topic
January 20th
Annotated Bibliography
February 3rd
One page Topics outline with Bibliography
February 17th
First Draft
March 9th
Final Draft
April 20th

Paper Critiques due:

March 23rd, April 27th

Oral Presentations:

April 27th


NOTE: POLICY FOR DISABLED STUDENTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PHILOSOPHY.

If you are a person with a disability, and you need special assistance in this course, please inform me and make arrangements as necessary either with me or through Disability Services (293 6700). The first week of the semester is the best time for these discussions, and all matters will be held in strictest confidence as the need determines.

West Virginia University is committed to social justice. The instructor of this course concurs with West Virginia University's commitment and expects to maintain a positive learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, colour or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious consideration.

Course Overview

This course will be taught using Inquiry Based Learning methods. This means that much of the learning will take place in groups working on problems with your peers, and lecturing will be kept to a minimum. This means it is VERY important that you do the set readings before coming to class failure to do so will result in poor individual and group grades.


Requirements for Genetics 535

Take all weekly Problem Sets (40%)

Final Exam (20%)

Critique other students papers (5%)

Write a paper in the area of population genetics or quantitative genetics:

Annotated Bibliography (1%)

Outline and Bibliography (1.5%)

First Draft (5%)

Final Draft (15%)

Give a presentation based on the paper at the end of the semester (2.5%)

Group exercise Grade (10%)

Grading Scale

A 100 - 90%

B 89-75%

C 74-60%

Requirements for Biology 272

Take all weekly Problem Sets (50 %)

Final Exam (20 %)

Critique Gen 335 students papers (10 %)

Group exercise Grade (20 %)

Grading Scale

A 100 - 85%

B 84- 70%

C 69- 55%

D 54 - 45%

Term Papers

All papers will be submitted electronically to kgarbutt@mix.wvu.edu. They will then be posted to the course Web Site at http://www.as.wvu.edu/~kgarbutt/QuantGen/Qntgen.html for criticism. Critiques can be submitted directly from the Web site. Each paper should be a Maximum of 10 pages long. It should discuss both theoretical and empirical aspects of the subject. There are four stages in writing this paper: 1) produce an annotated bibliography (minimum 20 papers). 2) produce a topic outline linking references to topics. 3) First draft for critique 4) Final draft.


Essay Topics


Journals which may be of use in writing papers - this is NOT an exhaustive list.



Syllabus

Date Subject Reading (To be Done BEFORE class) Gen 535 Assignments
  Part I Models of Genes in Populations    
January 13 Introduction, Multiple Alleles and Sex Linkage Chapter 1  
January 20 2 Loci Chapters 1 and 2 Choose Paper Topic
January 27 Quantitative Characters and Additivity Chapters 6 and 7  
February 3 Additivity and Breeding Values Chapter 7 Annotated Bibliography due
February 10 Breeding Values and Dominance Chapters 7  
February 17 Interaction Deviation, Variance components Chapters 7 and 8  
February 24 Variance and Genetic Covariance Chapters 8 and 9 Outline and Bibliography due
March 2 Heritability and its Estimation Chapter 10  
  Changes in Gene Frequencies    
March 9 Non-random Mating Chapter 1.3 and 5 First Draft due
March 16 No Class - Spring Break    
March 23 Small Populations Chapters 4 and 5 Critiques due
March 30 Selection Chapters 2 and 11  
April 6 Threshold Characters, Genotype and Environment Correlations Chapters 18 and 19  
April 13 Natural Selection Chapter 20  
April 20 Quantitative Trait Loci Chapter 21 Final Paper Due
April 27 Oral Presentations   Critiques due
 

 



Grading of Final Drafts of Papers.

"A" work (1) Responds fully to the assignment set; (2) Discusses clearly the topic under study in terms of its biological and where appropriate historical context; (3) Shows the current state of research in this area and discusses and comments on areas of controversy (4) Is written at a level appropriate for a biologically literate but non-specialist audience; (5) Begins and end effectively; (6) Provides adequate supporting arguments, evidence, examples and details: (7) Is well organized and unified; (8) Correctly acknowledges and documents sources; (9) Is free of errors in grammar, punctuation, word choice, spelling, and format; and (10) Maintains a level of excellence and creativity in realizing (1) through (7).

"B" work Realizes (1) through (9) fully and completely - and demonstrates overall excellence - but shows little or no originality or creativity.

"C" work Realizes (1) through (9) adequately - and demonstrates overall competence - but contains a few, relatively minor errors or flaws. A "C" paper may show great creativity and originality but those qualities do not make up for poor or careless writing and research. A "C" paper usually looks like a next-to-final draft

"D" work Fails to realize some elements of (1) through (9) adequately - and contains several serious errors or flaws, poor research or many minor flaws. A "D" paper often reads like a first or second draft.

"F" work Fails to realize several elements of (1) through (9) adequately and contains many serious errors and flaws and usually is based on inadequate research.

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