Readings:

    1.  A. R. Templeton.  1998.  Nested clade analyses of phylogeographic data: testing
            hypotheses about gene flow and population history.   Molecular Ecology 7: 381-397.
 

    2.  A. R. Templeton.  2002.  Out of Africa again and again.  Nature 416: 45-51.

            To access this article, you will need to go to the electronic edition of Nature.

            The URL for Nature is  http://www.nature.com/nature/   (you can click on the link).

            NOTE:  In order to access Nature, you will have to use a computer connected
                to the Duke network.
 
 
 

Assignment:

    In class, it was mentioned that much can be deduced about the ecological and evolutionary history
        of a species through genetic analysis.  These papers provide an example of this approach.  The
        Molecular Ecology paper summarizes the nested clade approach developed by Templeton.  It
        is moderately difficult, but you should be able to understand the basic ideas.  The Nature paper
        applies this approach to generate an understanding of the migratory history of human
        populations over the last 1 million years.  This paper will be very tough sledding for you.  (It
        was for me!).  Nevertheless, it constitutes one of the best example I know of demonstrating
        how population genetic data can inform us about our own evolutionary history.  I therefore
        think it is worth trying to get through.  Again, don't fret over the details.  Just try to understand
        the main points.
 

        Write a 1-page essay on one of the following topics:

            1.  Analysis of genetic sequences provides information about recent population expansion in humans.

            2.  Genetic evidence indicates that genetic exchange (gene flow) among human populations has
                    been extensive.
 

    NOTE:  essay is due at beginning of class
 
 

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