COURSE INFORMATION

Evolutionary Mechanismss: BIO 286   Spring 2004

Description:  An introduction to the principles of population genetics and evolution, with discussion of the current literature.  Genetic drift and natural selection.  Maintenance of genetic variation.  Molecular evolution and coalescent theory.  Speciation Genetics.  Reconstructing evolutionary history.  Evolution of Quantitative Traits.

Pre-requisites:  Bio 120 or consent of instructor.

Credit:  1 course

Instructor:

  Mark D. Rausher
   066 Bio. Sci.
   684-2295
   mrausher@duke.edu

Teaching Assistant:

   Mario Vallejo Marin
   070 Bio. Sci.
   684-2295
   mv6@duke.edu
 

Course Format:

     Primarily intended for graduate students in the Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology group at Duke, although others are welcome.  In addition to two lectures a week, there will be periodic problem sets.

Textbooks:

     Hartl, D. L., and Clarke, A. G.  1989.  Principles of Population Genetics.  Sinauer.

      Li, W.-H.  1997.  Molecular Evolution.  Sinauer.

     These books have not been ordered by the bookstore.  Copies of relevant readings will be made available.

Grades:

     The grades will be based on the following:

     1.  Three exams (2 in class, one final), covering the knowledge of basic  concepts (each worth 30% of final grade).

     2.  A series of problem sets (cumulatively worth 10% of the grade).

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