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SL30061: Evolutionary quantitative genetics (BB30208)

[Page last updated: 26 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 40%, EX 60%
Assessment Detail:
  • BB30208 Coursework (CW 40%)
  • BB30208 Exam (EX 60%)
Supplementary Assessment:
BB30208 Re-assessment Examination (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you are advised to take BB20040 OR take SL20006
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to:
* Explain what heritability is, how it can be estimated, and how it can be used to understand a number of important concepts, including disease likelihood in families, and selective breeding for trait improvement in plants and animals.
* Explain the application of quantitative genetic concepts and techniques to applied problems, including conservation programmes.
* Evaluate the appropriate literature to determine the key facts that lead to our current understanding of the genetic basis and evolvability of traits that vary quantitatively.
* Determine the best experimental approach to study quantitative traits and appropriate techniques to analyze traits that vary quantitatively.
* Present oral and written reports that form concise and up-to-date summaries of the basic concepts of Quantitative genetics and its application.


Aims: Most traits of economic importance and evolutionary relevance vary quantitatively (e.g., morphological, behavioural and physiological traits; life history attributes and components of fitness; disease susceptibility, and resistance to pathogens). These quantitative traits have a complex genetic basis, being influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Consequently, traditional Mendelian genetics is not sufficient to understand the genetic basis and evolution of these traits. This course aims for students to develop an understanding of the basic concepts in quantitative genetics, and to explore the relationship between molecular and phenotypic variation (i.e. the "genotype - phenotype relationship"). It will also demonstrate and discuss modern applications of quantitative genetics such as methods for identifying the genetic basis of quantitative traits (QTL analysis), applications in plant breeding, conservation genetics, etc.

Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F.

Content:
* Introduction to the basic concepts in quantitative genetics, including patterns of genetic effects (additive, dominance), components of genetic variation, genetic relationship between traits (pleiotropy, genetic covariances and correlations), resemblance of relatives, genotype-by-environment interactions and the measurement of selection.
* The use of these concepts to understanding the evolutionary process through the response to artificial and natural selection.
* Demonstration and discussion of modern applications of quantitative genetic such as methods for identifying the genetic basis of quantitative traits (QTL analysis and genome-wide association studies), and applications of quantitative genetics in evolution, behaviour, breeding and conservation.

Course availability:

SL30061 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Environmental Science stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Environmental Science stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Environmental Science stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Environmental Science stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Environmental Science stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Environmental Science stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Chemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Environmental Science with Chemistry stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Pharmacology with Chemistry stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Chemistry stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Pharmacology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biology with Physics stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Chemistry with Pharmacology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSC-AFM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) (Year 3)
  • USSC-AAM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Study year abroad (Year 4)
  • USSC-AKM01 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Physics with Biology stream) with Professional Placement (Year 4)
Department of Life Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.