Plant Sciences 780
Population Genetics
Course Syllabus

Instructor: Mohamed Mergoum

Office: 270C Loftsgard Hall, 101C Waldon Hall.

Office/Home Phone: 231-8478/7801/364-2639

E-mail: mohamed.mergoum@ndsu.edu

Office Hours: Drop-in welcome 8:00-5:00 M-F or appointments

Class Time and Place: 8:00- 8:50 AM, T and TR at Walster Hall# 204

Credits: 2
 
  Text and Readings: "Introduction to Quantitative Genetics" by Falconer and MacKay (Fourth Edition, 1996); and "Principles of Population genetics" by D.L. Hartl and A. G. Clark ( Third Edition , 1997). Handouts and other additional materials will be provided.
   
I. Course Description
   
  Concepts and principles related to genetic properties governing random and
non random mating populations are addressed in this course. Population genetics is an extraordinary diverse field. It cuts across many disciplines such as genetics, molecular biology, plant breeding, mathematics, and many other disciplines.
   
II. Objectives
   
  Upon completion of this course, students would have learned the major concepts and principles that will allow them to understand the genetic properties of "populations".  And, to a certain extent, the inheritance of measured of traits. This course will also help prepare the students to take the "Quantitative Genetics" course.
   
III. Student evaluation procedures
   
  1. 25% Homework
2. 25% First Hourly Exam
3. 25% Second Hourly Exam
4. 25% Comprehensive Final Exam

The content of exam questions will include information from lectures and assigned reading.
All problem sets may be a group effort. Some quizzes will be given. Advanced notice will be provided for the date of quizzes.
Quizzes will be graded and discussed, but quiz scores will not count in the final grade. The purpose of the quizzes is to make students aware of their performance and to make the instructor aware of problems in course content.

IV. Grading (minimum to obtain a grade)

       a. 90% of total points : A
       b. 80% of total points : B
       c. 70% of total points : C
       d. 60% of total points : D
       e. 59% or less of total points: F

V. Course outline

       1. Introductory Mathematics and statistics
              f. Probability
              g. Mutually exclusive events
              h. Conditional probability
              i. Variance of a linear combination
              j. Binomial distribution
              k. Genetic example
       2. Genetic Constitution of a Population
              a. Frequencies of genes and genotypes
              b. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
              c. Non-random mating
       3. Changes of Gene Frequency
              a. Migration
              b. Mutation
              c. Selection
              d. Mutation and selection
              e. Genetic drift
              f. Polymorphism
       4. Inbreeding Due to Continuous Selfing
       5. Idealized Population
              a. Genotype frequencies
              b. Inbreeding
       6. Inbreeding in Random Mating Populations
              a. Effective population size
              b. Exclusion of selfing
              c. Different numbers of males and females
       7. Pedigree Populations
              a. Inbreeding coefficient
              b. Coefficient of kinship
              c. Regular systems of inbreeding
       8. Values and Means
              a. Population mean
              b. Average effect
              c. Breeding value
              d. Dominance and interaction deviation
       9. Variance
              a. Components of variance
              b. Genetic components of variance
              c. Environmental variance
              d. Genotype by environment interactions
       10. Resemblance Between Relatives
              a. Genetic covariance
                     i. Offspring and one parent
                     ii. Offspring and mid-parent
                     iii. Half sibs
                     iv. Full sibs
                     v. S1 lines
              b. Environmental covariance
              c. Phenotypic resemblance
       11. Mode of Selection: Selection Index
              a. Types of selection index
              b. Solving for the Smith-Hazel index weights
       12. Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL)


Academic Honesty: All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/colag/honor.htm).


Students with special needs: Students with disabilities are asked to inform the instructor; for example, visual impairment, hearing deficiency, dyslexia, writing impairment, etc. Then arrangements can be made, in cooperation with the office of Disabled Student Services, to provide appropriate services.