Teaching
BSC 315: Genetics
Genetics is a vibrant and rapidly moving biological discipline. Its principles are important in the practice of medicine, in agriculture, in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and in environmental and conservation studies. BSC 315 is an introductory genetics course. It is required of all Biological Sciences majors, and provides requisite background for more advanced courses in biochemistry, molecular genetics, evolution, and developmental biology, among others. The course and learning objectives will be accomplished by a combination of lectures, animations, videos, in class problem solving activities, and frequent questions.
BSC 470/570: Principles of Population Genetics
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" - Theodosius Dobzhansky
"Nothing in evolution makes sense except in light of population genetics" - Michael Lynch
Population genetics is the study of evolutionary forces (genetic drift, natural selection, mutation, and gene flow) that affect allele and genotype frequencies in populations. Population genetics is a field with a rich theoretical history that has allowed scientists to make predictions about these evolutionary processes. With the advent of massive amounts of genetic data in many species, it is now possible to test these predictions, and a solid foundation in theory, its expectations, and assumptions is crucial for interpreting results from genetic analyses. Students should expect to learn how evolutionary forces acting on individuals affect patterns of inheritance and ultimately drive the changes we see between species.
"Nothing in evolution makes sense except in light of population genetics" - Michael Lynch
Population genetics is the study of evolutionary forces (genetic drift, natural selection, mutation, and gene flow) that affect allele and genotype frequencies in populations. Population genetics is a field with a rich theoretical history that has allowed scientists to make predictions about these evolutionary processes. With the advent of massive amounts of genetic data in many species, it is now possible to test these predictions, and a solid foundation in theory, its expectations, and assumptions is crucial for interpreting results from genetic analyses. Students should expect to learn how evolutionary forces acting on individuals affect patterns of inheritance and ultimately drive the changes we see between species.
BSC 487/587: Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of biodiversity over space and time. Biogeographers synthesize information from a very broad range of fields including ecology, evolution, paleontology, geology, and climatology. This course will provide a historical background for the field of biogeography; explain the evolutionary and ecological processes that give rise to patterns; discuss current methods in biogeography science; and explore how biogeographic patterns are changing due to factors such as species invasions, habitat destruction, and climate change.