Current course offerings

Please Note: Course profiles marked as not available may still be in development.

Course description

This course will provide students with a foundation for understanding the genetic basis and evolution of traits that are influenced by both genetics and the environment. In many cases, such traits are due to a large number of genes and their genetic study requires a specialised approach. This course covers theory, methods and applications of quantitative genetics. With a strong emphasis on phenotypic microevolution, the course will cover the evolution of complex traits, such as life histories, morphology, complex behaviours and disease. The course centres around the study of two fundamental relationships; the genotype-phenotype map and the phenotype fitness map. We cover the predictive theories for evolution by natural selection and the measurement of evolvability and constraints. Approaches for genetic dissection of adaptive traits via Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) and Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) will be covered as well as their application to the testing of evolutionary processes. Example topics include the evolution of life histories (e.g. ageing) and trade-offs, adaptive radiations, pleiotropy and its consequences, mutation and the maintenance of genetic variation. We use examples from non-model organisms and human disease. The human genetics component will be delivered by practising researchers from UQ's Diamantina Institute.

Archived offerings