Quantitative Genetics

Basic modelling of the inheritance of quantitative traits, i.e. continuous traits which are influenced by both genes and the environment. Both models with single genes and models assuming an infinite number of genes are handled. Topics include genetic variation, inbreeding, heterosis, selection, selection response as well as the nature of molecular variation underlying quantitative genetic variation.

This course introduces the basics of quantitative genetics of individual variation in quantitative traits of evolutionary interest and commercial values in animals and plants.

A large number of human diseases are also quantitative in nature, so that the study of quantitative genetics is fundamental to their understanding.

 

The student gains experience in analyzing simple but realistic problems in the inheritance of quantitative characters and selection of quantitative characters using tools from quantitative genetics.

 

The student gets acquainted with methods for the identification of genes with effects on quantitative traits.

 

The course will qualify the student to:

 

• Summarize the main principles in models for quantitative genetic variation, including the infinitesimal model and the finite locus model.
• Explain how shared environments and shared genes contribute to the similarities among relatives.
• Explain the consequences of selection on quantitative traits, including selection response, changes of variance, correlated response, inbreeding and molecular consequences of selection.

Course homepage:
http://bb.au.dk/