This course explores the ecological and evolutionary factors that influence the genetic structure of populations. In the first section of the course we begin by describing the range of molecular techniques available for identifying genetic variation within and among populations and the associated statistical tools used by population geneticists to unlock biological secrets about plants and animals. Data sets illustrating both the statistical procedures and the biological meaning will be drawn from plants, birds and mammals. The next sectio of the course taught deals with the impact of selection on genetic variation. Bacteria are used as examples to illustrate the concepts and principles underlying this part of the course. We begin with the Neutral Theory of Evolution and compare the fate of generic variation that is subject to selection to variation that has little effect on the fitness of an organism. A brief overview of the processes influencing the genetic structure of a bacterial species is given. We examine the role that ecological factors play in shaping the genetic structure of a bacterial species. Identifying the nature of the fitness advantage conferred by a trait is not a simple undertaking, and some of the problems in determining the adaptive significance of a trait are presented. The nature of frequency dependent selection is presented and illustrated. Throughout this section an attempt is made to highlight the applied significance of many of the concepts presented in the course. The final section of the course begins with a brief overview on life histories of fungi, and how it differs from plants and bacteria. We will concentrate on the population biology and evolution of haploid fungi that are pathogenic on cultivated crops, but we will also explore techniques to examine the ecology and evolution of native plant - native fungal pathogen interactions. The role of evolutionary forces eg. gene flow (migration) and the reproductive system will be discussed and their impact on disease development, epidemiology and distribution of fungal plant pathogens examined with appropriate statistical tests.

The course is taught as an integrated combination of lectures and computer-based tutorial sessions. Assessment may include completion of computer-based tutorial exercises, completion of scientific reports and an exam.

BIOL2151.

BIOL3052