Introduction to Population Genetics (BIOL 519/FOR 511/GENE 505)
Fall, 2006
Dr. Richard Gomulkiewicz

Instructor:

Prof. Richard Gomulkiewicz

Office: Eastlick 391

Telephone: 335-2527

E-mail: gomulki@wsu.edu

Office Hours: Mondays 1:30-3:30 PM or by appointment. (Drop-ins welcome!)

Lectures:

Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10:35 AM to 11:50 AM in CUE 207.

Texts:

Genetics of Populations, 3rd ed., by Philip W. Hedrick

Grading Criteria:

Exercise Sets	40%
Seminar Synopses	10%
Final Presentation	30%
Class Participation	20%

Exercises based on lecture material and readings will be assigned during most lectures. Exercises from the previous two weeks will be due (approximately) every other Thursday and collected in class. Current information about assigned exercises and due dates will be posted on the course home page. Exercises may have several parts. Each part will be scored as follows: five points for an answer that is, on the whole, correct; two points for a reasonable, but incorrect or incomplete answer; zero points otherwise. (Depending on course enrollment, only a subset of exercises may be graded.) I encourage working together but your write-ups must be done in your own words. The success of this course depends on your keeping current with the material so...absolutely no late assignments will be accepted!

Many seminars at WSU and U Idaho deal with issues and applications of population genetics.  Moreover, giving, attending, and critiquing professional seminars are important parts of graduate training.  For this component of the course, you will be expected to attend two (2) “appropriate” seminars and write a critical synopsis of each.  Each synopsis should be less than one page in length, consisting of a summary of the essential points and a thoughtful evaluation of the talk, focusing on its population genetics aspects.  “Appropriate” means that the seminar should include a substantial amount of material related to population genetics.  There are a number of such talks already scheduled at WSU and U Idaho this semester: WSU School of Biological Sciences (4:10pm, Abelson 201)—Aug 30 (Andrew Storfer), Sep 11 (Mark Dybdahl), Oct 9 (Sean Rice), Oct 30 (Brian Husband); Univeristy of Idaho Biology (3:30pm, 277 Life Sciences South)—Sep 29 (Sudhir Kumar), Oct 6 (Paul Turner), Nov 10 (Troy Day), Dec 1 (Patrick Nosil).  There may be additional appropriate talks in other departments as well, but be sure to contact me for verification.  Each synopsis will graded on a 10-point scale and will be due during the next class meeting one week after the seminar. (For example, synopses of the Friday, Oct 6 and Monday Oct 9 talks would both be due in class on Tuesday, Oct 17.) Absolutely no late synopses will be accepted!

Students will give final presentations at the end of the semester.  Depending on our class size, you will probably have to work with one or two others on a presentation. Each presentation will critically review an extension or application of population genetics. I encourage you to choose your own topic however the topic must be approved by me in advance. I am more than happy to discuss possible topics with you. All presentation topics must be approved and scheduled by no later than Thursday, November 2. Time slots will be assigned on a first-come first-serve basis.  You will be required to provide the class with a one-page handout that lists the relevant literature and summarizes the key points of your talk. Attendance at all final presentations is required; each absence will directly reduce the Class Participation component of your grade.

Class Participation:

From time to time, readings from the text will be assigned for "mini discussions" in class. You are expected to read the assignment and participate in discussing the material. To structure sessions and encourage active participation by all, a student will be chosen at random to lead discussion of the scheduled reading. A student chosen to facilitate a discussion will be excused from leading the next discussion.  Attendance of all final student presentations (see above) is also required to receive full credit for Class Participation.

I am committed to providing assistance to help you be successful in this course.  Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability.  Please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first two weeks of every semester to seek information or to qualify for accommodations.  All accommodations MUST be approved   through   the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Rooms 205). Call 509 335 3417 to make an appointment with a disability counselor.

Dr. Richard Gomulkiewicz Dr. Gomulkiewicz's home page

School of Biological Sciences

This page has been accessed times since August 22, 2006.