300308 VO Human Evolutionary Genetics: genomic, genes, diseases (2020S)

The aim of this lecture is to provide students with knowledge and a good understanding of the scientific field of human genetics. The lectures prepare students in particular to understand how different evolutionary forces influence the human genome. Students learn about the key concepts of human evolutionary genetics and gain insights into how genetics can be used to elucidate the phenotypic traits such as diseases, the body's defenses and behavior.

The first part of the lectures introduce students to the structure of the human genome, the key aspects of chromosome biology, and autosomal, mtDNA and X/Y-linked inheritance; the basis of gene functions and the role of epigenetics in gene regulation. In the second part, students will be briefly introduced to the state-of-the-art methods used in human genetic studies. The third part of the lectures aims to provide an understanding of the key concepts of human evolutionary genetics, population genetics, and molecular anthropology. Students gain insight into how different evolutionary processes affect genetic diversity and learn how these concepts are used to understand genetic diversity at both an individual and population level. In the fourth part, students will gain understanding how human genomic variation can directly or indirectly affect the risk to develop diseases, contribute to host defence, and influences human behaviours. (Research-focused lectures providing case-studies).

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures, handouts, and presentations (PowerPoint slides will be provided on Moodle).