Theories Of Population Variation In Genes And Genomes

This textbook provides an authoritative introduction to both classical and coalescent approaches to population genetics. Written for graduate students and advanced undergraduates by one of the world's leading authorities in the field, the book focuses on the theoretical background of population genetics, while emphasizing the close interplay between theory and empiricism. Traditional topics such as genetic and phenotypic variation, mutation, migration, and linkage are covered and advanced by contemporary coalescent theory, which describes the genealogy of genes in a population, ultimately connecting them to a single common ancestor. Effects of selection, particularly genomic effects, are discussed with reference to molecular genetic variation. The book is designed for students of population genetics, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, molecular evolution, and theoretical biology--as well as biologists, molecular biologists, breeders, biomathematicians, and biostatisticians. Contains up-to-date treatment of key areas in classical and modern theoretical population genetics Provides in-depth coverage of coalescent theory Discusses genomic effects of selection Gives examples from empirical population genetics Incorporates figures, diagrams, and boxed features throughout Includes end-of-chapter exercises Speaks to a wide range of students in biology, bioinformatics, and biostatistics

Population Genetics and Microevolutionary Theory Explore the fundamentals of the biological implications of population genetic theory In the newly revised Second Edition of Population Genetics and Microevolutionary Theory, accomplished researcher and author Alan R. Templeton delivers a fulsome discussion of population genetics with coverage of exciting new developments in the field, including new discoveries in epigenetics and genome-wide studies. The book prepares students to successfully apply population genetics analytical tools by providing a solid foundation in microevolutionary theory. The book emphasizes that population structure forms the underlying template upon which quantitative genetics and natural selection operate and is a must-read for future population and evolutionary geneticists and those who wish to work in genetic epidemiology or conservation biology. You’ll learn about a wide array of topics, including quantitative genetics, the interactions of natural selection with other evolutionary forces, and selection in heterogeneous environments and age-structured populations. Appendices that cover genetic survey techniques and probability and statistics conclude the book. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to population genetics, including the scope of the subject, its premises, and the Hardy-Weinberg Model of Microevolution An exploration of systems of mating, including a treatment of the use of runs of homozygosity to show pedigree inbreeding in distant ancestors A practical discussion of genetic drift, including the use of effective sizes in conservation biology (with a discussion of African rhinos as an example) A concise examination of coalescence, including a treatment of the infinite sites model Perfect for graduate students in genetics and evolutionary biology programs and advanced undergraduate biology majors, Population Genetics and Microevolutionary Theory will also earn a place in the libraries of students taking courses in conservation biology, human genetics, bioinformatics, and genomics.

Darwinian evolution in mendelian populations. Random genetic drift. Mutation and the neutral theory. Natural selection. Inbreeding and other forms of nonrandom mating. Population subdivision and migration. Molecular population genetics. Evolutionary genetics of quantitative characters. Ecological genetics and speciation.

Authored by leading experts, this seminal text presents a straightforward and elementary account of coalescent theory, which is a central concept in the study of genetic sequence variation observed in a population. Rich in examples and illustrations it is ideal for a graduate course in statistics, population, molecular and medical genetics, bioscience and medicine, and for students studying the evolution of human population and disease. It is also an invaluable reference for bioscientists and statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry and academia - ;Coalescent theory is a central concept in the study of genetic sequence variation that probabilistically describes the genealogy relating the sampled sequences. In this text, besides fulfilling the glaring need for such a book, the authors present this theory in a straightforward and elementary manner and describe the statistical and computational methods used in modelling and analyzing genetic sequence variation. Rich in examples and illustrations the book covers basic concepts, complications arising from geographical structure and recombination before considering aspects of statistical inference based on these models. The book ends with chapters on Gene Mapping, which combines sequence variation data with phenotypic data (such as disease) to define areas of the genome where genes are responsible for the trait, and Human Evolution, a research area that is experiencing a renaissance due to the enormous amounts of data produced in molecular studies. Authored by leading experts, this seminal text presents a straightforward and elementary account of coalescent theory, which is a central concept in the study of genetic sequence variation observed in a population. It is highly suitable for a graduate course in statistics, population, molecular and medical genetics, bioscience and medicine and students studying the evolution of human population and disease, and will be an invaluable reference for bioscientists and statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry and academia - ;an excellent and timely book that should appeal to a variety of people in genetics and applied mathematics. - Professor Montgomery Slatkin (Berkeley);the authors are outstanding experts in the field, and the book is topical and timely. - Professor David Balding (Imperial College);Hein, Schierup and Wiuf have written the first general book on the coalescent. It is an engaging combination of clear mathematical derivation and real data examples. - Professor Joe Felsenstein (University of Washington)

The Fourth Edition of Genetics of Populations is the most current, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the field for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers in genetics, evolution, conservation, and related fields. In the past several years, interest in the application of population genetics principles to new molecular data has increased greatly, and Dr. Hedrick's new edition exemplifies his commitment to keeping pace with this dynamic area of study. Reorganized to allow students to focus more sharply on key material, the Fourth Edition integrates coverage of theoretical issues with a clear presentation of experimental population genetics and empirical data. Drawing examples from both recent and classic studies, and using a variety of organisms to illustrate the vast developments of population genetics, this text provides students and researchers with the most comprehensive resource in the field.

This text book, originally published in 1970, presents the field of population genetics, starting with elementary concepts and leading the reader well into the field. It is concerned mainly with population genetics in a strict sense and deals primarily with natural populations and less fully with the rather similar problems that arise in breading live stock and cul t i vat ed plans . The emphasis is on the behavior of genes and population attributes under natural selection where the most important measure is Darwinian fitness. This text is intended for graduatestudents and advanced undergraduates in genetics and population biology. This book steers a middle course between completely verbal biological arguments and the rigor of the mathematician. The first two-thirds of the book do not require advanced mathematical background. An ordinary knowledge of calculus will suffice. The latter parts of the book, which deal with population stochastically, use more advanced methods.

This concise introduction offers students and researchers an overview of the discipline that connects genetics and evolution. Addressing the theories behind population genetics and relevant empirical evidence, John Gillespie discusses genetic drift, natural selection, nonrandom mating, quantitative genetics, and the evolutionary advantage of sex. First published to wide acclaim in 1998, this brilliant primer has been updated to include new sections on molecular evolution, genetic drift, genetic load, the stationary distribution, and two-locus dynamics. This book is indispensable for students working in a laboratory setting or studying free-ranging populations.