| NBID65 |
Behaviour Genetics, 7,5 ECTS credits.
/Behaviour Genetics/
For:
ETH
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Prel. scheduled
hours: 26
Rec. self-study hours: 174
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Area of Education: Science
Main field of studies: Biology, Chemical Biology
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Advancement level
(G1, G2, A): A
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Aim:
The student will learn and understand the basis of quantitative genetic techniques, in particular how they pertain to behavioural variation. The student will apply such techniques to actual data, as well as discuss the limitations of such techniques and compare and contrast between them. Students will analyse and contrast the genetic architecture underpinning a variety of different behavioural traits, discussing the ramifications for future studies on behaviour.
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Prerequisites: (valid for students admitted to programmes within which the course is offered)
120 ECTS including 90 ECTS in Biology.
Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission requirements for the programme and threshhold requirements for progression within the programme, or corresponding.
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Organisation:
The course will consist of lectures, workshops/ seminars and a combined literature and data analysis project. The students are expected to work independently and manage their time efficiently in order to handle the course assignments. Extra costs due to travelling must be paid by the student.
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Course contents:
The field of behaviour genetics involves the synthesis of ethology, genetics, neurobiology and evolution amongst others, and impacts on a multitude of different fields in biology. Previous to the fieldâ?Ts genesis, behaviour had been thought to be controlled by a â?~black boxâ?T, with scant regard to what genes can affect a trait and how they achieve this. As this field has risen to greater prominence, the genes that underpin both the mechanisms and variation present in behaviour are starting to be understood. This course will teach both a combination of the genetic knowledge required to interpret this field, as well as an understanding of the field itself. The course will in addition focus on practical aspects of behaviour genetics, principally the use of statistics and how they are required in the field, experimental design and the like. Aspects as diverse as heritability, genetic mapping, transcriptomics, mutagenesis and transgenics will be covered, whilst a variety of different behaviours will be looked at and dissected, including anxiety, learning and memory, foraging and sleep.
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Course literature:
Anholt, R.R.H., Mackay, T.F.C. Principles of Behavioral Genetics. (Academic Press, 2010).
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Examination: |
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Written examination
Attendance and participation in seminars
Project
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3 ECTS
1 ECTS
3,5 ECTS
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Project involves analysing a given data set in small groups (each group with a specific dataset). Students will take the analysis from an initial examination of the data through to more advanced analysis for gene/ QTL identification. They will then describe the results, discuss the ramifications and implications, and design further experiments tailored to their specific dataset.
For the final grade in the course the different grades in the included parts are weighted taking into account their different sizes. |
Course language is English.
Department offering the course: IFM.
Director of Studies: Agneta Johansson
Examiner: Dominic Wright
Link to the course homepage at the department
Course Syllabus in Swedish
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