ANT3440H: Molecular Anthropology: Theory and Practice

This course will introduce graduate students to theoretical and experimental methods in Molecular Anthropology. This field of Anthropology uses genetic information for addressing questions about the origin and evolution of our species. We will review important aspects of genome organization and describe the different types of genetic markers used in anthropological studies. A variety of experimental techniques to analyze genome variation will be reviewed in detail. We will also discuss the application of statistical methods in human evolutionary studies. Diverse topics regarding the extent, pattern and meaning of genetic variation within and between human populations will be discussed. The course will familiarize students with how genetic data can be a powerful tool to explore longstanding questions in the field of anthropology, such as the origin of anatomically modern humans, how humans have adapted to a wide range of climatic and ecological conditions, and the relationship of human variation and disease, among others.

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