Martin Fischer: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Name Dr. Martin Fischer
Name variantsMartin C. Fischer
M.C. Fischer
MC Fischer
Address
Institut für Integrative Biologie
ETH Zürich, CHN G 21.3
Universitätstrasse 16
8092 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 93 19
E-mailmartin.fischer@usys.ethz.ch
URLhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martin_Fischer12
DepartmentEnvironmental Systems Science
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
701-1413-01LEcological Genetics3 credits2VA. Widmer, M. Fischer
AbstractThis course focuses on fundamental concepts and methods in ecological genetics. Topics covered include genetic diversity, natural selection, adaptation, reproductive isolation, hybridization and speciation.
ObjectiveStudents will be able
- to assess and propose methods to study pertinent questions in ecological genetics
- to combine knowledge from different disciplines, including population and quantitative genetics, ecology and evolution
- to analyse evolutionary processes in natural populations
ContentConcepts and methods for the study of genetic diversity, natural selection, adaptation, reproductive isolation, hybridization and speciation.
Lecture notesHandouts will be provided electronically.
Prerequisites / NoticeRecommendation:
We recommend that you also follow the course 701-1413-00L - Population and Quantitative Genetics either in advance or in parallel.
701-2413-00LEvolutionary Genetics6 credits4VT. Städler, A. Widmer, P. C. Brunner, M. Fischer
AbstractThe concept course 'Evolutionary Genetics' consists of two lectures that jointly provide an introduction to the fields of population and quantitative genetics (emphasis on basic concepts) and ecological genetics (more emphasis on evolutionary and ecological processes of adaptation and speciation).
ObjectiveThe aim of the course is to provide students with a solid introduction to the fields of population genetics, quantitative genetics, and ecological genetics. The concepts and research methods developed in these fields have undergone profound transformations; they are of fundamental importance in our understanding of evolutionary processes, both past and present. Students should gain an appreciation for the concepts, methods and explanatory power of evolutionary genetics.
ContentPopulation genetics - Types and sources of genetic variation; randomly mating populations and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; effects of inbreeding; natural selection; random genetic drift and effective population size; gene flow and hierarchical population structure; molecular population genetics: neutral theory of molecular evolution and basics of coalescent theory.
Quantitative genetics - Continuous variation; measurement of quant. characters; genes, environments and their interactions; measuring their influence; response to selection; inbreeding and crossbreeding, effects on fitness; Fisher's fundamental theorem.
Ecological Genetics - Concepts and methods for the study of genetic variation and its role in adaptation, reproductive isolation, hybridization and speciation
Lecture notesHandouts
LiteratureHamilton, M.B. 2009. Population Genetics. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, U.K.
Prerequisites / NoticeThere will be 5 optional extra sessions for the population genetics part (following lectures 2-6) for computer simulations, designed to help understand the course material.