How Selection Changes the Genetic Composition of Population Video Lectures, Prof. Stephen C. Stearns

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Lecture Description

Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB 122)Genetics controls evolution. There are four major genetic systems, which are combinations of sexual/asexual and haploid/diploid. In all genetic systems, adaptive genetic change tends to start out slow, accelerate in the middle, and occur slowly at the end. Asexual haploids can change the fastest, while sexual diploids usually change the slowest. Gene frequencies in large populations only change if the population undergoes selection.00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction 05:45 - Chapter 2. History of Genetics 10:57 - Chapter 3. Different Genetic Systems 20:45 - Chapter 4. Math of Genetics 40:42 - Chapter 5. Rates of Change in Different Genetic TypesComplete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/coursesThis course was recorded in Spring 2009.

Course Description

The Nature of Evolution: Selection, Inheritance, and History – Basic Transmission Genetics – Adaptive Evolution: Natural Selection – Neutral Evolution: Genetic Drift – How Selection Changes the Genetic Composition of Population – The Origin and Maintenance of Genetic Variation – The Importance of Development in Evolution – The Expression of Variation: Reaction Norms – The Evolution of Sex – Genomic Conflict – Life History Evolution – Sex Allocation – Sexual Selection – Species and Speciation – Phylogeny and Systematics – Comparative Methods: Trees, Maps, and Traits – Key Events in Evolution – Major Events in the Geological Theatre – The Fossil Record and Life’s History – Coevolution – Evolutionary Medicine – The Impact of Evolutionary Thought on the Social Sciences – The Logic of Science – Climate and the Distribution of Life on Earth – Interactions with the Physical Environment – Population Growth: Density Effects – Interspecific Competition – Ecological Communities – Island Biogeography and Invasive Species – Energy and Matter in Ecosystems – Why So Many Species? The Factors Affecting Biodiversity – Economic Decisions for the Foraging Individual – Evolutionary Game Theory: Fighting and Contests – Mating Systems and Parental Care – Alternative Breeding Strategies – Selfishness and Altruism