BZ2420:03
Genetics and Biodiversity Conservation
Townsville
Prerequisites: BZ1020 and/or consult Academic Advisor
Inadmissable Subject Combination: BT2300 ZL2101
33 lectures, 6 tutorials, 8 hours practicals. First semester.
Staff: Assoc. Professor D Blair, Dr L Bielig.
Knowledge and techniques derived from genetics and related fields are having an increasing impact on our everyday lives and on the study of biology. In particular, genetic methods are making it possible to answer questions in ecology and evolution that were previously intractable. This subject will expand on knowledge gained in level one subjects and show how genetics and evolutionary biology can provide new insights into biodiversity, human biology and conservation genetics.
Learning Objectives:
- to understand the basis of and methods for studying genetic diversity;
- to understand the origins and radiation of life in the context of evolutionary genetics;
- to understand the applications of genetic techniques to human biology, breeding of domestic animals and plants, population biology and conservation.
Assessment by examination (50%); practical reports and written assignments and on-course tests (50%).