Ecological Genetics Entom 4700 / BioEE 4800 4 credits Lecture Tue and Thur 11:40-12:55.  Discussion Wed 10:10-11:00, with a second section TBA if needed. Offered Alternate Spring Semesters (next offered Spring 2011) This course focuses on the application of population genetic concepts in ecological or applied contexts. Emphasis is placed on measuring adaptation in natural populations, detecting the effects of population demography, and determining the genetic basis of quantitative traits. Examples are drawn from primary research on animals and plants to illustrate experimental techniques and methods of data analysis on single-gene, multi-locus and genome-wide scales. Prerequisite BioEE 2780 or permission of instructor. Familiarity with genetics and basic statistics is recommended. Satisfies major requirements in Entomology and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Course flyer (pdf) Course overview, Syllabus, and provisional readings for discussion section for Spring 2008. Online course materials at www.blackboard.cornell.edu under course number Entom 470. Student evaluations of previous Ecological Genetics offerings (pdf format) 2009   2008   2007   2005 Introductory Evolution and Diversity  (Team-taught course) BioEE 2780 3 or 4 credits; 4-credit option involves writing component and two disc per week. Offered every semester Considers explanations for patterns of diversity and for the apparent good fit of organisms to the environment. Topics include the genetic and developmental basis of evolutionary change, processes at the population level, the theory of evolution by natural selection, levels of selection, concepts of fitness and adaptation, modes of speciation, long-term trends in evolution, rates of evolution, and extinction. Students taking the 4-credit option read additional materials from the primary literature and write a series of essays in place of the regular prelims. Seminar in the Ecology and Evolution of Infection and Disease Entom 6900 Mon 2:30-3:20. 1 credit Offered every semester Graduate level discussion of the ecology, epidemiology, genetics and evolution of infectious disease in animal and plant systems. Weekly discussion of research papers published in the primary scientific literature. Participation in dicussion and presentation of at least one paper required for course credit. See Cornell EEID group and EEID group and associated journal club. Courses Formerly Taught Population Genetics  (Co-taught with Chip Aquadro) BioGD 4810 4 credits Offered Fall semesters Dr. Lazzaro is no longer involved in teaching BioGD 4810. Population genetics is the study of the transmission of genetic variation through time and space. This course explores how to quantify this variation, what the distribution of variation tells us about the structure of natural populations, and about the processes that lead to evolution. Topics include the diversity and measurement of genetic variation, mating and reproductive systems, selection and fitness, genetic drift, migration and population structure, mutation, multilocus models, the genetics of speciation, quantitative traits, and the maintenance of molecular variation. Emphasis is placed on DNA sequence variation and the interplay between theory and the data from experiments and natural populations. Specific case studies include the population genetic issues involved in DNA fingerprinting, the genetic structure and evolution of human populations, and the study of adaptation at the molecular level. Examples are drawn from studies of animals, plants, and microbes. Current Topics in Entomology Entom 7670 1 credit This course provides first- and second-year graduate students with an overview of the field of Entomology. The course format changes from year to year but generally involves attendance at the weekly Entomology seminar on Monday as well as a one-hour meeting shortly after the seminar either with faculty from the department or with visiting speakers. Additional readings may be required.