Today we had our second exam. Stats.
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Friday, February 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Lab 8 - Population Genetics
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Today we discussed how evolution proceeds at the population level. We introduced concepts like natural selection, adaptation, fitness, gene pool, allele frequency, and microevolution. We explained the main evolutionary forces at the population level:
- Natural selection
- Migration
- Mutation
- Genetic drift
We then discussed their relation to the Hardey-Weinberg principle and the conditions for a population to be found in Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium.
Then we proceeded to do really simple but enlightening simulations to test the effect of genetic drift and natural selection on allele frequency. Our gene pools were styrofoam cups full of red and white beans. Thrtough simulation the concepts of allele fixation and allele extinction were introduced.
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Monday, February 1, 2010
Lecture, chapter 13 - Cloning and recombninant DNA
Today we finished the chapter on cloning and recombinant DNA technology.
We covered two of the "classic" ways to analyze DNA: Southern blots and DNA sequencing.
We covered the steps to perform a Southern blot, including the basics of agarose gel electrophoresis, and how to use RNA/DNA probes to find genes of interest.
When discussing DNA sequencing we focused on automated DNA sequencing through the dye-terminator sequencing method, which uses dideoxynucleotides with a fluorescent label.
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