Quantitative Genetics 1: Fundamentals & History PDF

Quantitative Genetics 1: Fundamentals and History of Quantitative Genetics Dr Tom McAdams MSc DevPP Nature & Nurture 1 What is Quantitative Genetics? The study of the genetics of complex traits Relies on statistical models and methodology Complex traits = those with continuously distributed...

Quantitative Genetics 1: Fundamentals and History of Quantitative Genetics Dr Tom McAdams MSc DevPP Nature & Nurture 1 What is Quantitative Genetics? The study of the genetics of complex traits Relies on statistical models and methodology Complex traits = those with continuously distributed phenotypes Height Weight Performance on cognitive tests Responses to personality questionnaires Complex traits = those under polygenic influence (influenced by multiple genes) Also applies to many (most) binary and discrete traits too, e.g. Mental health diagnoses Quantitative Genetics Lectures 1. Fundamentals and History 2. Twin Studies 3. Adoption Studies 4. Genomic Studies  A timeline of human understanding… …of heredity, heritability, and genetics… Structure of DNA discovered Crick Pre-history Charles Darwin Watson Polygenic scores Agriculture On the Origin of Francis Galton Sewall Wright Franklin Human genome in humans Animal Species 1875 1920’s 1953 project 2003 2007 onwards breeding 1859 Ronald Fisher Twin studies Linkage studies Ancient civilisations Gregor Mendel 1980’s onwards Genome wide 1918 20th century association 1866 onwards studies (GWAS) 2005 onwards Prehistory Animal domestication Plant domestication Agriculture developed ~12,000 years ago Animal and plant domestication require selective breeding Suggests an understanding of heredity Ancient history