A solution to the Wright-Fisher model of genetic drift.

Time: 11:20-12:50, June 4 - July 9, 2001
Place: 313 Gilbreath Hall
Instructor: Dr. Robert Gardner
e-mail: gardnerr@etsu.edu
Prerequisite: Calculus 2 (a knowledge of differential equations would also be useful).

During Summer Term 1, the East Tennessee State University Mathematics Department will offer an introductory class in mathematical biology. The class will be offered both as an undergraduate class (MATH 4957) and a graduate class (MATH 5900). The prerequisite is Calculus 2 (MATH 1120). A prior knowledge of differential equations, genetics, and ecology will be useful, but the necessary background in these areas will be briefly presented.

Topics to be covered are

1. Genetics: Mendelian genetics, Hardy-Weinberg law, mutation, fitness, Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection, genetic drift, and the Wright-Fisher Model.
2. Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems: techniques of solving differential equations, matrix methods, stable and unstable equilibria, limit cycles, Lyapunov functions, iterated function systems, chaos, Poincare-Bendixson Theorem.
3. Population Dynamics: exponential growth, logistic growth, the logistic equation as an iterated function system, Lotka-Volterra predator-prey equations, competition, cooperation.
4. Miscellaneous: sociobiology, game theory, evolutionary stable strategies (as time permits).

Charles Darwin

Sewall Wright

Ronald Fisher

Introduction to Biological Evolution (PDF) (PostScript)

Introduction to Molecular Genetics (incomplete) (PDF) (PostScript)

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