Postgraduate taught 

Advanced Statistics MSc

Statistical Genetics (Level M) STATS5011

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course introduces students to applications of probability and statistics in the field of modern genetics.

Timetable

2 1-hour lectures per week for 10 weeks

4 1-hour tutorials

Excluded Courses

STATS4074

Assessment

Examination (100%)

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course aims to introduce applications of probability and statistics in the field of genetics and provide applications of approaches to inference in a variety of genetic settings.

This course will also present cutting-edge statistical models of evolution.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ describe basic notions of genetics;

■ prove, test and apply Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and explain departures from it;

■ estimate gene frequencies, using a variety of methods, including the EM algorithm;

■ apply Bayes' theorem in order to solve problems in genetic counselling;

■ explain and use the coalescent process, as derived from the Wright-Fisher dynamics;

■ explain how the presence of recombination effects models of ancestry;

■ estimate evolutionary parameters using models of ancestry;

■ solve more advanced problems in the coalescent process and ancestral recombination graph.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.