ENR 3105: CONSERVATION GENETICS
Course Description
The course lays emphasis on genes as basic units necessary for species survival, adaptation and
evolution. It covers some basic evolutionary genetics, focusing on topics such as genetic diversity
and its loss, inbreeding and inbreeding depression, population fragmentation, and attempts to
define the notion of a genetically viable population. It ends with case studies on the practical
applications of genetics to conservation
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
 Explain the structure, organization and packaging of hereditary material into
chromosomes
 Compare and contrast the mitochondrial and Nuclear genetic codes
 Distinguish between the different causes and types of mutation
 Compare and contrast the different models of nucleotide substitution and their
relevance to interpreting genetic data
 Chronologically explain the different steps involved processing DNA samples for
analysis
 Discuss the merits and demerits of various molecular markers vis a vis the different
conservation questions at hand.
 Competently discuss the relevance of applying molecular genetic techniques in
conservation using relevant examples from Uganda.
Course outline
 Introduction to conservation genetics
 Genetics and extinction
 Evolutionary genetics of natural populations
 How to characterize genetic diversity
 Evolution in large populations
 Evolution in small populations
 Effects of population size reduction
 Practical case studies to illustrate the relevance of genetics in conservation
Basic Reading List
1. Frankham R, Ballou DJ and Briscoe A.D (2002). Introduction to Conservation Genetics.
Cambridge
2. Avise JC and Hamrick (Eds)(1996). Conservation Genetics: case stories from Nature. Chapman
and Hall, Newyork
3. Moore HDM, Holt VW, and Mace GM (Eds)(1992). Biotechnology and the Conservation of Genetic
diversity. Clarendon Press, Cambridge, Uk
4. Avise JC (1994). Molecular markers, Natural History and Evolution. Chapman & Hall, New York
Methods of course delivery
 Lectures
 Participants are grouped depending on class size and assigned
topics which they research on and later give 30 minutes talk on
the assigned topic followed by 15 minutes of general discussion
by the whole class.
 Laboratory demonstrations on the use of genetic techniques
Mode of Assessment
 Course Work (Take
home essay, Timed
essay and Test)
 Student Presentations
 Final written Exam