Reading List

Some suggested reading for students on one of the Quantitative Genetics programmes.

The below reading material will help you to prepare for your Quantitative Genetics (QG) related MSc Programme:

  • Animal Breeding and Genetics (ABG)
  • Evolutionary Genetics (EG)
  • Human Complex Trait Genetics (HCTG)
  • Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis (QGGA)

1. Introduction to R

We will use the software R to deliver the practical elements of statistics in the first semester and in many of the second semester courses.

We highly recommend that you familiarise yourself with the basics of this software and we suggest the R basics tutorials offered by Coding Club, an Edinburgh based initiative.

Other useful resources are:

  • Beckerman, Childs & Petchey, Getting started with R: An Introduction for Biologists
  • Crawley MJ, The R Book
  • Dalgaard, P, Introductory Statistics with R

2. Mathematical skills

All of you have been selected as having what we consider to be an adequate level of mathematics, but it may be some while since you last took a maths class. You should be aware that from very early in the year you will be making use of linear algebra and basic calculus. Later on, you will be introduced to matrix algebra, which you will be making use of in Semester 2.  Before arrival you should ensure you are familiar with this basic knowledge.

You can find it in "Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics: Core Mathematics 1"; Keith Pledger et al.

You should be comfortable with the following sections before your first lectures:

  • Sections 1.1 – 1.6; Algebra and functions
  • Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.5; Quadratic functions
  • Sections 3.1 –  3.4 Equations and inequalities

Other books in the series will prove useful later on:

  • "Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics - Core Mathematics 2 (C2)"; Keith Pledger et al
  • "Edexcel AS and A Level Modular Mathematics - Further Pure Mathematics 1" Keith Pledger et al., which covers matrices.

3. Genetics knowledge

For those with a biological background who have not taken a full course in population genetics, we strongly recommend you familiarise yourselves with this text before arrival:

  • DL Hartl (2000) A Primer of population genetics 3rd edn [Sinauer Associates] ISBN 0878933042

For those with a non-biological background, the following genetics text is a core reference

  • AJF Griffiths, WM Gelbart, RC Lewontin, SR Wessler, DT Suzuki & JH Miller (2015) Introduction to Genetics Analysis 11th edn [WH Freeman] ISBN 0716799022

4. Statistics

On the same basis, anyone who needs to familiarise themselves with their statistics coursework should read this:

  • Greg Attwood, Gill Dyer and Gordon Skipworth, Heinemann Modular Mathematics for Edexcel AS and A-level Statistics 1 [Heinemann Educational Books] ISBN 0435510827

5. Course texts

The following are the course texts required in Semester 1.

  • Nielsen R and Slatkin M (2013) An Introduction to Population Genetics – theory and applications [Sinauer]
  • DS Falconer & TFC Mackay (1996) Introduction to Quantitative Genetics; 4th edn [Longman] ISBN: 0582243025

6. Review papers

And finally, these review papers provide an overview of the field and what you will be learning about over the course of the year.

You can access these through MyEd by selecting "Library" and then "Search and Access Resources".

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