We start our survey of quantitative genetics on Tuesday. It’s a field with a long history, and we’ll only scratch the surface, but when we finish out the course, you should understand the basics well enough that you can figure out anything else you need to know on your own. (Of course, I’m alway available for advice if you get involved in something that you can’t figure out. I’m not an expert, but I’ve been around long enough, that I can probably help you figure it out.)
I think you’ll find that this block of material is the most challenging and difficult that we’ve encountered all semester. There is substantially more algebra involved because there’s no other way to understand some of the fundamental concepts (like additive genetic variance). I’ll do my best to keep reminding us why we’re suffering through all of the math, but don’t hesitate to ask for a lifeline if – when – you feel as if you’re drowning.