Stanford Lectures 1: Behavioural Genetics

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2024-2025

Topic

Prof Robert Sapolsky at Stanford University uploaded a free course on biology of the human behaviour, which has many aspects connected to molecular genetics and behavioral genetics - new fields of research affecting our understanding of sex, aggression, language, diseases like schizophrenia and so on. In this course we will hear and see each one of his 2010 lectures in ca. 45-60 min. pieces and discuss the information delivered. The lectures can be stopped at any point so that emerging questions are negotiated in detail.

Curriculum:

1. General introduction, Behavioral evolution I. Key facts

2. Behavioral evolution II. Game theory

3. Behavioral evolution III. Misconceptions

4. Behavioral evolution IV. Intersexual conflicts and diseases

5. Molecular genetics I. Chimps to humans 97%, sibling to sibling 50%?

6. Molecular genetics II. Morphology vs function

7. Molecular genetics III. Diseases

8. Molecular genetics IV. Beyond disease

9. Behavioral genetics I. I've found the gene for that!

10. Behavioral genetics II. Prenatal effects

11. Behavioral genetics III. Metro dogs

12. Behavioral genetics IV. Gene-environment interactions; summary, questions, feedback

Lectures

• 1. General introduction - Mátics Róbert
• 2. Behavioral evolution I. Key facts - Mátics Róbert
• 3. Behavioral evolution II. Game theory - Mátics Róbert
• 4. Behavioral evolution II. Game theory - Mátics Róbert
• 5. Behavioral evolution III. Misconceptions - Mátics Róbert
• 6. Behavioral evolution III. Misconceptions - Mátics Róbert
• 7. Behavioral evolution IV. Intersexual conflicts and diseases - Mátics Róbert
• 8. Behavioral evolution IV. Intersexual conflicts and diseases - Mátics Róbert
• 9. Molecular genetics I. Chimps to humans 97%, sibling to sibling 50%? - Mátics Róbert
• 10. Molecular genetics I. Chimps to humans 97%, sibling to sibling 50%? - Mátics Róbert
• 11. Molecular genetics II. Morphology vs function - Mátics Róbert
• 12. Molecular genetics II. Morphology vs function - Mátics Róbert
• 13. Molecular genetics III. Diseases - Mátics Róbert
• 14. Molecular genetics III. Diseases - Mátics Róbert
• 15. Molecular genetics IV. Beyond disease - Mátics Róbert
• 16. Molecular genetics IV. Beyond disease - Mátics Róbert
• 17. Behavioral genetics I. I've found the gene for that! - Mátics Róbert
• 18. Behavioral genetics I. I've found the gene for that! - Mátics Róbert
• 19. Behavioral genetics II. Prenatal effects - Mátics Róbert
• 20. Behavioral genetics II. Prenatal effects - Mátics Róbert
• 21. Behavioral genetics III. Metro dogs - Mátics Róbert
• 22. Behavioral genetics III. Metro dogs - Mátics Róbert
• 23. Behavioral genetics IV. Gene-environment interactions - Mátics Róbert
• 24. Summary, questions, feedback - Mátics Róbert

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

none

Literature developed by the Department

Hand-outs

Notes

Extended notes by Prof Sapolsky, if you need them

The lectures can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnIGh9g6fA&list=PL848F2368C90DDC3D

Recommended literature

Axelrod R, Hamilton WD: The Evolution of Cooperation, Science 211, 1390-1396. Classic paper on the subject, 1981

Cornwallis C et al.: Promiscuity and the Evolutionary Transition to Complex Societies, Nature 466, 969. 2010 Hard, give intro to how to read.

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

-

Mid-term exams

Make up by appointment

Making up for missed classes

Make-up classes possible, we'll have to make appointments.

Exam topics/questions

No detailed questions are asked about which gene does what, rather a synthesis and deep understanding of the connections between genetics, behaviour, disease etc. should be reached and given back.

Examiners

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars