> Title: New statistical methods for assaying the degree of adaptive
> divergence between populations, and identifying regions of the genome
> targeted by selection.
>
>
> A PhD studentship is available to work with Kevin Dawson (Rothamsted
> Research) and Mark Beaumont (University of Reading).
>
> Closing date: 15 May 2003
>
> The studentship is available to all nationalities, but will only cover
> the stipend, and fees charged at the EU rate. Applicants from outside
> the EU will be charged fees at the overseas rate, and will therefore
> have to make up the difference between EU and overseas fees (currently
> around 6,000 GBP per year).
>
> The stipend is at the BBSRC rate, currently 9,000 GBP (free
> of tax) per
> year.
>
>
> Project Summary
> ----------------
> Distinguishing the genetic signatures of selection from
> genetic drift
> is a challenging statistical problem. If most polymorphic marker loci
> are not under direct selection then the geographical subdivision of
> genetic variation will follow a distribution which is determined by
> population history and structure via certain population genetic
> parameters (related to Wright's F-statistics). These
> population genetic
> parameters can be estimated, and selected loci can be identified as
> outliers. This idea has a long and controversial history
> beginning with
> Lewontin and Krakauer (Genetics, 1973, 74, 175-195). The earlier
> criticisms have been addressed, andthe method has been substantially
> modified and extended by both of the supervisors (Beaumont,
> and Nichols,
> Proc. Roy. Soc. B, 1996, 153, 2013-2029; Vitalis, Dawson, Boursot,
> Genetics, 2001, 158, 1811-1823). However, the low sensitivity of these
> exiting methods, at least when applied to moderate numbers of
> polymorphic marker loci (typically allozymes or microsatellites),
> remains a serious concern.
> In the new age of genomics it is now possible to
> address these problems
> on a genome-wide scale. The aims of this project are to
> investigate the
> power of the existing statistical methods when provided with much more
> detailed genotypic data, and to extend these methods in
> various directions.
>
>
> Contact:
>
> Mark A. Beaumont,
> School of Animal and Microbial Sciences,
> University of Reading,
> Whiteknights,
> P.O. Box 228,
> Reading RG6 6AJ,
> UK
>
> Tel 0118 987 5123 X 7707
> Fax 0118 931 0180
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> WWW: http://www.rubic.rdg.ac.uk/~mab/
>
>
> Kevin Dawson
> Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division
> Rothamsted Research
> Harpenden
> Herts AL5 2JQ UK
>
> Tel: +44 (0)1582 763133 x2281
> Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> WWW: http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/
>
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