5 ms·

How on earth would you study evolutionary biology without studying population genetics? Is a bit like saying not to study mathematics because you actually need

How on earth would you study evolutionary biology without studying population genetics? Is a bit like saying not to study mathematics because you actually need calculus.

danieltillett 11y ago
Evolutionary biology is a real big field. Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. I was not suggesting to not study evolutionary biology (we should just call it biology as there is no such thing as non-evolutionary biology), just explaining what is the area you need to study if you want to understand the question being discussed.
- elektromekatron 11y ago
  Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=population+genetics+bsc https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=population+genetics+bsc oh no it isn't
  - danieltillett 11y ago
    Subject as in unit, not subject as in degree. When I taught population genetics I taught population genetics as one half of a unit on human genetics. I would have loved to devote an entire unit to population genetics, but the timetable did not allow it. As a unit it often is called something else to appeal more to students and is more often mixed in with other biology fields. This is a general trend across biology where areas that were once separate fields have come back together with the rise of molecular biology.
    - elektromekatron 11y ago
      Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. ... As a unit it often is called something else to appeal more to students and is more often mixed in with other biology fields. Which is it?
      - danieltillett 11y ago
        It is both - it is a a separate subject (course unit), but one that is often hidden inside another subject (unit) to make it palatable to students. To do this you give it another name and mix in some other stuff - I guess a bit like the way nasty tasting medicine is handled :) The problem with teaching population genetics is not that it is not important or interesting, but that it involves maths. Biology students and maths are a bit like oil and water.

How on earth would you study evolutionary biology without studying population genetics? Is a bit like saying not to study mathematics because you actually need calculus.

danieltillett 11y ago

Evolutionary biology is a real big field. Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. I was not suggesting to not study evolutionary biology (we should just call it biology as there is no such thing as non-evolutionary biology), just explaining what is the area you need to study if you want to understand the question being discussed.

elektromekatron 11y ago
Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=population+genetics+bsc https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=population+genetics+bsc oh no it isn't
- danieltillett 11y ago
  Subject as in unit, not subject as in degree. When I taught population genetics I taught population genetics as one half of a unit on human genetics. I would have loved to devote an entire unit to population genetics, but the timetable did not allow it. As a unit it often is called something else to appeal more to students and is more often mixed in with other biology fields. This is a general trend across biology where areas that were once separate fields have come back together with the rise of molecular biology.
  - elektromekatron 11y ago
    Typically population genetics is its own separate subject at the university level. ... As a unit it often is called something else to appeal more to students and is more often mixed in with other biology fields. Which is it?
    - danieltillett 11y ago
      It is both - it is a a separate subject (course unit), but one that is often hidden inside another subject (unit) to make it palatable to students. To do this you give it another name and mix in some other stuff - I guess a bit like the way nasty tasting medicine is handled :) The problem with teaching population genetics is not that it is not important or interesting, but that it involves maths. Biology students and maths are a bit like oil and water.