Published

25 Mar 2026

Schedule

Note: The schedule is subject to changes!

Date Day Time Topic Room Lecturer
09-04-2026 Thu 08-10 Introduction S09 Schmid
13-04-2026 Mon 08-10 Genetic diversity S09 Schmid
16-04-2026 Thu 08-10 Genomic variation: Genotyping and sequencing S09 Daware
20-04-2026 Mon 08-10 Phylogenetic analysis S09 Daware
20-04-2026 Mon 12-14 Computer lab: Genetic diversity PC6 Daware
20-04-2026 Mon 16-18 Computer lab: Phylogenetic analysis PC6 Daware
23-04-2026 Thu 08-10 Population structure S09 Daware
27-04-2026 Mon 08-10 Gene flow S09 Daware
27-04-2026 Mon 14-16 Computer lab: Population structure PC6 Daware
27-04-2026 Mon 16-18 Computer lab: Gene flow PC6 Daware
30-04-2026 Thu 08-10 Coalescent theory S09 Schmid
04-05-2026 Mon 08-10 Analysis of demography and selection S09 Schmid
04-05-2026 Mon 14-16 Computer lab: Coalescent theory PC6 Schmid
04-05-2026 Mon 16-18 Biodiversity PC6 Schmid
07-05-2026 Thu 08-10 Crop diversity and systematics S09 Schmid
11-05-2026 Mon 08-10 Crop domestication S09 Schmid
11-05-2026 Mon 14-16 Computer lab: Demography and selection PC6 Hacke
11-05-2026 Mon 16-18 Genetics of crop evolution PC6 Hacke
14-05-2026 Thu Ascension day - No class
18-05-2026 Mon 08-10 History of PGR S09 Schmid
18-05-2026 Mon 14-16 Legislation for PGR PC6 Schmid
18-05-2026 Mon 16-18 Conservation of plant genetic resources PC6 Schmid
21-05-2026 Thu 08-10 Core collections & Allele mining in PGR S09 Schmid
Pentecost break (Excursion planned)
01-06-2026 Mon 08-10 Analysis of phenotypic diversity S09 Hacke
01-06-2026 Mon 14-16 Computer lab: Core collections PC6 Hacke
01-06-2026 Mon 16-18 Computer lab: Allele mining PC6 Hacke
04-06-2026 Thu Corpus Christi day - No class
08-06-2026 Mon 08-10 Genetic mapping of useful alleles S09 Schmid
08-06-2026 Mon 14-16 Computer lab: Analysis of phenotypic diversity PC6 Hacke
08-06-2026 Mon 16-18 Computer lab: Genetic mapping PC6 Hacke
11-06-2026 Thu 08-10 Genetic resources in plant breeding S09 Schmid
17-07-2026 Fri 23:55 Deadline submission of data analysis report
XX-07-2026 Written exam (Exam period 1)
XX-09-2026 Written exam (Exam period 2)

Course organisation

  • Syllabus: HTML
  • Computer labs:
    • The computer labs will take place in PC Room 3 where we have access to windows PCs. You can either work with them or bring your own laptop.
    • We will use R and Rstudio for the computer exercises. If you want to install R and Rstudio on your own computer: R download and R studio
    • We will work with the same data set for many of the computer exercises. To avoid having to prepare the data each time, we will do it only once using these instructions and save the prepared data. You will need the following data files: genetic data, list with teosinte samples, list with landraces, and list with improved varieties. If you encounter any problems you can also download the prepared data here.
  • Data analysis project: Download the datasets and the assignment of each student to the data here.

Topics

Introduction and motivation

Genetic diversity

Genomic variation: Genotyping and sequencing

Phylogenetic analysis

Biodiversity

Crop diversity and systematics

Crop domestication

Population structure

Gene flow and reticulate evolution

Coalescent theory

Tests of selection

Genetics of crop evolution

Demographic analysis of crop evolution

History of plant genetic resources

International legislation for plant genetic resources

Conservation of plant genetic resources

Core collections

Allele mining in PGR

Genetic mapping of useful alleles

Analysis of phenotypic diversity

Genetic resources in plant breeding

Course literature

  • Jack Harlan: Crops and Man (1992) PDF