The National Centre for Econometric Research (NCER) will hold a short course entitled, "Genetics and Human Decision Making" at QUT, from 7-11 November 2011. If you are interested in attending, please contact the Administration Coordinator.
The lectures will be held in Room Z808, Gardens Point Campus, QUT.
Course Convener
Prof. Richard P. Ebstein, Psychology Department, National University of Singapore
Richard Ebstein's research revolves around human behavior genetics, with the overarching goal of providing molecular insights into the role of genes as a partial contributor to all facets of human behavior. His work is highly interdisciplinary and combines personality, social, cognitive, and neuropsychology with techniques of molecular genetics. Major research areas include neuroeconomics, the genetics of social behavior and normal personality, autism, ADHD, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
Course Overview
There is growing interest in the Social Sciences in the role that trait characteristics play in molding human behavior. Trait characteristics are the ‘hard wiring’ (Nature) sides of our personalities and decision making processes and are largely determined by the sequence of DNA that we inherit from our parents. As a rule of thumb 50% of the ‘who we are’ are determined by our genes. That being said the no less important other 50%, is determined by the environment we experience (Nurture). The purpose of this short course is to introduce the basic principles of behavioral genetics from twins to DNA to environment towards an appreciation of how Nature and Nurture jointly contribute to the complexity of human decision making.
Course Schedule
| Date and Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| Monday 7 November 2pm - 4pm |
Lecture 1: Basics of Molecular Genetics: Mendel’s Laws and chromosomes, crossing over and recombination, genetic maps, concept of haplotypes, discovery of DNA, the central dogma, genetic code, mutations big and small, eukaryotic gene structure, Mendelian traits |
| Tuesday 8 November 2pm – 4pm |
Lecture 2:
Mendel and Galton, Complex traits, Quantitative traits (QTLs), Twin studies and concept of heritability, role of environment (alcoholism and ADH/ALDH), Avshalom CASPI G x E interactions, violence and MAOA, depression and 5-HTTLPR, meta-analyses |
| Wednesday 9 November 3pm - 5pm |
Lecture 3:
The age of GWAS (Genome-wide association studies); complex disease genetics and psychiatric disorders (psychoses, autism, ADHD, substance abuse & alcoholism), CNV (copy-number variations) |
| Thursday 10 November 2pm – 4pm |
Lecture 4: The importance of the environment in contributing to complex traits, epigenetics at the molecular level (mechanisms viz., methylation & acetylation), George Meaney and importance of early environment in adult behavior, human studies – twins. |
| Friday 11 November 2pm - 4pm |
Lecture 5: Neuroeconomics: molecular genetic studies of individual and other-regarding decision making, of Voles and Men, oxytocin, vasopressin and social hormones. |
Enquiries and Registration
For further details please contact the NCER Administration Coordinator:
Angela Fletcher
Queensland University of Technology
Email: a.fletcher@qut.edu.au