The objectives is to provide students with mathematical and theoretical skills for evolutionary dynamics, which are necessary for mechanistic and quantitative understanding of complexity in biological systems

This is a basic course intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students with knowledge of basic biology. Students who are interested in any fields in biology are all welcome, because all of the biological phenomena is the product of the evolution. The background for advanced mathematics is not presumed, but basic knowledge on population dynamics is preferred. We will learn basic but important mathematical methods for analyzing evolutionary dynamics in biological systems. Statistics and computer programming are beyond our focus. The course is designed for hand-on work. We just need “paper-and-pencil” for learning how to think quantitatively about evolutionary dynamics. If necessary, we will also use well-developed software but we do not need skills in computer programming. There will be dedicated time every week for students to do “paper-and-pencil” exercise. This course will include the following topics:

1. Basic equations for population dynamics
2. Adaptive strategies for foraging
3. Adaptive strategies for growth and reproduction
4. Dynamic optimization of lifecycle schedule
5. Discrete dynamical systems in population genetics
6. Quantitative genetics
7. Evolutionary games
8. Replicator dynamics
9. Adaptive dynamics
10. Coevolution

We will not use textbook and handouts will be provided, but the followings are also recommended for sub-reading:
“Evolutionary Games and population dynamics” by Josef Hofbauer and Karl Sigmund. Cambridge Univ. Press.
“Evolutionary dynamics: exploring the equations of life” by Martin A. Nowak. Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press.
Grading: Exercise (40%) Midterm (30 %) Final (30 %)