Objectives: An introductory course that covers transmission genetics, molecular genetics, and population genetics, with an emphasis on problem solving. Examples in both plants and animals (including humans) are considered. One section of this course is offered in each of the fall and spring semesters.

Prerequisites: General Biology (Biol 101) , or Human Biology (Biol 102), or Principles of Biology (Biol 104)

Credit Value: 4

Contact Time: Three 50 minute lectures and one 3 hour laboratory per week.

Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course a student should:

• be able to design and interpret genetic crosses which are the fundamental experimental tool of genetics
• understand the role of probability in inheritance
• understand the patterns of inheritance resultinging from the behavior of chromosomes during meiosis
• undrstand the basic structure and function of the gene
• undrstand the mathematical basis of inheritance in populations
• undrstand the regulation of gene expression in bactertia
• be able to correctly answer questions pertaining to genetics on the Major Field Test, the GRE, the MCAT, the DAT, etc.
• gain the background for understanding current advances in genetics

Assessment:

• Hourly exams: There will be four hourly exams. The coverage of the exams will vary, but will be roughly 90% lecture material and 10% laboratory material.
• Laboratory reports: A written lab is required for six of the 12 laboratory exercises.
• Data sheets: The remaining six laboratories require the completion of a data sheet.
• Final examination: It will be about two-thirds cumulative and one-third on the material covered after the fourth hourly examination.

Lecture Schedule:

• Course introduction, Mendelian genetics - background
• Mendelian genetics - monohybrid crosses
• Mendelian genetics - dihybrid and trihybrid crosses
• Dominance relationships
• Epistatis (Part 1)
• Epistatis (Part 2)
• Sex linkage
• Sex determination and development
• Pedigree analysis
• Quantitative inheritance (Part 1)
• Examination 1
• Quantitative inheritance (Part 2)
• Heritability (Part 1)
• Heritability (Part 2)
• Gene linkage and crossing over (Part 1)
• Gene linkage and crossing over (Part 2)
• Crossing over and gene mapping (Part 1)
• Crossing over and gene mapping (Part 2)
• Gene mapping in bacteria (Part 1)
• Examination 2
• Gene mapping in bacteria (Part 2)
• Variation in chromosome number (Part 1)
• Variation in chromosome number (Part 2)
• DNA history and structure (Part 1)
• DNA history and structure (Part 2)
• DNA structure and replication
• DNA replication (Part 1)
• DNA replication (Part 2)
• Examination 3
• The genetic code (Part 1)
• The genetic code (Part 2)
• RNA synthesis (Part 1)
• RNA synthesis (Part 2)
• Protein synthesis (Part 1)
• Protein synthesis (Part 2)
• Population genetics - genetic equilibrium (Part 1)
• Population genetics - genetic equilibrium (Part 2)
• Population genetics - changes in gene frequency (Part 1)
• Population genetics - changes in gene frequency (Part 2)
• Examination 4
• Gene organization and regulation in bacteria (Part 1)
• Gene organization and regulation in bacteria (Part 2)
• Gene organization and regulation in bacteria (Part 3)
• Final examination

• NOTE: Lecture sequence and emphais may vary between instructors

Laboratory Schedule:

• Life cycles and model genetic organisms
• Mitosis and meiosis
• Probability and Mendelian genetics
• Gene interaction and epistasis
• Human genetics
• Genetic counseling
• Quantitative inheritance
• Crossing over and linkage mapping
• Chromosomes and karyotypes
• Isolation of genomic DNA
• PCR amplification of DNA
• DNA mutagenesis and repair
• Population genetics
• Human gene therapy

• NOTE: Laboratory sequence and emphasis may vary between instructors