COURSE OBJECTIVES
1.  Understand the content, concepts and processes involved in the various sub-disciplines within the field of genetics.
2.  Define genetic terminology introduced/discussed within the course.
3.  Generate genetic hypotheses and formulate experiments to test these.
4.  Write-up lab experiments in scientific journal format.
5.  Apply specific knowledge of genetics to solving quantitative problems.

LECTURE TOPICS
I. Molecular Foundations of Genetics
A. Introduction - Chapter 1
B. DNA Structure and Replication - Chapter 2
C. Bacterial Genetics - Chapter 7
D. Recombinant DNA and Molecular Analysis - Chapter 9
E. Transcription and RNA Processing - Chapter 3
F. Translation and Protein Function - Chapter 4
G. Mutation - Chapter 5
H. Gene Expression - 6
I. Regulation of Gene Expression - Chapter 8
J. Eukaryotic Genome Organization - Chapter 10
K. Mitosis, Meiosis and Life Cycles - Chapter 11

II.  Genetics of Organism
 A.  Mendelian Genetics - Chapter 12
 B.  Variations on Mendel's Theme - Chapter 13
C.  Sex Determination and Sex-Related Inheritance - Chapter 14
D.  Chromosome Mapping - Chapter 15
E.   Population Genetics - Chapter 19
F.  Quantitative Genetics - Chapter 20
G.  Alterations in Chromosome Number and Structure - Chapter 17
H.  Extranuclear Inheritance - Chapter 18

III.      Gene Expression and the Organism
A. Transposable Elements - Chapter 22
B. Developmental Genetics - Chapter 23
C.  Genes and Cancer - Chapter 24
 
 

LABORATORY
The laboratory session of this course is on Tuesday.  Our Tuesday period will include a combination of formal laboratory exercises and lecture.  There will be 4 main laboratory exercises: 1) Transformation/Cloning, 2) Transcription/Translation & Sequence Analysis, 3) Mendelian Inheritance Patterns, 4) Population Genetics.  Some of these labs will take more than a single day to complete.  In addition, you will complete a number short lab exercises throughout the semester.  There will also be two formal lab reports, one on the exercise concerning Transformation/Cloning and the other on Mendelian Inheritance Patterns.  These reports should follow the style and rules governing scientific publications (look at any scientific journal in the biological sciences to familiarize yourself with the general style, content and format required).

GRADING
Lab Grade:  The labs are worth the following points: Transformation & Cloning = 50, Transcription/Translation  & Sequence Analysis = 50, Mendelian Inheritance = 50, Population Genetics = 50.
Lecture Exams:  Five exams at 100 points each.  An exam will be given approximately every three weeks.
Final Comprehensive Exam:  150 points
Homework:  To be announced
The grading scale is fixed as follows: A =90 - 100, B = 80 - 89, C = 70 - 79, D = 60 - 69

LAB AND EXAM POLICY
There is a strict lab attendance policy, since there are no make-up labs.  An exam can only be missed for a valid, University-approved reason; these reasons are: 1) you are a member of a sports sponsored event off campus, 2) a death in your immediate family, 3) hospitalization. You must prove in writing that you missed the exam for a valid reason; false representation will cause you to be dismissed from the course and sent to the Student Disciplinary Office.  Furthermore, make sure you notify me ahead of time so that make-up arrangements can be made.  If you do not notify me ahead of time, you forfeit your opportunity for a make-up exam. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 581-6583.