Genetics Course Description and Outline
2008-2009

 This Course will be taught in 2008 - 2009

Course Description: The key ideas and modern applications of genetics will be addressed in this elective class. Our aim is to provide students with the scientific basis for understanding issues relating to genetic engineering - including gene manipulation, gene cloning, recombinant DNA technology, gene therapy and genetic modification. Research efforts like the human genome project, forensic applications of genetic knowledge, and controversial social and political issues such as stem cell research will also be explored.

COURSE INFORMATION AND CLASSROOM POLICIES

Course Objectives:

• To help you get ahead and stay ahead in your study of Genetics.
• To understand genetics at the molecular level pertaining to the structure of eukaryotic chromosomes, control of the cell cycle, and transcription in eukaryotes.
• To understand the new molecular understandings of various human genetic diseases.
• To understand mapping genes in human chromosomes.
• To discuss and understand the relationship of the cell cycle to cancer.

Textbook: Russell, Peter J., Fundamentals of Genetics, 2 nd Ed., Addison Wesley Longman 2000.

Grading Policies:
Tests – 40%
Tests will be given after the completion of necessary material. Make up tests will be given upon return to school with an excused absence note.

Labs/Projects – 30%
Labs are an important part of this course. Only excused absences will be able to make up missed labs.

Quizzes – 20%
Quizzes will be given over chapter material as well as laboratory material. There will be no make up quizzes unless you have a written excuse. Students can also expect pop quizzes.

Homework – 10%
Homework will be assigned accordingly. It is important to practice genetic problems when they are assigned. Genetic problems are a part of Genetics. No homework will be accepted late. Your homework should be legible and complete, turned in on lose leaf notebook paper. All reports should be typed and not written.

Course Outline

Chapter One:
Genetics: An Introduction

• Branches of Genetics
• Geneticists and Genetics Research
• Cellular Reproduction in Eukaryotes: Mitosis and Meiosis

Chapter Two:

Mendelian Genetics

• Genotype and Phenotype
• Monohybrid Crosses and Mendel’s Principle of Segregation
• Dihybrid Crosses and the Mendelian Principle of Independent Assortment
• Statistical Analysis of Genetic Data: The Chi-Square Test
• Medelian Genetics in Humans

Chapter Three:

Chromosomal, Basis of Inheritance, Sex Linkage, and Sex Determination

• Chromosome Theory of Inheritance
• Sex Determination
• Analysis of Sex-Linked Traits in Humans

Chapter Four:

Extensions of Mendelian Genetic Analysis

• Multiple Alleles
• Modifications of Dominance Relationships
• Epistasis
• Essential Genes and Lethal Alleles
• The Environment and Gene Expression

Chapter Five:

Genetic Mapping In Eukaryotes

• Genetic Linkage
• Constructing Genetic Maps
• Mapping the Human Genome

Chapter Six:

Genetic Ananlysis in Bacteria and Bacteriophages

• Genetic Analysis of Bacteria
• Genetic Mapping in Bacteria by Conjugation
• Genetic Mapping in Bacteria by Transformation
• Genetic Mapping in Bacteria by Tranduction

Chapter Seven:

Chromosomal Mutations

• Types of Chromosomal Mutations
• Variations in Chromosome Structure
• Variations in Chromosome Number

Chapter Eight:

Gene Control of Proteins

• Gene Control of Enzyme Structure
• Genetically Based Enzyme Deficiencies in Humans
• Gene Control of Protein Structure
• Genetic Counseling

Chapter Nine:

DNA: The Genetic Material

• The Genetic Material
• The Chemical Composition of DNA and RNA

Chapter Ten:

DNA: Organization In Chromosomes

• Chromosomes of Bacteria, Archaea, and Viruses
• Eukaryotic Chromosomes

Chapter Eleven:

DNA: Replication

• Semiconservative DNA Replication
• Enzymes Involved in DNA Synthesis
• Molecular Model of DNA Replication
• DNA Replication in Eukaryotes

Chapter Twelve:

Gene Expression: Transcription

• The Transcription Process
• Transcription in Eukaryotes

Chapter Thirteen:

Gene Expression: Translation

• Proteins
• The Nature of the Genetic Code
• Translation: The Process of Protein Synthesis

Chapter Fourteen:

Cloning and Manipulation of DNA

• DNA Cloning
• Recombinant DNA Libraries
• Finding a Specific Clone in a Library
• Analysis of Genes and Gene Transcripts
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Applications of Recombinant DNA and PCR Techniques
• Ethics and Genetics

Chapter Fifteen:

Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophages

• The Lac Operon of E. coli
• Regulation of Gene Expression in Phage Lambda

Chapter Sixteen:

Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

• Levels of Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
• Gene Regulation in Development and Differentiation

Chapter Seventeen:

Genetics of Cancer

• Relationship of the Cell Cycle to Cancer
• Genes and Cancer

Chapter Nineteen:

Transposable Elements

• Transposable Elements in Prokayotes
• Transposable Elements in Eukaryotes

Chapter Twenty-One:

• Population Genetics
• Genetic Structure of Population Genetics

Genetics: Laboratory Investigations

Lab 1 DNA and RNA Simulation

Lab 2 Cell Reproduction: Mitosis

Lab 3 Meiosis in Aminals: Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis

Lab 4 DNA Extraction

Lab 5 Drosophilia and Maize Experiments in Genetics: Monohybrid Cross

Lab 6 Drosophilia and Maize Experiments in Genetics: Dihybrid Crosses

Lab 7 Principles of Probability

Lab 8 The Chi-Square Test

Lab 9 Human Genetics

Lab 10 Introductory to Gel Electrophoresis

Lab 11 Restriction Enzyme Cleavage of DNA

Lab 12 DNA Fingerprinting