BIOLOGY 353 - Spring 2004

This course is designed to provide you with an integrated view of genetic principles and to introduce you to the fundamental concepts in transmission, molecular and population genetics. Dr. Khaleel will teach from January 14-April 7 and Dr. Butler will teach the topics on population genetics from April 12-23. To understand transmission genetics, you must learn to apply the principles learnt in class and make inferences from case studies discussed. To accomplish this, you will be assigned case study problems that involve analysis of data.  As time permits, these problems will also be discussed in class.  Genetics has become an indispensable component of almost all research in biology and medicine and the continual flood of discoveries impacts our daily lives.   Reading pertinent articles is therefore, an important component of this course.  These articles will be assigned to you periodically and discussed in class (as time permits).  Hopefully, this will expose you to the process of science and help you expand your understanding about heredity. You are encouraged to read other Genetics texts placed in the Science Conference Room on some of the topics that are not covered to the desirable detail in the required text. A CD-ROM (packaged with the text), solution Manual (sold separately), Science on the Internet (companion website) are available as additional learning tools.  Lecture outlines will be available on-line.  Please bring a copy with you to the class.  Attendance is required.

REQUIRED TEXT:            Concepts of Genetics by Klug and Cummings. (7th Edition, 2003).

Office & Office Hours:
Dr. Khaleel:     Office:  SCI 119   Phone:  657-2017    Office Hours: TTH   12.30 -2.30 and by appointment

Dr. Butler:        Office:  SCI 137    Phone:  657-2015    Office Hours:  Tp be announced

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENT:  Outcomes Assessment of the learning objectives described above will be done through examinations, assigned genetics problems, and participation in discussions of research articles during the class.   Examinations will consist of essay and short answer questions and genetics problems.   Four examinations will be given on the dates indicated below.  Please note that all examinations are scheduled during the lab time and Exam 4 during the final examinations week. 

Exam 1     February 12              
Exam 2     March 18               
Exam 3     April 1                
Exam 4     April 29   (Thursday: 12-1:50)              
                                                                                        

GRADING SCALE:   91-100% =A;  81-90% = B;   71-80% = C;   61-70% = D

Topics to be covered and Reading Assignments

Topic                                                                                                                  Chapter

Introduction:         

         Historical Perspectives                                                            1

       The Branches of Genetics                                                                                               

       Relationship of Genetics to other areas of Biology

       Geneticists and Genetic Research

       The Development of the Field of Genetics

 

Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance                                              2, 11

         a.  Structure and function of chromosomes          

         b. Mitosis and Meiosis                   

         c. The Chromosome theory of Inheritance  

Genotype and Phenotype                                                     9,10,12,13                            
DNA, RNA and genetic expression                         (specific sections will be identified)

Mendelian Concepts and Analysis                                                   3                  

         a.  Mendel's Experiments and Analytical Approach

         c.  Modern Genetic Terminology

         d.  Monohybrid, Dihybrid and Trihybrid crosses

         e.  The Test Cross

         f.  Probability, Chi-square and Pedigree Analysis

                                          

Extensions to Mendelian Analysis                                                   4

            a.    Modifications of Dominance              

          b.   Multiple Alleles     

 c.    Essential genes and Lethal Alleles

 d.    Gene Interactions and Modified Mendelian Ratios  

               

Quantitative Genetics                                                               5                 

         a.  Polygenic (Quantitative) traits and their inheritance

         b.  Penetrance and Expressivity   

         c. Environment, Gene Expression and Heritability          

 

Linkage and Chromosome Mapping                                                        6

         a.  The Discovery of Linkage          

         b.  Gene Recombination   

         c.  Construction of Genetic maps 

         d.  Detecting Linkage Through Testcrosses  

e.  Two point and Three-point Testcross     

               

Sex Determination and sex chromosomes                                     7    

 

Mutations                                                                                                               8

         a.   Mutations:  a General Survey

         b.  Variations in Chromosome Structure

c.     Variations in Chromosome Number

Population Genetics and Evolution                                                 25, 26,27