Biology 210

An Introduction to GENETICS

Course Outline - Autumn, 1997

Dr. David W. Ussery

Office Hours: M-F, 8-9 a.m., or by appointment

Office: 406C Office Telephone 375-2461

email: Dave@cbs.dtu.dk

web homepage:   http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/staff/dave/roanoke/

Text: Griffiths, J.F., Miller,J.H., Suzuki,D.T., Lewontin,R.C., Gelbart,W.N. "An Introduction to Genetic Analysis", (sixth edition, W.H. Freeman & Company, New York, NY; USA 1996).

General Objectives of the Course:

This is an introductory Genetics course, required for all majors. I think the following quote is an excellent summary of the scope of genetics. It is taken from an introductory chapter of "THE CODE OF CODES - Scientific and Social Issues in the Human Genome Project" (Harvard University Press, London, England, 1992; Leroy Hood & Daniel Kevles, editors. This particular chapter (chapter 2) was written by Horace Freeland Judson).

"Genetics - the explanation of how organisms pass on traits of anatomy, physiology, and behavior to their descendants and of how each individual expresses those traits in its formation and throughout its life - is the central problem of biology. Which is to say, as we gain fuller understanding of the transmission and expression of hereditary characters we progressively unlock understanding of whole classes of other problems in biology, as well. Thus, genetics underlies all of the biology of cells, including developmental biology, or embryology, but also enzymology and the study of cancers and many other diseases; all of immunology and of endocrinology; neurobiology generally as well as the many disorders of the nervous system and the mind; and, ultimately, the process of evolution. Though no one supposes that genetic analysis will be sufficient to explain everything we want to know in these vase scientific domains, every biologist recognises that genetics is necessary to all such explanation. Necessary in two ways: genetics supplies essential components of the accounts biologists seek and provides crucial methods of access to the rest."
 

Policy statement:

The lectures for this course will meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9.10 - 10.10 a.m. The class will be divided into two lab sections, so you will have a REQUIRED lab, either on Wednesday evenings (6.30 - 9.30 p.m.) OR on Thursday afternoons (2.40 - 5.40 p.m.)

Examinations are distributed at approximately equal intervals throughout the term. The Final Examination is cumulative. Make-up exams will only be given in extreme circumstances, and only with a note from a physician or the Dean's Office. You are responsible for making an appointment with me to sit for a make-up exam. Due to set-up requirements, laboratory exercises cannot be made up and, if excused, will be dropped from your grade calculation. Unexcused absence from an exam or laboratory assignment will receive no credit (a zero).

Grading:

5 Classroom examinations - 40% of course grade
Laboratory Assignments - 35% of course grade
Comprehensive Final examination - 25% of course grade

Academic Integrity:

You are expected to be familiar with and follow the Academic Integrity Code outlined in the booklet Academic Integrity at Roanoke College. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to discuss any questions you might have about this policy with me. Please be aware that I am bound by contract to report any suspected academic dishonesty.
 

Part the First - Classical Genetics

O Wednesday, 27 August

Chapter 1 - A Brief History of Genetics
DNA40

O Friday, 29 August

Chapter 11 - DNA Structure & Function DNA58anim
- or - "DNA is like Coca-Cola"
O Monday, 1 September
Chapter 2 - Mendelian Analysis
O Wednesday, 3 September
Chapter 3 - Chromosome Theory of Inheritance
O Friday, 5 September
Chapter 4a - Mendell Extended
O Monday, 8 September
Chapter 4b - Mendell Extended, part 2
O Wednesday, 10 September
Chapter 5 - Linkage Analysis 1 - Eukaryotic Chromosome Mapping
O Friday, 12 September
Chapter 6 - Linkage Analysis 2 - Special mapping techniques
 
O Monday, 15 September - EXAM # 1 - Opportunity to Succeed # 1
 

Part the Second - Chromosomes

O Wednesday, 17 September

Chapter 7 - Gene Mutations       - or -
"On the origins of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"
O Friday, 19 September
Chapter 16 - The Structure of DNA and Chromosomes
DNA.gif
 

O Monday, 22 September

Chapter 8 - Mutations 1 - Changes in Chromosome Structure
O Wednesday, 24 September
Chapter 9 - Mutations 2 - Changes in Chromosome Number
O Friday,26 September
Chapter 10 - Recombination in Bacteria & Their Viruses - or -
"Sex in a Blender"
O Monday, 29 September
Chapter 11 - The Structure of DNA
 
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture.
O Wednesday, 1 October

          Chapter 17 - Bacterial Genomics
 

O  Friday, 3 October - EXAM # 2 - Opportunity to Succeed # 2

Part the THIRD - An Introduction to

Molecular Genetics

O  Monday, 6 October

Chapter 12 - On the Nature of the Gene

Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 

O  Wednesday, 8 October
Chapter 13 - DNA (really, it should be RNA) Function

Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 

O   Friday, 10 October
Chapter 14 - Recombinant DNA technology
                (or - "Cloning 101")

Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 

AUTUMN BREAK!!!

O   Monday, 20 October

 Chapter 14 - Recombinant DNA technology , part 2

 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture

 
 

O   Wednesday, 22 October

Figure 15-00 Chapter 15 - Applications of Recombinant DNA

 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 

O   Friday, 24 October
 Figure 18-01
Chapter 18 - Control of Gene Expression
in BACTERIA
 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 
 

O   Monday, 27 October

   Chapter 18 -  Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Figure 18-47
 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 

O  Wednesday, 29 October - EXAM # 3 - Opportunity to Succeed #3
 

 Grade Distribution for Exam # 3

Part the Fourth -

Mechanisms of

Genetic Change 
or - On The Origins of the Species (& other lesser sorts of variations)


 
Figure 19-01
 

 O Friday, 31 October

Figure 9-25
Chapters 19-22 - Mechanisms of Genetic Change - An Overview devil01
 
 
 
O Monday, 3 November
Chapter 19 - Mechanisms of Genetic Change 1: Gene Mutation
 
Figure 19-2
 

Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture

 

O Wednesday, 5 November

Chapter 20 - Mechanisms of Genetic Change 2 - Recombination
 
 Figure 20-00
 
 
O Friday, 7 November
Chapter 21 - Mechanisms of Genetic Change 3 -
Transposable Elements in Bacteria
 
Figure 21-08
 
 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 

 O Monday, 10 November

Chapter 21 - Mechanisms of Genetic Change 3 -
Transposable Elements in Eukaryotes
 Figure 21-42
 
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 

O  Wednesday,  12 November Figure 22-21

Chapter 22 - Extranuclear Genomes
Figure 22-01
 
 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
 
 
 

O  Friday, 14 November - EXAM # 4 - Opportunity to Succeed #4
 

    Grade Distribution for Exam # 4
 

Part the Penultimate -

An Introduction to DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS

O Monday, 17 November

Chapter 23 - Gene regulation during developmentFigure 23-0
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 

O Wednesday,  19 November

Chapter 23 -  Gene Regulation during Development, part 2.
 Figure 23-23
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
 
O Friday, 21 November
Chapter 24 - Genetics and Cellular Differentiation
Figure 24-20
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
O Monday, 24 November
Chapter 25 - Developmental Genetics:
                Cell Fate & Pattern Formation
Figure 25-20
Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 

THANKSGIVING BREAK!


 Part the Last - Population Genetics

 

 
O Monday, 1 December

Chapter 26 - Population Genetics and Evolution
 
 Figure 26-01
 
 Click here to see the "Learning Objectives" for this lecture
 
O  Wednesday, 3 December - EXAM # 5 - Opportunity to Succeed #5
 
 
leaf01.gif
 
 

O Friday, 5 December

A REVIEW session 
 
 


 

O  Monday, 8 December - Comprehensive Final EXAM - 8:30 till 11:30 a.m.

The FINAL Opportunity to Succeed
 


 

O Back to Dave's Roanoke College HOMEPAGE

Last modified on: 22 January, 2000 by Dave Ussery