BIOL 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Fall 2013
Instructor:
Dr. William H. Jackson
Office:
SBDG 201A
Office hours:
By appointment
Telephone:
641-3601
Email:
Billj@usca.edu
Lecture:
TTH,8:00-9:15 in SBDG 200
Text:
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes, 4th Edition
by Hartwell, et al.
Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 5th
Edition by McMillan
Laboratory:
M, 1:00-3:40 in SBDG 108
Supplies:
Scantron Sheets and Scientific
calculator
Credit:
Four (4) Semester Hours
Course Description: Fundamental Genetics is a four credit hour course for biology majors, which covers the principles
of transmission, molecular, and population genetics. Topics covered will include Mendelian genetics, quantitative
inheritance, linkage, recombination, the biochemical aspects of gene function and regulation, and developmental and
population genetics.
Course Objectives: This course will introduce the underlying principles of genetics. It is divided into transmission and
molecular genetics. On completion of this course students will be expected to
1. Demonstrate an understanding of transmission genetics;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of molecular genetics;
3. Demonstrate an ability to discuss applications of genetic concepts;
4. Prepare written and oral reports based on genetics concepts; and
5. Solve genetics problems using appropriate mathematical techniques.
Attendance Policy: An “F” may be assigned for absences in excess of 25% of regularly scheduled class meetings.
Absences, neither excused nor unexcused, absolve the student from meeting class assignments. Exam make-ups will
only be allowed for documented, excusable reasons. Quizzes cannot be made up.
Disability Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your
performance in this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as
possible. The Office of Disability Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
Policy for Portable Electronic Devices: The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers,
MP3 players, iPods, etc., during class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student
from the instructor or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must
be turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device during a test,
quiz, or other assessment, you are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment.
Methods of Presentation and Evaluation: Information will be presented through lectures, class discussions, and
laboratory exercises using appropriate visual aids and laboratory equipment. Student progress will be assessed through
the assignments shown below. The final course evaluation will be determined as shown.
Description
Percentage
Comments
Three 1-hr exams
30%
300 points (each exam = 10%)
Genetics Problem set
10%
100 points (Transmission genetics problems)
Final Exam
10%
100 points (Comprehensive final exam)
Weekly Quizzes
10%
100 points (Material discussed the previous 1 – 2 weeks)
Disease report
10%
100 points (written research report)
Oral Report
5%
50 points (oral research report)
Laboratory
25%
250 points See Laboratory Syllabus supplement
The letter grades will be based on total accumulated points and will be assigned as follows: A>900; B>800; C>650;
D>550; F<550. Biology majors must make a C or better in this core course.
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BIOL 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Fall 2013
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Date
Aug 22
Aug 27
Aug 29
Sep 3
Sep 5
Sep 10
Sep 12
Sep 17
Sep 19
Sep 24
Sep 26
Oct 1
Oct 3
Oct 8
Oct 10
Oct 15
Oct 17
Oct 22
Oct 24
Oct 29
Oct 31
Nov 5
Nov 7
Nov 12
Nov 14
Nov 19
Nov 21
Nov 26
Nov 28
Dec 3
Dec 5
Dec 12
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Topic/Comments
Mendel’s Breakthrough
Mendel’s Breakthrough
Mendel’s Breakthrough
Extensions to Mendel
Extensions to Mendel
Extensions to Mendel
Exam I
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
Linkage and Mapping
Linkage and Mapping
Linkage and Mapping
Linkage and Mapping
Exam II
DNA: Recombination and Replication
Fall Break (Oct 17-18) – No classes
DNA: Recombination and Replication
DNA: Recombination and Replication
DNA: Recombination and Replication
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Structure and Function
Exam III
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Expression
Gene Expression
Thanksgiving Holiday (Nov 27-29) – No Classes
Gene Expression
Gene Expression
Final Exam at 8:00 AM in SBDG 200
Chapter
2
2
2
3
3
3
2-3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4-5
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
6-7
7
8
8
8
You will be expected to endorse the USCA HONOR PLEDGE on every assignment: 'On my honor as a University
of South Carolina Aiken student, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this
assignment/examination. To the best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic honesty'
Laboratory: Genetics Laboratory is not separate from lecture; therefore, students are expected to synthesize the
material covered in lecture, laboratory, and the text. Each student is expected to meet every laboratory session, as it
is impossible to recreate the laboratory setup after the scheduled meeting time. In general, each laboratory meeting
will be divided into three sessions and designed to (1) extend lecture, (2) practice solving genetics problems, and (3)
carry out assigned laboratory exercises.
Several laboratory meetings will be required to work on a genetic cross using Drosophila melanogaster and will
require several weeks to complete. Because the laboratory studies involve living systems, the student must be
prepared to work on the project when the need arises.
Weekly quizzes will be used in the weeks preceding the Genetics Problem Set Exam to gauge student understanding
of genetics problem solving skills. Each quiz will be based on class discussions and assigned homework problems.
Individual completion of each quiz will be followed by group discussion resulting in consensus answers to quiz
questions. The final grade on each quiz will be a combination of individual (50%) and group (40%) effort. Group
participation (10%) will be based on peer evaluations completed at the end of the term.
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BIOL 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Fall 2013
The Genetics Problem Exam will include problems similar to those discussed in class. Genetics problems will be
introduced in lecture and followed by individual and group quizzes that will be used to assess mastery of problemsolving strategies. Preparation for the quizzes will be through class discussion and assigned homework problems.
Writing in genetics. Two major writing assignments will be assigned during the semester. The first is a research
paper on a genetics topic of your choice. Students will develop a research question, carry out a literature search, and
write a three page research paper. Each paper must include at least five references that are cited using CSE format
(Chapter 4 in the supplemental text). Students will also give a 10-minute oral presentation of their topic during the
scheduled laboratory periods on Nov 18, 25, and Dec 2. PowerPoint is required for these presentations. Written
laboratory reports will be required for several exercises. Each report will be written in the form of a scientific paper
and include the following: Title, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. For additional information on how
to write research report review chapter 4 in Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 5th Edition by McMillan.
Students are strongly cautioned to be on their guard against plagiarism when preparing all reports. All
reports must be submitted in hardcopy and electronic formats. The electronic copy will be monitored for plagiarism.
Grading: The laboratory component of Genetics is worth 25% (250 points) of the final course grade. The point
breakdown for each assignment is shown below:
Description
Drosophila cross one report
Drosophila cross two report
Drosophila cross three report
Drosophila cross four report
Lab quizzes
TOTAL
Points
50
50
50
50
50
250
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Date
Meeting
Exercise
Aug 26
1
Probability; Research Topic
Sep 2
---
Labor Day – No classes
Sep 9
2
D. melanogaster; Probability and Hypothesis testing
Sep 16
3
Probability and Hypothesis testing
Sep 23
4
Probability and Hypothesis testing
Sep 30
5
Sex Linkage
Oct 7
6
Linkage
Oct 14
7
Cross One write up
Oct 21
8
PROBLEM SET EXAM
Oct 28
9
Cross Two write up
Nov 4
10
Cross Three write up; Problem set review
Nov 11
11
Cross Four write up
Nov 18
12
Oral presentations of research topics
Nov 25
13
Oral presentations of research topics
Dec 2
14
Oral presentations of research topics
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