ABIO 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Spring 2011
Instructor:
Dr. William Jackson
Dr. William H. Jackson
Laboratory Instructor: Dr. Michele Harmon
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., 4th
Edition by McMillan
Laboratory:
M, 1:00-3:40 in SBDG 107
Supplies:
Scantron Sheets and Scientific
calculator, Lab notebook
Credit:
Four (4) Semester Hours
Course Description: Fundamental Genetics is a four credit hour course for biology majors. Topics covered will include
principles of transmission and molecular genetics; quantitative inheritance; recombination; biochemical aspects of gene
function and regulation; and developmental and population genetics.
Course Objectives: This course will introduce the student to 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 write and discuss applications of genetic concepts;
4. Prepare written and oral reports of data; and
5. Solve genetics problems using appropriate mathematical techniques in conjunction with data collection.
Attendance Policy: An “F” may be assigned for absences in excess of 25% of regularly scheduled laboratory and class
meetings. Absences, neither excused not unexcused, absolve the student from meeting class assignments. Exam makeups will only be allowed for a documented, excusable reason. Weekly quizzes and lab exercises cannot be made up.
Disability Statement: If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability, which might affect your
performance in class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 126A B&E (803) 641-3609, as soon as possible.
The Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
Classroom Behavior: It is the instructor’s right to remove from the classroom any student who disrupts or disturbs the
proceeding of the class. Disruption of the class includes but is not limited to the use of any portable electronic devices,
including cell phones, MP3 players; iPods, etc. unless prior approval has been given to a student or unless required for
the course. In extreme cases the faculty member can request assistance from University Police. If the student who has
been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied admittance to the
class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of F.
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
three 1-hour lecture exams, a Genetics Problem Set exam, a comprehensive final exam, and weekly quizzes (lecture and
lab). Several assignments will be handled through Blackboard. Final grades will be determined as follows:
Description
Three 1-hr exams
Genetics Problem set
Final Exam
Weekly Quizzes
Disease report
Laboratory
Percentage
37.5%
12.5%
10%
10%
5%
25%
Comments
375 points (each exam = 15%)
125 points (Transmission genetics problems)
100 points (Comprehensive final exam)
100 points (Material discussed the previous 1 – 2 weeks)
50 points (oral and written presentation of genetic disease)
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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ABIO 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Spring 2011
Dr. William Jackson
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Date
Jan 11
Jan 13
Jan 18
Jan 20
Jan 25
Jan 27
Feb 1
Feb 3
Feb 8
Feb 10
Feb 15
Feb 17
Feb 22
Feb 24
Mar 1
Mar 3
Mar 8
Mar 10
Mar 15
Mar 17
Mar 22
Mar 24
Mar 29
Mar 31
Apr 5
Apr 7
Apr 12
Apr 14
Apr 19
Apr 21
May 3
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Topic/Comments
Mendel’s Breakthrough
Mendel’s Breakthrough
Extensions to Mendel
Extensions of Mendel
Extensions of Mendel
The Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
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: Replication and Recombination
Spring Break – No Classes
DNA: Replication and Replication
DNA: Replication and Replication
DNA: Replication and Replication
DNA: Replication and Replication
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Structure and Function
Exam III
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Structure and Function
Gene Expression
Gene Expression
Gene Expression
Final Exam at 8:00 AM in SBDG 200
Chapter
2
2
3
3
3
4
2-3
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4-5
6
6
6
6
6
7
7
6
7
7
8
8
8
Comp
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'
Genetics Laboratory: Genetics Laboratory is not separate from Genetics 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 genetics
problems, and (3) carry out assigned laboratory exercises. Several laboratory meetings will be required to work on
genetic crosses between mutant strains of 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. While some work can be done during normal laboratory meeting times, this is not always the case.
Genetics problems will be introduced via Blackboard quizzes. These quizzes will be available the week prior to each
lab meeting and will be due prior to the lab meeting. In-class quizzes will be administered at the beginning of each
lab meeting and will be similar to the preceding online quiz. In addition the Genetics Problem Set will include
problems similar to the online and in-class quizzes. A second major component of genetics laboratory is a research
project on a specific genetic disease. Students will carry out a literature search and write a two-page summary to
include at least three references from peer-reviewed journals and/or medical textbooks. References must be cited
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ABIO 350 Fundamental Genetics Syllabus
Spring 2011
Dr. William Jackson
using CSE format (Chapter 4 in the supplemental text). Students will also give a 10-minute oral PowerPoint
presentation of their topic during the final two scheduled laboratory periods.
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 ABIO 350 is worth 25% (250 points) of the final course grade and will be
based on both written and oral reports. The total points for each assignment are shown below:
Description
Hypothesis testing
Sample data set report
Drosophila cross one report
Drosophila cross two report
Drosophila cross three report
Drosophila cross four report
Lab quizzes
Laboratory participation (lab book)
TOTAL
Points
5
5
40
40
40
40
50
30
250
TENTATIVE LABORATORY SCHEDULE
Date
Jan 10
Jan 17
Jan 24
Jan 31
Meeting
1
Feb 7
Feb 14
Feb 21
Feb 28
Mar 7
Mar 14
Mar 21
Mar 28
Apr 4
Apr 11
Apr 18
Apr 25
4
5
6
7
2
3
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Exercise
Probability and D. melanogaster
MLK Day – No Lab
Probability and Hypothesis testing
Probability cont.; Writing a Lab Report using a sample data set
(monohybrid cross)
Monohybrid and Dihybrid Cross
Cross One write up
Sex Linkage
Cross Two write up
Spring Break - No lab
PROBLEM SET EXAM
Topic assignments; Linkage maps
Cross Three write up; Problem set review
Cross Four write up
Oral presentations of research topics
No lab
Oral presentations of research topics
Laboratory Reports. Written laboratory reports will be required for several exercises (see above). Each report is to be
written in the form of a scientific paper and include the following: Title, Introduction, Methods, Results, and
Discussion. A more complete discussion of how to write laboratory report can be found in chapter 4 of your
supplemental text: Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 4th Edition by McMillan. Specific requirements for
writing laboratory reports for Genetics will be provided by the lab instructor.
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