BIO 340/343 INTRODUCTION TO GENETICS
LECTURER: Dr. Lisa Dorn
Fall 2005
OFFICE: HS 45; PHONE: 424-3064; E-MAIL: dorn@uwosh.edu
OFFICE HRS: Tues 3:20 to 5:20pm, Fridays 10:20am to 12:20pm
LECTURE HOURS: 1:50 – 2:50 pm in Halsey Science Building; Rm. TBA.
TEXT: Brooker, Genetics: Analysis & Principles (2nd edition) McGraw Hill.
OBJECTIVES: Genetics and its experimental methods is one of the broadest and most
rapidly evolving fields of science. I cannot possibly cover it all, so my goal is to teach
you how to think like a geneticist, while learning genetics concepts so that you can judge
for yourself the value of emerging genetic technologies and discoveries. This course
covers Mendelian genetics and its complications, the molecular basis of genes and their
affect on phenotypes, the methods of identifying and characterizing the genetic basis of
diseases and other phenotypes as well as population and evolutionary genetics.
The prerequisites for this course are Bio105 and 323, which by extension means you have
taken Chem 105 and 106 as well as Bio111. Part of this course will expand on what you
have learned in Molecular and Cell Biology (Bio 323). I will assume you have mastered
the Bio323 material and will not waste much time reviewing this material. You will note
that one lecture is schedule to cover 3 chapters! Those 3 chapters contain the material
that is review of 323 with some embellishments not covered in 323. You may wish to
review if you feel your retention of the material in Bio 323 is weak.
ASSESSMENT: How are you going to earn your grade?
EXAMS: 4 exams each worth 100 points. They will be mostly problems similar
to those in the back of each chapter (400 total points).
PROBLEM SOLVING: Worth 50 points. There will be 12 D2L problemsolving sessions where you will be required to solve problems that will be available on
D2L. These problems are presented as short-answer quizzes. I will post the problems (I
haven’t decided how many) days before they are due. Your grade is based on correctly
completing each of the intervening steps to get to that answer and clearly explaining why
you did what you did. During those days you are allowed to discuss potential solutions
with your peers and me but once you submit your answer you cannot change it. (5.5
points each X 8 = 100 total points)
LABORATORY: Is worth 100 points.
Total Possible points = 630.
92 – 100% = A, 89-91% = AB, 82-88% = B, 79-81% = BC, 72 – 78% = C, 68 – 71% =
CD, 67 – 60% = D, below 60 = F.
Students With Disabilities are welcome in this class! If you need special
accommodations please contact me during office hours in the first week of class. This
includes students with diagnosed learning disabilities. If you feel you should be
evaluated for a learning disability please contact the Project Success office at 920 4241033 or go to their website at http://www.uwosh.edu/organizations/success.
Classroom Etiquette: please silence all pagers and cell phones; do not talk or whisper
unless called upon in turn (but feel free to raise your hand for a question or comment at
ANY time!).
Incomplete Grades may be given in extreme circumstances, such as when a student
becomes too ill to complete the semester's work. Please talk to me if you think your
situation warrants an "I" grade and be prepared to provide documentation.
Late Assignment Submissions may be penalized up to one grade point (e.g. from a B to
a C) at the Instructor's discretion.
Make up exams. If you cannot make one exam several alternatives may be available to
you depending on the rest of my teaching obligations at that time. I will do what I can,
given your circumstance. If you know ahead of time that you must miss an exam (for
instance if your job requires that you work that day) please let me know ahead of time.