Genetics Lecture

BIOL 3300

• Link to syllabus »
• Link to Desire 2 Learn »
• Link to course in KSU Catalog »

• Course Materials
  • Textbook: Concepts of Genetics, 1st ed, R.J.Brooker
  • Scantron
  • Answer Sheets: Form No. 4521 (available in bookstore—packs of 6 for ~$1.75); eight forms will be needed for exams and quizzes)
  • Desire 2 Learn: Use of D2L is required. Grades, announcements, and assignments are given out on D2L.
  • Course webpage: Regular webpage (separate from D2L) containing lecture slides, and lecture outlines/study guides. Link to this page via D2L page.
• Course Description

  This course presents fundamental principles and applications in genetics. Students learn how traits are inherited and to use this information in predicting and analyzing genetic outcomes. Students study nucleic acid structure, learn how DNA replicates and how genes are expressed. Mutation at the gene and chromosomal levels will be surveyed, and their effect on gene structure and function examined. Finally, students will explore various genetic methods, including pedigrees, mapping, and molecular techniques.

  Prerequisites: A grade of ‘C’ or better in Biology 1107/1107L and Chem 1211/1211L.  Biology 3300L should be takenconcurrently.

  View Course Description in KSU Undergraduate Catalog »

• Course Learning Objectives

  Cell and Organism Reproduction: Students will be able to...

  • describe cellular and chromosomal events that occur during the eukaryotic cell cycle and gamete formation
  • describe chromosome behavior and changes in chromosome structure and number as a cell progresses through a cell cycle, meiosis I and meiosis II
  • explain how meiosis and random fertilization contribute to genetic variation in sexually reproducing organisms

  Principles of Heredity: Students will be able to...

  • explain Mendel’s principles of inheritance and apply these to problems of inheritance
  • describe the different forms of inheritance patterns (e.g. autosomal, sex linked, dominant, recessive) and identify these in genetic data
  • use probability in predicting and analyzing genetic outcomes.
  • describe various types of genetic crosses and indicate when/why they would be used by a geneticist
  • explain more complex modes of inheritance and use this information in predicting genetic outcomes and analyzing genetic data

  Pedigrees: Students will be able to apply principles of heredity in assessment of pedigrees to identify genotypes of family members, conclude the mode of inheritance for a trait, and predict mating outcomes.

  Eukaryotic Gene Mapping: Students will be able to...

  • compare the effect of linkage and independent assortment on genetic outcomes and assess data to determine if genes are linked or on separate chromosomes
  • explain how crossing over produces recombination and use recombination frequencies to construct a genetic map
  • use genetic maps to predict gametic and mating outcomes
  • describe some of the methods that can be used to place a gene on a particular chromosome (e.g. FISH)

  Chromosome Variation and Structure: Students will be able to...

  • describe and recognize a variety of abnormalities in chromosome structure and number and explain how these anomalies arise and are detected
  • explain the molecular structure of chromosomes as it relates to storage, gene expression, and sequence function

  Nucleic Acid Structure: Students will be able to...

  • describe early studies that led to DNA as the genetic material and/or interpret results from these studies
  • describe the molecular structure of DNA and RNA and indicate similarities and differences

  DNA Replication: Students will be able to...

  • describe the historic experiment that demonstrated DNA replication follows a semi-conservative model
  • describe the process of DNA replication in prokaryotes at the biochemical level
  • explain how proofreading and repair is accomplished during DNA synthesis
  • describe how DNA is replicated in viruses, plasmids, and eukaryotes and identify similarities and differences between these and replication in prokaryotes

  Gene Expression: Students will be able to...

  • describe at the biochemical level the events that occur to go from gene to phenotype
  • identify different types of RNA, note their properties, how they are processed to yield a functional form, and their function in gene expression
  • recognize the importance of regulating gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and describe the levels at which gene expression is controlled and the mechanisms used by prokaryotes and eukaryotes

  Mutations: Students will be able to define and identify the various types of mutations that occur at the DNA and protein levels and explain and recognize the relationship between mutations and new alleles.

  Molecular Genetic Analysis: Students will be able to...

  • explain major methods and techniques used in molecular genetics to isolate, recombine, amplify, find and study genes of interest
  • use data to prepare a restriction map for a piece of DNA

  Genomics: Students will be able to...

  • describe the method used to sequence DNA
  • explain the differences between genetic, physical, and cytogenetic maps
  • describe how the location of a gene in the genome is determined (e.g. FISH)

  Population Genetics: Students will be able to...

  • calculate allele frequencies and genotype frequencies
  • manipulate allele frequencies in order to determine Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium for a population
  • recognize sources of new genetic variation that occur in populations
  • recognize the role of selection, migration, genetic drift, and nonrandom mating in altering allele and/or genotype frequencies
• Exams and Grading

  The final grade will be determined according to the following:

  • 3 lecture exams (cumulative): each lecture exam = 16% of final course grade
  • 1 cumulative final: 20% of final course grade (can be used to replace a lower grade from previous test)
  • 4 lecture quizzes: each lecture quiz = 8% of final course grade

  Grade for the course — overall average:

  A = 89.5-100% B = 79.5-89.4% C = 69.5-79.4% D = 59.5-69.4% F = below 59.5%

  Extra Credit: No extra credit projects are given; the object is to learn the material reflected in the tests. 

  Grade Information: Grades are given out in class, by D2L, or by a visit to the office. No grade information is given out by telephone or e-mail.

  Attendance: Attendance of lectures is expected. Students are responsible for all assignments, announcements and materials covered in class, whether presented orally or in assigned readings or handouts.  No exceptions are made for non-attending students. 

  Exam and quiz format: Exam and quiz format may consist of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and/or essay questions (genetics problems can be tested in all formats).

  Study guides for lecture material: An outline/study guide for each lecture is posted as the first slide(s) in each lecture slide set.

  Missed Exams:

  • Make up exam must be taken at the end of the semester and may be a harder essay exam. 
  • Only the following are accepted for making up a missed lecture exam:  illness, death in the family, family emergency or absence required by government (e.g. jury duty or military orders).  Work conflicts or lack of babysitters are not accepted. 
  • You must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the original exam date to be considered for a makeup exam. 
  • All absences must be supported by documentation (physician’s note, death certificate, police report). 
  • If false or fabricated documentation is discovered, it will result in a zero on the corresponding exam, plus 20 points off another exam.

  Missed lecture quizzes: No makeups of lecture quizzes are allowed except for government required absences such as jury duty or military rotation.

• University Policy on Academic Honesty

  (Published in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs)  Section II of the Student Code of conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student ID cards.  All members of the university are responsible for abiding by its tenets.  Lack of knowledge of this policy is not an acceptable defense to any charge of academic dishonesty.  All members of the academic community are expected to report violations of these standards of academic conduct to the appropriate authorities.  Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handledthrough the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program.

  General Policies: Please be considerate of your fellow student and the instructor.  If there is any disruption due to inappropriate conduct during exams or lectures, you may receive an administrative withdrawal with a “WF” and an annotation on your permanent record as to the reason for this action.

• Inclement Weather Policy
  If the University is CLOSED, there will be no lab. Otherwise, lab will meet as scheduled. For the official status of the university check the KSU Advisories website »