Dr.
Sandra Thompson-Jaeger
CW114
901.321.3453
Homepage:
http://www.cbu.edu/sthompso
Genetics
(BIOL311)
Course
description: A
study of the structure and function of nucleic acids in viruses,
prokaryotes
and eukaryotes. Basic concepts, principles and applications of
classical,
molecular and population genetics. Topics in clinical, agricultural,
developmental, behavioral and immunogenetics. Prerequisites: Grade of C
or
better in BIOL 112 and CHEM 212. Corequisite: BIOL 311L. Offered in the
Fall
semester. One semester, three credits.
Required
textbook:
Concepts
of Genetics, 9th edition
Klug,
Cummings, Spencer, Palladino
Objectives: to learn and
understand classical,
molecular and population genetics; to gain information literacy; to
become
aware of recent topics in Genetics.
Grading: Each of the four
exams given
during lecture periods will be 100 points. Exams
will include problems; multiple choice, fill in the
blank, and short answer questions. The fifth exam, given during Finals
week,
will be cumulative and worth 150 points.
There will
be one 30-point information literacy assignment.
There will
be on-line quizzes most weeks, worth 5-10 points each. You will have at
least
72 hours in which to take the WebCt quizzes, and all will count towards
your
grade. They are open-book, but will have a time-limit. The chapters
covered on
the quizzes (and in lecture, of course) may vary somewhat from what is
listed
on the syllabus; this is a suggested version, and may change, as we
find that
we need more or less time to cover the material.
Problems
will be assigned several times during the semester. I will ask you to
turn in
just one or two of the assigned problems (at random), which will then
be
graded. Total points of the graded homework problems will be at least
twenty-five. Total points possible are about 660.
Make-up exam/quiz
policy:
Make-up
exams will be given only for very compelling, documented reasons, which
include
severe illness and a death in the immediate family. Make-ups are
generally more
difficult than regularly scheduled exams. If you know you are going to
miss an
exam because of a death in the family, funeral, surgery, etc. you must
come to
me BEFOREHAND so we can arrange for the make-up exam. If you are too
ill to
come and take an exam, call me or leave a message with Ms. Leah Allen
(administrative assistant in the School of Sciences). If you are ill, I
MUST
see a doctor's note when you return to class.
Grading
scale: 100-90% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% = C; 60-69% = D; below 60% = F
How to
do well in this course: Make every attempt to
be present for every lecture. (If you are
absent, it is your responsibility to contact a classmate to find out
what you
missed, which includes any announcements about quizzes, homework, etc.)
Read the
Chapter Summary for each assigned chapter before and after you read the chapter.
Ideally you
will read chapters before they are covered in class. Make careful notes
and be
prepared to ask questions on those topics that you did not understand.
This
will help us get the most out of lecture time. You will be responsible
for any
assigned reading, not just topics covered in class.
Problem
solving is a BIG part of genetics. You should study genetics the same
way that
you study for a math course. Indeed, a fellow Prof once said to me
"Genetics is
really math masquerading as biology". If you do not do any practice
problems
before exams, you may only be able to get through two-thirds of the
exam in the
allotted time. You must consider that is not because the test is too
hard, but
because you did not adequately prepare.
Study and
review the material in small groups.
Please ask
questions about concepts you do not understand. If you do not want to
ask
during lecture period, e-mail me or come by my office. If no one asks
questions
during lecture periods, I will have to assume you all understand the
material.
Topic
Schedule:
|
Week |
Topics |
Text/assignments |
|
1: August 25-29 |
Introduction, Newest trends Mitosis, Meiosis |
Ch 1 On-line quiz: Ch 1,
2 (5) Ch 2 |
|
2: September 2-5 |
Mendel Probabilities, pedigrees |
Ch 3 Problem set (5) |
|
3: September 8-12 |
Extending Mendelian
genetics Chromosome mapping |
Ch 4 Problem set (10) Ch 5 |
|
4: September 15-19 |
Genetic analysis in
bacteria Genetics in the news EXAM I (FRIDAY) |
Ch 6 On-line quiz: Ch 5,
6 (5) |
|
5: September 22-26 |
Sex chromosomes Ethics: sex selection
in humans Chromosome mutations |
Ch 7 On-line quiz: Ch 7,
8 (5) Ch 8 |
|
6: September 29-October3 |
Extranuclear inheritance DNA structure/analysis DNA replication |
Ch 9 Ch 10 On-line quiz: Ch
9,10 (5) Ch 11 |
|
7: October 6-10 |
Telomeres, recombination Chromosome organization Recombinant technology |
Ch 11 Ch 12 On-line quiz: Ch 11,
12 (5) Ch 13 |
|
8: October 13-17 |
Recomb tech, continued EXAM II (WED) Genetic code,
transcription |
Ch 13 Ch 14 |
|
9: October 20-24 |
REST! Enjoy your fall
break |
|
|
10: October 27-31 |
Translation, proteins Mutation, repair Prok gene regulation |
Ch 15 On-line quiz, Ch 14,
15 (5) Ch 16 Ch 17 |
|
11: November 3-7 |
Prok gene regulation Euk gene regulation |
Ch 17 Ch 18 On-line quiz Ch
16-18 (10) |
|
12: November 10-14 |
Developmental genetics Cancer/cell cycle EXAM III (Friday) |
Ch 19 Ch 20 |
|
13: November 17-21 |
Human Genome project Transposons, viruses Dissecting gene function |
Ch 21 Ch 22 Ch 23 On-line quiz Ch 21,
22 (5) |
|
14: November 24-26 |
Edible vaccines, GM
crops Quantitative genetics |
Ch 24 Ch 25 On-line quiz Ch 23,
24 (5) |
|
15: December 1-5 |
Genetics and behavior Population genetics |
Ch 26 Ch 27 On line quiz Ch 25,
26 (5) |
|
16: December 8-12 |
Population genetics Genetics in the news EXAM IV (Friday) |
Ch 27 Problem set (10) |
December
15-19: EXAM V
(Finals week).
The topic
schedule shown above is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
A few
final notes:
Anyone
found cheating may be given an F for the course.
According
to university policy, 8 hours of absence from lecture or lab will
result in an
F for the lecture or laboratory course.
During
lecture, please ensure that all beepers, pagers, cell phones, and
laptops are
turned off or silenced (unless you are told otherwise).