1 BIOLOGY 321 GENETICS Spring 2013 MWF 11:30-:1250 pm in CF25 Dr. Carol Trent [email protected] Office BI 408 Office Hours: M & W 2:30 - 4:00 pm OR contact me via email to set up an appointment at an alternative time. COURSE WEB SITE http://fire.biol.wwu.edu/trent/trent/Biol321index.html This class meets three days a week for 80 minutes. Typically, 45 minutes a week will be set aside for informal discussion(s) of the lecture material and problem sets. These informal sessions may consist of one longer or 2 shorter sessions. LECTURE DATE COURSE TOPICS The lecture schedule may change without prior notice Week 1 April 3 & 5 Introduction to Biol 321 Mendel & Model organisms; Probability Week 2 April 8, 10 & 12 Mendel & Meiosis Morgan & Sex-linkage; Intro to pedigrees Fri April 12: QUIZ 1 (25 pts.) Week 3 April 15, 17 & 19 Independent Study on Pedigree analysis: come to class on 4/15 prepared to analyze pedigrees – see details in Assignment Set 2 Pedigrees and more probability Start complications to Mendelian analysis Week 4 April 22, 24 & 26 Polymorphisms Wed April 24: QUIZ 2 (45 pts. ) Additive Gene action & start gene interactions Week 5 April 29 & May 1 & 3 Complementation and genetic heterogeneity Epistasis and Suppression The complicated relationship between genotype and phenotype Week 6 May 6, 8 &10 Molecular genetics: the fidelity of DNA replication The molecular basis of mutation Wed May 8: Midterm Exam (90 pts.) Review of gene structure Week 7 May 13, 15 & 17 Independent Study on effects of mutation at the protein level: come to class on May 13 prepared to discuss terms listed in Assignment Set 6 Effects of mutation on gene function Wed May 15: QUIZ 3 (25 pts. take-home quiz distributed) Cancer genetics Week 8 May 20, 22 & 24 PCR & Direct detection of mutation Wed May 22: QUIZ 3 due Human Genome structure & DNA fingerprinting Genetic linkage and recombination Week 9 Memorial Day Holiday May 29 & 31 The generation of a genetic map & Positional cloning Fri May 31: QUIZ 4 (25 pts.) Week 10 June 3, 5 & 7 Multifactorial inheritance and Complex traits Epigenetics, gene function and phenotype Finals Week Final Exam 90 pts on Tues June 11 10:30 am2 CONTENT GOALS FOR BIOLOGY 321 You should acquire in-depth knowledge of classical and molecular genetics by • learning the basic principles of classical and molecular genetics and how they are applied to the study of biological processes • integrating your understanding of these genetic principles with knowledge from other biological disciplines • developing a thorough knowledge and understanding of the vocabulary of genetics • studying special topics in genetics and genomics and relevant current research PROCESS GOALS FOR BIOLOGY 321: You should become a sophisticated and critical consumer of scientific information in general and genetic information in specific by: • developing your analytical and quantitative reasoning skills with problem solving and data analysis • increasing the level of sophistication of your reading comprehension and attention to detail especially with respect to the presentation of scientific data and experimental design in genetics • developing your written and oral communication skills by discussing biological processes (in class and with your fellow students) using precise scientific terminology. REQUIRED TEXT The 10th edition of Introduction to Genetic Analysis by Griffith and others READING ASSIGNMENTS AND PROBLEM SETS Each week or so you will receive a reading and problem set assignment. THESE ARE STUDY PROBLEMS TO PREPARE YOU FOR QUIZZES AND EXAMS. YOU ARE NOT TO HAND IN THE ANSWERS to these questions. After reading through the assigned material, work through the assigned problems at the end of the chapter and the additional problems handed out in class. The answers to the problems will be available online at the Biology 321 web site. Try writing out the answers yourself before checking the posted answers. Make sure that you understand the genetic principles underlying the answers. We will review some of the assigned problems in the informal discussion sessions. [See also quizzes and exams from Winter 2010.] EVALUATION Mid term and Final Exams: 2 @ 90 pts……… …......................180 Quizzes: 3 x 25 pts, 1 X 45 pts. ………………….………… 120 Google.doc questions on required extra reading: ………............ 35 Total Points: 335  Grading Correction = 5 pts (see explanation below)  Extra Credit Option = up to 6 pts (see explanation below)3 QUIZZES & EXAMS • I have scheduled midterm and final exams and four quizzes. To get an idea of the types of questions and problems you will be responsible for, see the link to quizzes and exams from previous quarters. • Make-up exams or quizzes will only be given if you are excused ahead of time. In other words, to take an exam or quiz at an alternative time, you must make arrangements with me BEFORE the scheduled exam period. In the event of an illness, you must have a note from a health professional indicating that you were too sick to take the exam during the scheduled period. The "self-described" illness form from the Student Health Center will not serve as a substitute for a note from a health professional. REQUESTS FOR REGRADES OF QUIZZES AND EXAMS • Requests for regrades of exam and quiz questions must be submitted as written requests within one week of the return date of the graded exam/quiz. If you submit a request for a regrade of any question, I will reexamine your entire exam. • Inquiries or concerns about arithmetic errors in point totals or obvious mis-marks (ie. on multiple choice questions, etc.) do not require a written request for correction. • See also info on automatic grading correction in next section AUTOMATIC GRADING CORRECTION  At the end of the quarter, 5 points will be automatically added to your point total to correct for grading inaccuracies. You will forfeit these 5 points if you request any quiz or exam regrades during the quarter.  NOTE: Inquiries or concerns about arithmetic errors in point totals or obvious mis-marks will NOT result in forfeiture of the correction points. EXTRA CREDIT OPTION • Extra credit is available for up to a total of 6 pts. • You have an opportunity each week to submit via an