1 Life Sciences 1b Genetics Genomics and Evolution Daniel L Hartl Maryellen Ruvolo John Wakeley http www courses fas harvard edu 2159 COURSE DESCRIPTION Half course spring term Tu Th 10 11 30 and three hours of laboratory discussion weekly Why is there so much variation among individuals Why are species so different Biological variation reflects differences among genes and genomes how genetic information is transmitted how it functions how it mutates from one form to another how it interacts with the environment and how it changes through time These and related issues are examined in depth with special emphasis on complex traits whose expression is determined by a complex interplay between genes and environment Prerequisite None INSTRUCTORS Faculty Dr Dan Hartl dhartl oeb harvard edu Dr Maryellen Ruvolo ruvolo fas harvard edu Dr John Wakeley wakeley fas harvard edu Biolabs 2119 Peabody Museum 54B Biolabs 4100 496 3917 495 3576 495 1564 Preceptors responsible for labs discussion sections and course administration Dr Nancy Huang nhuang fas harvard edu Dr Evan Lau elau fas harvard edu Both preceptors lsci1b fas harvard edu Science Center 407 384 7925 Docent holds office hours responsible for exam review sessions Dr Elena Lozovsky elozovsky oeb harvard edu Office hours for all instructors will be posted on the course website under Teaching Staff Lectures COURSE REQUIREMENTS Tuesday and Thursday 10 07am 11 30pm Sanders Theatre No food or drink allowed Please turn off your cell phones PDF versions of the slides will be posted on the website by 6pm the day before lecture You are encouraged to bring a copy to class for note taking as no additional notes will be provided Lecture attendance is mandatory Students are responsible for material covered in lecture that is not in the textbook as well as for material in the assigned reading that is not covered in lecture 2 Required Materials Essential Genetics A Genomics Perspective 4 th edition 2006 D L Hartl and E W Jones Jones and Bartlett Publishers ISBN 0763735272 o Available at the Harvard COOP and Amazon com Evolutionary Analysis 4th edition 2007 S Freeman and J C Herron Prentice Hall ISBN 0132275848 o Available at the Harvard COOP and Amazon com Life Sciences 1b Lab and Section Manual 2007 o Available at Flash Print at 99 Mt Auburn Street in Harvard Square Electronic Clicker o Loaned to students for the semester Distributed in section o Bring to each lecture for break outs and other questions Lecture Break Outs A Break Out is a discussion among students and faculty during lecture that culminates in a multiple choice question based on concepts taught in lecture Students will use their electronic clickers to submit answers for the eight 8 Break Outs throughout the semester Each correct answer is worth 1 extra credit on the final exam up to a maximum of six 6 extra credit BreakOut points per student to allow for occasional technical glitches Break Outs are only administered in lecture there will be no make ups As with any assignment each student must submit his her own response Any suspected violations will immediately be referred to the Administrative Board Students without a functional clicker cannot participate in a Break Out Lecture Survey Students are required to complete a lecture survey five 5 times during the semester Lecture assignments are as follows Last name A E Lectures 2 6 10 14 18 Last name F Le Lectures 3 7 11 15 19 Last name Li R Lectures 4 8 12 16 20 Last name S Z Lectures 5 9 13 17 21 Go to the course website within 24 hours after the lecture and click on Lecture Survery to answer the following questions What concept s did you find most interesting What concepts s did you find unclear There are no right or wrong answers but participation for the assigned lectures will be included in the section grade 3 Sections Laboratory Discussion and Genetic Disorder Project Weekly LS1b sections are mandatory and include both laboratory and discussion components Laboratories provide the opportunity to work with a variety of model organisms yeast Neurospora humans and C elegans to reinforce genetic concepts and to develop analytical skills that are crucial to all scientific investigation Discussions provide the opportunity to review lecture material practice problem solving and learn about human genetic disorders A major feature of the weekly sections is the semester long Genetic Disorder Project GDP where each student will research a specific disorder and write a grant proposal in several stages The GDP culminates in a May symposium where experts on each disorder physicians researchers patients and or family members meet with students for a panel discussion Students must attend the same 3 hour section each week Sections are offered at these times Mondays 2 10pm 5 00pm Tuesdays 2 10pm 5 00pm 7 10pm 10 00pm Wednesdays 3 10pm 6 00pm Thursdays 3 10pm 6 00pm 7 10pm 10 00pm Fridays 1 10pm 4 00pm Electronic sectioning will be open from Thursday January 31 to Tuesday February 5 During this time students must go to http www section fas harvard edu and give their preferences for section times Students will receive their section assignments by email on or before Thursday February 7 Requests to change section must be addressed to Preceptors Dr Nancy Huang and Dr Evan Lau lsci1b fas harvard edu and will only be considered for academic reasons Once sections start the week of February 11 all section assignments are final Section orientation All students must attend one of the following section orientations Tue Feb 5 2 3pm in SC Hall D Wed Feb 6 4 5pm in SC Hall C Thu Feb 7 4 5pm in SC Hall C Fri Feb 8 2 3pm in SC Hall D Bring your section manual A brief orientation will be followed by a background survey Background survey At the end of section orientation students will take a brief multiple choice background survey covering highlights of the course material This survey will not affect grades or section placement but it will give the faculty a better understanding of your background It will also give you a preview of what you ll be learning this semester Any student who believes s he is already proficient in the course material is invited to take the survey early Fri Feb 1 or Mon Feb 4 from 2 3pm in SC 408d Exceptional performance 95 or better earns the right to take last year s final exam Passing the final exam earns a letter from the course faculty stating that you are proficient in the material covered in LS1b and should not be required to take