BIO 304: General Genetics
Course Description: Physical and chemical basis of inheritance in cells, individuals and populations, including molecular mechanisms of heredity. Prerequisites: BIOL 201 and 202 or 203; CHEM 211.
Course Philosophy:
1. Genetics is a branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms.
2. These days rarely does a day go by without some genetics based item or issue in the news. The overall objective of this course, therefore, is to provide you with a greater awareness and appreciation of genetics so that you can analyze and interpret “genetics in the news” and come to your own conclusions based on what you KNOW about genetics.
The specific goals of this course are:
1. To introduce you to the fundamental concepts of classical (Mendelian), molecular and population/evolutionary genetics with emphasis on the formation, transmission, function and organization of the genetic material.
2. To provide you with the ability to solve problems and think analytically.
3. To help you become familiar with the language and terminology of genetics.
4. To prepare you for more advanced course work in cell and molecular biology.
Syllabus for Spring 2008
***Updated (4/29/08) Lecture and Discussion Schedule***
If you need to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader please go to the following website:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
| Date | PowerPoint | Lab/Discussion Material | |
| Mar 25 | Lecture 1 | Lecture 1 | |
| Mar 27 | Lecture 2 | Lecture 2 | Probability and Chi-squared analysis |
| April 1 | Lecture 3 | Lecture 3 | Segregating Maize Kernels |
| April 3 | Lecture 4 | Lecture 4 | Segregating Maize Kernels (part 2) |
| April 8 | Lecture 5 | Lecture 5 | Trihybrid cross |
| April 10 | Lecture 6 | Lecture 6 | ABO blood types |
| April 17 | Lecture 7 | Lecture 7 | Sex Determination |
| April 22 | Lecture 8 | Lecture 8 | |
| April 24 | Lecture 9 | Lecture 9 | |
| May 1 | Lecture 10 | Lecture 10 | |
| May 6 | Lecture 11 | Lecture 11 | |
| May 13 | Lecture 12 | Lecture 12 | |
| May 20 | Lecture 13 | Lecture 13 | Transcription and Translation Exercise |
| May 22 | Lecture 14 | Lecture 14 | Quantitative Genetics Problem |
| May 27 | Lecture 15 | Lecture 15 | Population Genetics Exercise |
| May 29 | Film: Evolutionary Arms Race and question/answer time | ||