GENETICS
SPRING, 2005
BIOL 2200 Section 01 3
credits
MWF
Text: Genetics: A Conceptual
Approach, Benjamin A. Pierce, Freeman,
Pub.
Instructor: Dr. Elise
Kimble
email: elise.kimble@northwestcollege.edu Phone:
754-6018
Office: SM 253
Office Hours: WF 9:00-9:50,
M 1:00-3:00, W 1:00-2:00
Course
Description: A study of the principles
of heredity. Includes basic Mendelian genetics, the nature and function of
genetic material, population genetics and evolution. Emphasizes practical
application to artificial selection in plant and animal breeding as well as
human genetics.
Learning
Outcomes:
A
student who successfully completes this course is expected to 1) demonstrate an
understanding of the major biological principles pertinent to the field of
genetics, 2) demonstrate sound scientific reasoning and familiarity with basic
scientific methodology and experimental procedures used in genetics and 3) be
able to organize, analyze and interpret data. These outcomes will be measured in
exams, problem sets and analysis of Drosophila offspring which show the
student’s
·
Ability to solve problems in
Mendelian genetics, determine phenotype and genotype frequencies and work back
from such data to discover the sort of inheritance involved in a particular
problem
·
Ability to interpret
information conveyed in pedigree charts about the sort of inheritance involved
in a particular phenotype.
·
Understanding of the
molecular basis of genetics: how a sequence of bases on a chromosome results
finally in an observable trait and the role of mutations on these
traits.
·
Use of simple statistical
analysis to apply knowledge gained in the early parts of the course to
experimental results and to population data.
·
Furthermore, a student who
successfully completes this course will demonstrate oral and written
communication skills, which will be evaluated in essay portions of exams and in
a paper and an oral report to the class describing the student’s analysis of an
individual problem in Drosophila
genetics
Grading
Policy: Your grade will be based on
·
unit exams worth 100 points
each
·
a report on your fruit fly
breeding assignment, worth 80 points
·
an oral report to the class
on your fruit fly breeding results, worth 20 points
·
a final exam which includes
some cumulative material, worth 150 points.
·
occasional other assignments worth 15
to 30 points.
The
percentage of the total possible points will be calculated. The grading scale is: 90-100% = A,
80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F. Plus and minus grades will be given at
the extreme percentages of each range (90 = A-, 89 = B+
etc).
Absence
Policy:
Consistent attendance is important; we cover a lot of material, but less than
your text covers. Presence in class
helps you focus on that portion of the material I will ask you to learn. If you must be gone, get notes from a
classmate or talk to me. Some class
time will be used for fruit fly crosses and for other
activities.
Missed Exams: A makeup exam will be given without
penalty for excused absences i.e. school activities, significant illness and
true emergencies. If illness or
emergency prevents you from taking an exam, give me a written note (so I don’t
forget and count you unexcused), email me, telephone me
at my office (6018) or call the science and math secretary (6401). Absences not dealt with in this manner
may incur a penalty of 10 points.
Makeup exams will be scheduled for the most efficient use of time, with
one day for Exams I and II and another day late in the semester for Exams III
and IV. Makeup exams may be
different in from the missed exam.
Due Dates for
Assignments: Assignments are late if they are not
handed in by the end of the day upon which they are due. Late assignments are assessed a penalty
of two points for each day they are late (weekends excluded). If you miss class it is your
responsibility to make up any in-class work, including lab activities. Extensions of due dates are granted for
excused absences (school activities, significant illness).
Special
Needs: Students who qualify for specific
accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should notify me in the
first week of class to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner. It is the student’s responsibility to
inform the instructor of his/her needs and to provide the necessary
documentation to the
Academic
Integrity: You are expected to strictly observe NWC
rules regarding academic honesty: refrain from cheating on exams, properly
reference published material, submit only work that is your own. A grade of zero may be assigned for any
violation.
Classroom
Behavior: Students are expected to treat all
students, instructors and guests in a respectful manner. Please see the Student Handbook for
specific policies and procedures.
Miscellaneous:
·
Please find out your
password so you can use the computers in this room. We will use computers
occasionally.
·
We will spend some class
time working problems. You may want to try to answer the ones indicated in the
text with an asterisk and check your answers in the back of the
book.
·
You will receive fruit flies
which you will cross and then collect data on the phenotypes of the progeny.
Class time has been allotted for an initial session of anesthetizing the flies,
counting them and returning them to containers for the next cross. If you miss class, you are responsible
for finding time to do this. After
this initial count, you will need to come into the lab two or three more times
to sort and count the progeny of your crosses.
·
You may want to investigate
on your own some of the websites mentioned in your textbook. The online resources provided through
Hinkley library are an excellent avenue to full-text scientific
papers.
To Contact Me: If you have any questions, need clarifications or need to talk to me you may
·
See me before or after
class
·
See me during office
yours
·
Stop by my office during
non-office hours and see if I am in, or set up an
appointment
·
Call me in my office (754-6018) or at home
(754-6018)
·
email me at elise.kimble@northwestcollege.edu
Course
Outline:
Chapter 1:
Introduction to Genetics
Chapter 2:
Mitosis and Meiosis
Chapter 3:
Mono- and Di-hybrid crosses, Chi square
analysis
EXAM I
Chapter 4: Sex Determination and Sex-Linked
Characteristics
Chapter 5: Extensions and Modifications of Basic
Principles
Chapter 6: Pedigree Analysis
Chapter 7: Linkage
EXAM II
Chapter 9: Chromosome variations
Chapter 20:
Organelle DNA
Chapter 22: Quantitative Genetics
EXAM III
Chapter 10: DNA
Chapter 11: Chromosome Structure & Transposable
Elements
Chapter 12: DNA Replication
EXAM IV
Chapter 13: Transcription
Chapter 14: RNA Processing
Chapter 15: Genetic Code and
Translation
Chapter 16: Control of Gene
Expression
EXAM V
Chapter 17: Gene Mutations and DNA
Repair
Chapter 18: Recombinant DNA
Selected Topics
FINAL EXAM: CHAPTERS 17, 18, selected topics, plus
cumulative material
Friday, May 13,