BIO 328 Genetics Delta State University Course Information Department of Biological Sciences Spring 2016 General course description

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1 Course Information Spring 2016 Delta State University Department of Biological Sciences Instructor: Dr. John Tiftickjian Section: BIO 328, section 1, CRN Class meetings: Lecture: Tue, Thu, 10:50-12:05, Caylor 247 Lab: Mon, 2:00-4:50, Caylor 247 Credit: 4 Prerequisites: If your major is in the Department of Biological Sciences, you must have full admission status. Other students should have completed two semesters of general biology and two semesters of general chemistry or have permission of the instructor. Textbook: Benjamin Pierce, Genetics Essentials: Concepts and Connections, 2nd ed, 2013, Freeman, ISBN: Calculator: Any kind will do, but it's nice to have one that does advanced math functions, such as factorials. You should have your calculator with you for every class and lab meeting and especially during exams. Internet access: You will need Internet access for and to download assignments, lecture outlines, study guides, etc. Most any computer with internet access will do. Genetics has a small computer lab mainly for coursespecific projects, but it can be used for internet access and general computing needs during daytime hours. A computer lab is also available in the library. Hours posted here: administration/special-projects/office-of-information-technology/ computer-labs/. Course website: Textbook website: General course description Most branches of biology are based to a large degree on the principles of heredity. This is especially true of fields such as taxonomy, evolution, ecology, molecular biology, and development. A basic course in genetics is therefore essential for all students of biology. Genetics is a very hot area of biological research today. Advances in modern genetics have made possible genetic engineering, better understanding of hereditary diseases, development of new varieties of crop plants and animals, and new insights into the mechanisms of evolution. All of these areas are based on the foundations of heredity that go back to the work of Mendel and other classical geneticists. The main goal of the course is to introduce the three main branches of genetics: classical genetics, sometimes called Mendelian or transmission genetics; molecular genetics, which deals with the chemical action of DNA; and population genetics, which is concerned with how genes influence the dynamics and evolution of populations. By the time the semester is over, we should all have a good idea about what genes are, how they work, and how the science of heredity relates to biology as a whole.! 1 of 4!

2 Course objectives After completing this course, students should be able to: understand that organisms are composed of cells, and that each cell contains a "genetic program" - the hereditary instructions required for the cell to operate. appreciate that the gene is the basic unit of heredity. interpret some of classic experiments of scientists such as Mendel, Morgan, Avery, Watson, and Crick, and recognize how their conclusions impacted the understanding of heredity. describe how genes have different forms (alleles) and that variation among members of a species is due to variation in alleles. have a working knowledge of how genes determine phenotypes, including the molecular aspects of how DNA, RNA, and proteins are involved in gene expression. understand the connection between genes and chromosomes, and be able to relate the behavior of chromosomes to the basic Mendelian principles of heredity. appreciate that genes mutate and that mutations create variation that can be acted upon by natural selection. understand that evolution, the most fundamental biological principle, can be explained in the context of genetics and populations. make connections between genetics and the other major disciplines of biology, including taxonomy, cell biology, physiology, development, biochemistry, ecology, and evolution. Expected preparation It is assumed that you have taken general chemistry and principles of biology. From these courses you should already have a basic understanding of concepts such as: cell structure, mitosis and meiosis, life cycles of plants and animals, and evolution. Although we will review these some of these principles, I will not re-teach things you have already had, but I will be more than happy to help you outside of class if you need catching up on basic concepts. If you have not taken the prerequisites, you must check with me before continuing in the course. The textbook For most of the course we follow the textbook closely, so you must have access to a copy. This is a shorter version of a more comprehensive book by the same author, but it still covers more than we can cover in a semester. Watch your reading assignments carefully to make sure you are reading the correct sections in the correct order. Some topics are covered in a different order than the book covers them. The book is available in the campus bookstore for purchase or rental. There are other sources you might want to check for the best price. Several online book sellers carry the book, both new and used. If you consider buying online, remember to consider shipping costs and how soon the book will get to you. If it takes longer than a couple of days, you may get behind on your reading assignments. The textbook is also offered as an ebook. Information on available formats can be found here: The publisher also provides a companion website with online study resources here: 2 of 4!

3 Lecture format The traditional way of teaching genetics is through problem solving. This seems a reasonable approach because much of genetics (especially classical genetics) is based on events that must be analyzed logically, often using statistical methods. Male A is crossed with female B. Then the offspring are tabulated. What conclusions can you draw from the outcome of the cross? We will depend strongly on this problem solving approach. This may be a little different than some biology courses you have had that were based mainly on description and classification. There will not be long lists of terms to memorize. You will be expected to develop an understanding of principles, not just to memorize facts. We will begin each class meeting with a discussion of the important principles presented in the textbook. Then we will work on example applications (problems) of those principles. You will also work on assigned problems outside of class, and these will be discussed in later class periods. Occasionally films, computer simulations, etc. will be used to supplement textbook material. Laboratory format The scheduled laboratory meetings will be utilized for projects and discussion. Although lab techniques will be learned and practiced during some of the regularly assigned meeting times, much of your lab work will be done as projects that will have a flexible time format. You will be able to work on projects at your convenience outside of regular lab meetings. Most lab projects will involve breeding fruit flies. Crosses will be performed with live flies and also simulated using computer software. Some of the class time designated for laboratory will be used for discussion sessions. Discussion sessions are designed mainly to review homework problems and gain a more practical understanding of material presented in lecture. Come to discussion sessions prepared to ask questions about specific homework assignments that you are having difficulty with. More details on the structure and grading of lab work will be explained during the first lab meeting. Course web site The URL for the course web site is given above. Here you will find class news, assignments, lecture outlines, study guides, and other information that will be useful. Note that this is not an online course, but should be considered Web-enhanced. You are only required to use the website to access assignments (mainly homework problems), but it is strongly recommended that you make use of the other materials posted there. You will find some materials here that may not be in the textbook or covered completely in lecture. All the online content is designed to enhance the course and help to improve your grade. You should check the site frequently as it is constantly changing. The most important page is the course outline that shows an up-to-date schedule of lecture and lab topics, reading assignments, and homework assignments. Assignments and testing Daily quizzes. [approximately 50 points] There will be short quizzes each day at the beginning of the lecture period. A typical quiz will take about 5 minutes. Material for quizzes will come from the day s reading assignment, recent lectures, and problems similar to current homework problems. Homework. [0 points] Homework problems will be assigned regularly throughout the semester. Homework will not be collected or graded, but will serve as practice for quizzes and exams. Homework will be reviewed regularly during class discussions, and you should be prepared to discuss your answers when called upon. How well you do on the homework is your single best indicator of how well you understand the material.! 3 of 4!

4 Exams. [300 points] Exams consist of multiple choice questions, short discussion questions and problems. Most of the credit will come from problems. Exam questions will be drawn primarily from topics discussed in class but will sometimes be taken from reading assignments not covered specifically in lecture. Problems on exams will be similar to those on homework problem sets. Laboratory. [approximately 100 points] The lab grade will come from written reports that will be assigned throughout the semester. You will get detailed instructions on how to do these during lab meetings. Final exam. [150 points] The final exam is comprehensive. That is, it will cover information taken from the whole semester. However, questions on older material will be more general than on previous exams. This part of the final should not be difficult as long as you have reviewed the major concepts covered throughout the semester. Approximately 2/3 of the final will cover material covered after the 3rd exam. The format of the final is similar to that of the lecture exams, but will of course be a bit longer. Other assignments. [0-50 points] There may be some additional assignments depending on how things develop during the semester. Sometimes I have ideas for new things to try which will count toward your grade. Grading Assignment Points Percent grade Letter grade Daily quizzes ~ A Lecture exams B Laboratory work ~ C Other assignments D Final exam 150 below 60 F Total points The table shows how assignments, quizzes, exams, etc. will count toward your overall grade. Because your grade is based on total points and not on a complicated weighting system, it is easy to determine your grade at any time. The point total is only approximate and may change somewhat. Checking your grades Throughout the semester, you will be able to check your grade online through a secure web page. You must log in with a unique password so no one but you will be able to see your grades. You will receive your password shortly after the course begins. Note that this web page is independent of the Blackboard system used by Delta State. The login ID and password you might be using for another course through Blackboard will not work for Dr. T's courses. Other course policies See the course policies handout for additional information on attendance, grading, dropping the course, etc.! 4 of 4!

5 BIO 328 Course Schedule Date Topics Readings Assignments Introduction Welcome Welcome message Mon 1/11/2016 LAB: No lab Sign up for Remind Tue 1/12/2016 Introduction to the course Review syllabus Thu 1/14/2016 The science of genetics Ch 1: 1-15 Mon 1/18/2016 Basics of Mendelian genetics Martin Luther King Holiday Tue 1/19/2016 Beginnings of Mendelian genetics Ch 3: Mendel's experiments: monohybrid crosses Ch 3: 47-51, Problem set 1 Thu 1/21/2016 Mendel's experiments: dihybrid crosses Ch 3: Problem set 2 Mon 1/25/2016 Probability and statistical analysis LAB: Garden of Inheritance film Tue 1/26/2016 Probability Ch 3: 52-53, Problem set 3 Thu 1/28/2016 The chi-square test Ch 3: Problems Mon 2/1/2016 LAB: Corn genetics Tue 2/2/2016 Pedigree analysis Ch 3: Problems Extensions of Mendelian genetics Thu 2/4/2016 Incomplete dominance, lethals, etc. Ch 4: 73-74, Problems Mon 2/8/2016 LAB: Drosophila culture Handout Tue 2/9/2016 FIRST EXAM (through pedigrees) Chapters 1 and 3 Study guide Thu 2/11/2016 Multiple alleles, epistasis Ch 4: Problems Mon 2/15/2016 LAB: Drosophila breeding procedures Handout Tue 2/16/2016 Epistasis Ch 4: Problems Thu 2/18/2016 Quantitative inheritance Ch 4: , Ch 17: Problems 5.15 Cytoplasmic inheritance Ch 4: Mon 2/22/2016 LAB: Begin Drosophila crosses Handout The chromosome theory Tue 2/23/2016 Sex determination and sex-linkage Ch 4: Problem set 6 Thu 2/25/2016 Chromosome basics Ch 2: Cell cycle, mitosis Ch 2: Problem 7.01 Mon 2/29/2016 LAB: Computer simulation I Handout Due 10/30 Tue 3/1/2016 Meiosis Ch 2: 26-34, Ch 3: Problems Thu 3/3/2016 Life cycles Ch 2: Problems Mon 3/7/2016 SPRING BREAK - 3/7-3/11 Mon 3/14/2016 LAB: Drosophila crosses Handout Tue 3/15/2016 Chromosome variation Ch 6: Problem set 8 Schedule for BIO 328 January 4, 2016

6 Date Topics Readings Assignments Thu 3/17/2016 SECOND EXAM (through life cycles) Chapters 4 and 2 Study guide Mon 3/21/2016 Linkage LAB: Drosophila crosses Tue 3/22/2016 Linkage Ch 5: Point mapping Ch 5: Problems Thu 3/24/ Point mapping Ch 5: Problems Mon 3/28/2016 LAB: Drosophila crosses Tue 3/29/2016 Tetrad analysis No reading Problems Molecular genetics Thu 3/31/2016 Introduction to molecular genetics Ch 8: Mon 4/4/2016 LAB: Computer crosses 2 Handout Tue 4/5/2016 DNA structure Ch 8: Problems Thu 4/7/2016 Properties of DNA No reading Mon 4/11/2016 LAB: Continue lab assignments Tue 4/12/2016 THIRD EXAM (through DNA structure) Chapters 6, 5, and 8 Study guide Thu 4/14/2016 Replication Ch 9: Problems Mon 4/18/2016 LAB: Continue lab assignments Tue 4/19/2016 Basics of gene action Ch 10: Transcription Ch 10: Problems Thu 4/21/2016 Gene regulation Ch 12: Problem Translation Ch 11: Problem Mon 4/25/2016 Population genetics LAB: complete lab assignments Tue 4/26/2016 Population genetics Ch 18: Thu 4/28/2016 Population genetics Ch 18: Problem set 12 The Blind Watchmaker Tue 5/3/2016 FINAL EXAM: 3:00 PM Final exam notes Study guide Schedule for BIO 328 January 4, 2016