Biology 360 Genetics Lecture Syllabus and Schedule, Fall 2012 Tentative Dr. David Keller Office: Holt 318 Lab: Holt 301 Office Hrs:10-11 am Ph: 898-5040 Dr. Jeff Bell Office: Holt 205 Ph: 898-5356 Prerequisites: This is an upper division biology course that is required for the biology degree. Thus, it is expected that all students have taken a year of introductory biology (Biol 151 and 152, two years of chemistry (Chem 111 and 112, Chem 270, and Chem 370 and have a good mathematics background. Requirements: We will attempt to achieve the course learning objectives through discussions in class, solving genetic problems, and designing and interpreting genetic experiments using online simulations. Lectures are MWF at 12 PM in Holt 268. The textbook is the third edition of igenetics by Peter Russell. Genetics Labs On-line is set of simulations that we will be using through out the semester, you need to purchase access to the simulations by going to the subscription purchase page (https://register.pearsoncmg.com/buy/buy1.jsp?productid=19202) and paying them $20 (you need a credit card to do this). Discussion sections: When you registered for this class, you also registered for a discussion section, which meets once a week for 50 minutes. Discussion sections are a chance for you to ask questions, practice genetics problems, and expand on topics that were covered in lecture. These sections are extremely valuable for you, as the genetics problems you will work in this class can be complex. Often the problems you work in discussion will be represented on the exams. Below is the discussion schedule. Please attend the discussion section for which your are registered. Tuesdays 12 noon-12:50pm Holt 337 Wednesdays 2-2:50pm Holt 225 Thursdays 12 noon-12:50pm Holt 337 Course Philosophy: I believe that students learn science best by dong science. As this course does not have a lab, you will be using simulations of various scientific experiments through out the semester to learn about genetics and science. In class and discussion there will also be a strong emphasis on applying your genetics knowledge to solving common types of genetic problems. The objectives of the course are for you to acquire a theoretical and practical overview of 1) the nature of the genetic material (DNA), 2) how the genetic material is faithfully transmitted from one generation to the next (DNA replication and mutation), 3) how the genome determines the phenotype (gene expression and regulation), 4) how traits are inherited (Mendelian genetics), 5) how genomes can evolve (quantitative traits and population genetics),
and, finally, 6) how we can use modern technology to manipulate and study genomes (cloning, biotechnology, current studies in development and cancer). In addition, as in any science course, learning how to do make observations, pose questions, propose hypotheses, design experiments, interpret scientific data, draw conclusions and write up scientific reports are all major objectives of this course. The document Biology 360 Learning Objectives gives much more specific learning objectives Help: As much of your work will be done online, you need to have access to a functioning computer and internet connection. There are numerous computer labs on campus that you can use, but it will be best if you have your own. If you need help the University has resources to aid you. For help with general computer and network problems, call 898-HELP (4357); for help with Blackboard Learn, call 898-4546; for help with the Biolabs simulations you will need to fill out a form at the Pearson Support Center, http://aw.com/tech support/ You can reach me during my office hours (posted above) or by appointment (x5040). Questions can also be e-mailed to me at the instructors e-mail on the Blackboard Learn site. Dr. Jeff Bell is leading the discussion sessions, described above. His office hours and contact information are posted above as well. Academic Conduct: Turning in work copied from another report is plagiarism and will result in an F for the course, and may get you thrown out of the University. Using another students answers on an in-class exam or an online quiz is cheating and will also result in an F for the course. It is OK to discuss how to solve a question with another student, however, copying another students answers, or anyone else's, is not allowed. Schedule: The schedule below shows the tentative lecture topic for each lecture period, the pages from the textbook that you should read before the lecture, and problems you should be working on during that week which may be discussed in your discussion section or in lecture. There will be quizzes or assignments due before most lectures at 11:30 AM, these will be worth between five and 15 points. It is very important that you not fall behind, as it is very difficult to catch up. Late assignments will not be accepted without a serious and compelling reason. This course outline is tentative and subject to change. Tentative Class Schedule Date Topic Chapter: Pages Assignment due Aug 27 Course Intro Ch. 1: p.1-8 29 DNA is the genetic material Ch. 2: p.9-14 Aug 29 Survey 31 DNA structure Ch. 2: p.15-21 Aug 31 PreTest Sep 3 Labor Day--No class 5 DNA organization in chromosomes Ch. 2: 21-30
7 DNA replication Ch. 3: p.36-39 Sep 7 DNA 10 DNA replication machinery Ch. 3: p.39-50 Sep 10 DNA Replication 12 Telomeres and PCR Ch. 3: p.50-54 14 Transcription Ch. 5: p.81-86 17 mrna processing Ch. 5: p.87-97 Sep 14 DNA Replication Sep 17 Transcription 19 Review 21 Exam 1 24 Proteins Ch. 6: p.102-106 26 Genetic code Ch. 6: p.106-109 28 Translation Ch. 6: p.109-123 Oct 1 Gene Function Ch. 4: p.60-75 Sep 28 Translation Biolab Oct 1 Translation 3 Gene regulation in bacteria Ch. 17: p.491-503 5 Gene regulation in bacteria Ch. 17: p.491-503 8 DNA mutation Ch. 7: p.130-135 Oct 5 Hemoglobin Biolab Oct 8 Gene Regulation 10 DNA mutation Ch. 7: p.135-146 12 Transposons Ch. 7: p.150-161 15 Oct 12 Lesch Nyhan Excercise Oct 15 Mutations 17 Review 19 Exam 2
22 Mitosis and meiosis Ch. 12: p.326-339 24 Inheritance-Mendel Ch. 11: p.297-307 26 Extensions of Mendel Ch. 13: p.363-377 Oct 26 FlyLab-1 29 Independent assortment Ch. 11: p.307-314 Oct 29 Mendel 31 Independent assortment and chi-square Ch. 11: p.307-314 Nov 2 Sex chromosomes and aneuploidy Ch. 12: p. 339-351 Nov 2 FlyLab-2 5 Genetic mapping-eukaryotes Ch. 14: p.401-410 Nov 5 Dihybrid 7 Genetic mapping-eukaryotes Ch. 14: p.401-410 9 Pedigrees 12 Veteran's Day--No Class 14 Review 16 Exam 3 19-23 Thanksgiving Break Ch. 11: p.314-317; Ch. 12: p.351-354 Nov 9 FlyLab-3 26 Pedigrees Ch. 14: p.416-418 28 Quantitative genetics Ch. 22: p.650-655 30 Quantitative genetics Ch. 22: p.666-673 Dec 3 Heritability Ch. 22: 661-666 Nov 30 Pedigree Lab Dec 3 Quantitative 5 Heritability Ch. 22: 661-666 7 Genomics Ch. 8: p.199-207 10 Genomics Ch. 8: p.234-241 Dec 7 Heritability Dec 10 Genomics 12 Genomics Ch. 8: p.234-241 14 Review
19 Final 12-1:50pm all of above Grading: Grading will be based on written assignments and quizzes, both on-line and in-class, three in-class exams, which will be taken during the Friday lecture period, and a final exam. Exam questions will cover material from lecture, typical genetic problems (some of which will be taken from the assigned problems in the textbook) and the online assignments. Make-up exams are only possible if they are arranged before the regularly scheduled exam time. Assignments are due by 11:30 AM on the mornings of the due date, unless it is to be turned in during class. Late assignments will not be accepted without a serious and compelling reason. The final is 100 points; there are three 50 point exams (total of 150 points), taken in class; and on-line and in-class assignments will be worth approximately 135 pts; total for the course is approximately 385 points. There is no curve so you must get the points below to receive that letter grade, assuming that the final total for points in the class is 385 points. Grades are based on 93% of all points for an A, 90% for an A-, 87% for a B+, 83% for a B, 80% for a B-, 77% for a C+, 73% for a C, 70% for a C-, 65% for a D+ and 60% for D, less than 60% is an F. As the assignment total may vary some from the 135 used below, the final point totals will be adjusted based on the percentages. <span style>points for all Course Activities</span> Activity Points Assignments 140
Exam I 50 Exam II 50 Exam III 50 Final 100 Total for Course 390 Grading Scale
Grade Points needed A > 363 A >351 B+ > 339 B > 324 B > 312 C+ > 300 C > 285 C > 273 D+ > 254 D > 234 F <234 Americans with Disabilities Act: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the
building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Please also contact Disability Support Services (DSS) as they are the designated department responsible for approving and coordinating reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities. DSS will help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide you further assistance with requesting and arranging accommodations.