Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 Course Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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BIOL 2038 - Genetics

Credits: 4
Hours/Week: Lecture 3Lab 1
Course Description: This advanced Biology course introduces and reinforces genetic principles for Biology majors. This course covers the nature of genetic information at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and population level.  Topics include gene expression, heredity, genetic variation, population genetics, and lab techniques unique to genetics.  This course uses molecular biology and basic recombinant DNA techniques to apply modern techniques of genetics, including gene mapping, cloning, genome manipulation, and mutation. Lab includes hands-on experience in the safe handling and manipulation of model organisms. Intended for biology and life sciences majors.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1041   with a grade of C or higher and BIOL 1042  with a grade of C or higher, OR concurrently enrolled in BIOL 1042  .
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
  1. DNA Structure and Function
  2. Cell cycle
  3. Mitosis
  4. Meiosis
  5. Mendelian principles
  6. Analysis of inheritance
  7. Multi-gene expression
  8. Non-Mendelian inheritance
  9. Gene mapping
  10. Cytogenetics
  11. Chromosomal abnormalities
  12. Genome organization in viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes
  13. DNA replication
  14. Transcription
  15. Translation
  16. Mutations
  17. Population Genetics
  18. Evolutionary Genetics
  19. Developmental Genetics
  20. Medical Genetics
  21. Current Issues and Bioethics
  22. Molecular biology methods
  23. Recombinant DNA
  24. Model organisms

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. analyze experimental data in reference to ecological, social, economic, ethical, and cultural implications.
  2. analyze genetic information using a pedigree analysis, test crosses, back crosses, complementation tests, and chi-square tests.
  3. communicate and work productively with others in designing, conducting, and evaluating projects or experiments.
  4. compare and contrast nuclear and non-nuclear genetic information.
  5. compare and contrast the nature of genetic information at the cellular, organismal, and population level.
  6. compare and contrast the structure and function DNA and RNA molecules.
  7. compare and contrast viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic chromosomal organization.
  8. compare and contrast viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic genes.
  9. compare gene linkage and genetic map distances.
  10. contrast cell cycle events in meiosis and mitosis.
  11. describe the biochemical and genetic mechanisms behind epistasis, pleiotropy, and quantitative traits.
  12. describe the mechanisms of mutations.
  13. differentiate between a gene and an allele.
  14. explain how non-random mating affects allele and genotype frequencies using the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) in the context of evolution.
  15. explain Mendelian inheritance patterns at the cellular and organismal levels.
  16. explain the inheritance of germline mutations, somatic mutations, and epigenetic states.
  17. explain the process of DNA replication.
  18. explain the regulation of genetic information from DNA to mRNA to protein.
  19. explain the role of genetic expression in cell differentiation.
  20. explain, in written and oral format, experimental data and analyses from own and others’ experiments.
  21. identify the role of genes and their interaction with the environment to produce a phenotype.
  22. identify the roles of DNA modification, histone modification, and non-coding RNA in epigenetic inheritance.
  23. recognize all living organisms share a common ancestor and that species evolve over time. 
  24. theorize how new species can arise when allele frequencies change due to mutation, natural selection, gene flow, and genetic drift.
  25. use model organisms to study human genes and human genetic diseases.
  26. utilize other disciplines as sources of context and skills to inform the learning and work they are engaged in.
  27. use computers to access information from online databases, in data analysis and in the simulation of biological systems.


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