BIOL 362 Principles of Genetics, Spring 2009, 4.0 credits  
     
Download .pdf of Syllabus  
     
Date Lecture topic
Chapter
   
26 Jan-Mon Introduction
1
     
28 Jan-Wed DNA: The genetic material
2
  DNA Structure  
  Watson & Crick  
  Chromosome Packing  
  Telomeres  
  Bacteriophage T4  
     
02 Feb-Mon DNA replication
3
  DNA Replication - Video 1  
  DNA Replication - Video 2  
     
04 Feb-Wed Gene function
4
  RNAi  
  06 Feb-Fri: Last day for student- and faculty-initiated withdrawls  
  (course does not appear on academic record)  
     
09 Feb-Mon Gene expression: Transcription
5
     
11 Feb-Wed Gene expression: Translation
6
     
16 Feb-Mon DNA mutation and DNA repair
7
  Transposable elements
7
     
18 Feb-Wed Recombinant DNA technology
8
  cDNA Microarray  
     
23 Feb-Mon Exam 1 (chapters 1 to 7)
  Study Questions 1  
     
25 Feb-Wed Applications of recombinant DNA technology
9
  PCR  
  Dye Terminator DNA Sequencing  
  Pyrosequencing  
     
02 Mar-Mon Genomics
10
     
04 Mar-Wed Mendelian genetics
11
     
09 Mar-Mon Spring break
     
11 Mar-Wed Spring break
     
16 Mar-Mon Chromosomal basis of inheritance
12
     
18 Mar-Wed Extensions of Mendelian genetic principles
13
     
23 Mar-Mon Quantitative genetics
14
     
25 Mar-Wed Gene mapping in eukaryotes
15, 16
  27 Mar-Fri: Last day for student- and faculty-initiated withdrawls  
  (W grade given for course)  
     
30 Mar-Mon Variation in chromosome structure and number
17
     
01 Apr-Wed Genetics of bacteria and bacteriophages
18
     
06 Apr-Mon Exam 2 (chapters 8 to 16) - Study Questions
  Review Questions 2  
     
08 Apr-Wed Regulation of gene expression in bacteria and bacteriophages
19
     
13 Apr-Mon Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes, Genetic analysis of development
20, 21
     
15 Apr-Wed Genetics of cancer
22
     
20 Apr-Mon Non-Mendelian inheritance
23
     
22 Apr-Wed Population genetics 1
24
     
27 Apr-Mon Population genetics 2
24
     
29 Apr-Wed Molecular Evolution
25
     
04 May-Mon Final Review Session
     
08 May-Fri Exam 3 (chapters 1 to 25)
  Study Questions 3  

10:15 AM - 12:15 PM

 
Location and time:
Mon & Wed 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM, Elvey Auditorium - Geophysical Institute
 
Textbook:

Peter J. Russel. 2006. iGenetics: A Molecular Approach. Pearson Education, San Francisco, California. ISBN 0-8053-4665-1

 
Laboratory notebook:  
Provide your own lab notebook and bring it to your first lab.
 
Web content:
Course web site (UAF): http://mercury.bio.uaf.edu/~kevin_mccracken/genetics/
iGenetics web site: http://www.geneticsplace.com
Web site includes: iActivities, animations, practice quizzes, glossary, and solutions to end-of-chapter problem sets.
 
Grading:
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 25%
Exam 3 25%
Lab grade 20%
Paper* 10%
 
*One 5-page lab paper (double-spaced). This may be turned in anytime after spring break, but no later than the last day of lab (4 May). Topics should focus on a theme of modern 21st century genetics that is of personal or professional interest. Examples might include an overview of recent technological developments in molecular genetic technology (e.g., new methods of DNA sequencing, PCR, gene discovery & isolation etc.); or genetics of a particular disease or public health problem. Please confirm your topic with the instructor prior to writing.
 
*Study questions will be provided online so that you have the opportunity to work through difficult concepts prior to your exams. These will not be graded, but your instructors will discuss these questions and answers during scheduled review sessions.

*3% bonus added to final grade for 100% lecture attendance (attendance will be sampled randomly).
 
*Exams in this course are purposely designed to be challenging, and it is not uncommon for raw scores to be low (e.g., means of 45-65%)—exam and final grades will be adjusted appropriately based on the overall means for each exam and the final grade distribution.
 
Exam make-up policy:

Make-up exams are very strongly discouraged. If circumstances are dire or grievous enough that you are unable to take the exam, please contact me by phone (w: 907-474-6419, h: 907-452-2827) or e-mail (fnkgm@uaf.edu) in advance of the exam. Otherwise, no make-up exam will be given and your grade will be zero for that exam. Your make-up exam may be oral!

 
Incomplete policy:

Incomplete grades are strongly discouraged and will only be authorized under difficult circumstances. Your performance and participation in the course will factor into this decision.

 
Student code of conduct:
Students are subject to the UAF Student Code of Conduct. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will be not tolerated, and will result in immediate failure of the course (not just the assignment). Students that participate in these types of activities will be withdrawn from the course and turned over to the Dean of Student Affairs.
 
Other policies:
Needs of students with disabilities will be accommodated following university policies. Please talk to the instructor privately if you have questions or require assistance. The UAF Center for Health and Counseling also provides disability services.
 
Contact information:
Kevin G. McCracken
Institute of Arctic Biology &
Department of Biology and Wildlife
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775
office (907) 474-6419 Rm. 028 UA Museum
email: fnkgm@uaf.edu
 
Office hours:
Monday & Wednesday 3:30 to 4:30 pm or by appointment.
 
Lab Syllabus: BIOL 362 Principles of Genetics, Spring 2009
 
Lab protocols will be provided online. Please download these from the course web site each week before lab.
 
Date Lab activity
   
26/27/28 Jan Introduction
  Pipette techniques & lab safety
  Meiosis & mitosis
   
02/03 Feb DNA extraction: QIAGEN protocol & Onion/Banana DNA extraction
   
09/10 Feb Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
  DNA replication, transcription, and translation
   
16/17 Feb Review Session for Exam #1 on 23 Feb (chapters 1 to 7)
  Review Questions 1
   
23/24 Feb Electrophoresis & DNA purification
   
02/03 Mar DNA cycle-sequencing (meet in WRRB lobby)
  Tour West Ridge Research Building (WRRB) & IAB Core Facility for Nucleic Acid Research
   
09/10 Mar Spring break
   
16/17 Mar Contig construction & data analysis
   
23/24 Mar Online Genbank tutorial, Protein Modeling
   
30/31 Mar Review Session for Exam #2 on 06 Apr (chapters 8 to 16)
  Review Questions 2
  Genetic diseases Lab #1
   
06/07 Apr Tour UA Museum Bird, Mammal, and Genetic Rescources Collection
   
13/14 Apr Cloning and gene transformation #1
   
20/21 Apr Cloning and gene transformation #2
  Genetic diseases Lab #2 - presentations
   
27/28 Apr No lab final exam - Turn in notebook to TA
   
Lab make-up policy:

Lab activities flow consecutively from one week to the next; i.e., you will use your DNA extract for PCR, your purified PCR product for cycle-sequencing, and your sequence for contig construction and data analysis, etc.   If you miss one step, you miss the next step.   Labs should not be missed .   Make-ups are at the discretion of your TA, but must be coordinated in advance and completed prior to the next lab.   Missed labs will be subtracted from your lab notebook grade (20% of overall grade).

 
Lab sections (location and time):
F01 Mond 2:15 - 5:15 PM BUNN 408
F02 Tue 2:00 - 5:00 PM BUNN 408
 
TA contact information (office hours by appointment):
Mariana Bulgarella ftmb3@uaf.edu
Matthew Campbell fsmac30@uaf.edu