Genetics - Spring 2023


Evolving Syllabus

Subject to some change during the course of the semester. Under certain circumstances, the instructor may have to alter course requirements, assignment deadlines, and grading procedures; and the university may have to alter the semester calendar.


Prerequisites


Administrative details

Meetings:MWF 9-9:50am, location TBD LOW-3115
RecitationWednesday 8-8:50am, location TBD LOW-3115
Credits3
Required text Essential Genetics, 7th ed, by Hartl and Jones
iClicker will be required.
Instructor:Michael Osier
Office:08-1338
Schedule
Contact:mvoscl@rit.edu

Topics

Mon lecture

Wed recitation

Wed lecture

Fri lecture

Week 1 - Jan 16 No class Introduction Why study genetics?; Phenotypic Variation Mendel and Darwin (Chapter 2.1-2.6; Chapter 15.1-15.2, look over OMIM)
Week 2 - Jan 23 Quiz 1 Genome structures; Organization of the Chromosome; Mitosis and Meiosis (Chapters 3.1-3.5, 6.1-6.5, 12.1-12.6) CoT in the Act by Dr. Rothman Mutation and Repair; Eukaryotic gene structure (Chapters 3.1-3.5, 6.1-6.5, 12.1-12.6) Polymorphism; Model organisms
Week 3 - Jan 30 Quiz 2 Sex-linked inheritance; Sex determination and the Lyons hypothesis (Chapters 3.6, 5.1-5.2) Activity: sex-linked Drosophila phenotypes, Exam review Trancription, splicing, and translation (Chapter 8)
Week 4 - Feb 6 Exam 1: short answer Online activity this week - NIH Genetic Testing Registry Exam 1: problem solving Prokaryotic gene expression (Chapter 9.1-9.3)
Week 5 - Feb 13 Quiz 3 Mapping prokaryotic genes (Chapter 7.1-7.5) Exam 1 followup Mapping prokaryotic genes (Chapter 7.1-7.5); Eukaryotic gene expression (Chapter 9.4-9.7)
Week 6 - Feb 20 Quiz 4 Independent assortment (Chapter 2.3-2.4, 3.7 [just Chi-square Goodness-of-Fit], Chapter 4.1-4.2) Parada et al., 2002 Independent assortment (Chapter 2.3-2.4, 3.7 [just Chi-square Goodness-of-Fit], Chapter 4.1-4.2)
Week 7 - Feb 27 Quiz 5 Tetrad analysis (4.5 [not including section on Gene Conversion]) Exam review Linkage (Chapter 4.1-4.2, 4.5 [not including section on Gene Conversion])
Week 8 - Mar 6 Exam 2: short answer Online activity this week - Prokaryotic mapping practice worksheet Exam 2: problem solving Exam 2 followup
Week 9 - Mar 13 Spring Break
Week 10 - Mar 20 Segregration analysis (Chapter 2.5, 5.1-5.3, 4.1-4.3) Mid-semester review Eukaryotic gene mapping; Karyotype analysis (Chapters 5.1-5.3, 4.1-4.3)
Week 11 - Mar 27 Quiz 6 Quantitative genetics (Chapters 15.1-15.2, 15.4-15.5) Activity: finding double-recombinants Introduction to Population Genetics: Random mating, non-random mating, and HWE (Chapters 14.2-14.3, 14.9)
Week 12 - Apr 3 Quiz 7 Activity: Forensics and HWE Patsalis et al. paper; Xu et al. paper Activity: Random genetic drift (Chapters 14.2-14.3, 14.9); Random Genetic Drift (Chapters 14.2-14.3, 14.9) Exam review
Week 13 - Apr 10 Exam 3: short answer Open review session online Exam 3: problem solving HWE and selection (Chapters 14.2-14.3, 14.9)
Week 14 - Apr 17 Quiz 8 Complementation (pp 17-19 for Complementation) Exam 3 followup Activity: Epistasis; Pleiotropy and Penetrance and Phenocopies, oh my! (Chapter 2.6-2.7)
Week 15 - Apr 24 Quiz 9 Catchup, open course review Lyons, Cox, and Dancis paper Activity: Doing the pathway shuffle (Genetics board game) Exam review
Week 16 - May 1 open course review Exam week


Grading

Quizzes (2 points each x 9)18%
Participation12%
Exam 114%
Exam 218%
Exam 318%
Final Exam20%
Total100%

If your final exam grade is higher than your average for the first three exams, your final exam grade will replace your lowest grade in Exams 1 through 3. So if you earn 90% on your final, and your exam average was 83%, and your lowest grade was a 70%, the 90% will replace the 70%, plus you get a 90% on the final.

A[95-100]
A-[90-95)
B+[86.7-90)
B[83.4-86.7)
B-[80-83.4)
C+[76.7-80)
C[73.4-76.7)
C-[70-73.4)
D[60-70)
F<60

Participation

Participation will be determined based upon a combination of factors, including but not limited to, attending sessions on time, participating in all iClicker questions for the day, and properly following any Covid or other RIT policies.


iClicker

I will be using iClicker to make our class time more engaging. This will help me understand what you know, give everyone a chance to participate, and increase how much you learn in class. This will also provide you with feedback on how well you are comprehending course concepts, and help you master challenging concepts.

You are required to participate with the iClicker student app on a smartphone, tablet or laptop in a timely fashion. It is also your responsibility to regularly check your iClicker records for any discrepancies.

You can use an existing iClicker account if you have one...please do not create a new account if you already have one. If you do not have an account yet, you can create a new iClicker account using the instructions here. There is a fee for using the iClicker service. Subscriptions can be purchased within the app.

Next, you can add our course per the instructions here. The course will be under "Biology" and named "Genetics" for the Spring 2023 semester.


Optional homework assignments

The below homework questions are not required, but may be reflective of some questions on quizzes and exams. With the exception of dates without assigned problems, for every completed homework assignment submitted on paper in handwriting before the start of the following week (e.g. Homework for Week 1 due before class on Monday of Week 2), students will earn 1/2 bonus point toward their final grade. No late submissions will be accepted for bonus points. Feedback will be given as quickly as possible.

All numbers below are Concepts in Action problems from the end of the corresponding chapter. "2.1" corresponds to Chapter 2, first Concept in Action problem. All even numbered problems have answers in the back of the text. Problems from outside the textbook may also be indicated.

Week AssignedWeek DueAssignment
1 2 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.16, 2.20; Search OMIM for a disease of interest to you...in no more than one-half page, describe what is known about the genetics of this human trait.
2 3 3.2, 3.8, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.10
3 4 2.18, 3.10, 3.12, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8, 8.2, 8.6, 8.8, 8.14, 8.20, 12.2, 12.6, 12.8, 12.12, 12.16
4 5 9.2, 9.16, 9.18
5 6 9.6, 7.10, 7.11, 7.14, 7.18, 7.20
6 7 3.16, 3.18
7 N/A None
8 10 4.2, 4.6, 4.8, 4.10
9 N/A None
10 11 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.21, 4.20 a & b, 5.12
11 12 14.2, 14.4, 14.6, 14.8, 14.10, 14.12
12 N/A None
13 14 Worksheet in myCourses
14 15 2.12, 2.14, 2.17, 4.13, 4.16, 4.20 (a and b), 15.2, 15.4, 15.10, 15.12, 15.20
15* 16* 2.3, 2.11, 2.15, 4.17, 9.13, 9.20, 12.9, 12.11, 14.9, 14.17, 2.13, 4.11, 4.14, 4.19, 9.15, 12.17, 14.11, 14.13, 14.15, 15.5
* Week 15 problems due before the final exam.

Quiz and Exam policy

No electronics except for a calculator. The calculator must not be a graphing or programmable calculator. No caps or hats.

Quizzes will take place during the first ten minutes of class time.

There will be one makeup for any exam or quiz, on a date and time to be determined by the instructor. Please email the instructor as soon as possible if you are unable to make an exam or quiz.


Links

Spreadsheets to practice with

Supporting information


COVID-19 Syllabus Addendum

We are all cognizant of the unique circumstances resulting from the worldwide COVID-19 SARS-2 pandemic. RIT has consulted federal, state, and local guidelines and policies to implement a safe, yet educational environment for students, staff, and faculty. These guidelines, located at http://www.rit.edu/ready/ are routinely updated as conditions change.

What do these mean for this class? All students are expected to follow all RIT policies in regards to Covid. As noted in the above syllabus, students are expected to be active participants in the course. I encourage your communication direclty to me about any special needs or concerns. Together we will learn in a safe and productive format.

Tardiness to class or in submitting assignments/quizzes/exams due to non-compliance with Institute requirements will not be excused.

COVID-19 policies will be adjusted as necessary and appropriate.


Contents last updated 3/28/23