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.

Tentative Syllabus!

Subject to change before start of Spring semester

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. The course will be under "Biology" and named "BIOL-321 Genetics 2026" for the Spring 2026 semester. It will be set up sometime in December 2025.

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 bonus point toward their final grade. No late submissions, no matter how late, will be accepted for bonus points. Feedback will be given as quickly as possible.

All numbers below are Concepts in Action problems from the optional textbook 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 are also sometimes indicated.

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. Exams will take the full assigned session and you may leave when finished.

Recording policy

Unless written permission is granted by the faculty member, or a specific accommodation has been approved by the Disability Services Office, students are prohibited from recording lectures or presentations.

For the first offense, anyone caught plagiarizing or otherwise cheating will receive a 0 (zero) on the assignment, and be referred to the Head of the School of Life Sciences. In the event of a second offense, the student will receive an "F" for the course. Duplicate submissions or excessive patchwriting will also receive a grade of 0 (zero) for the assignment. In the case of especially egregious offenses, the instructor reserves the right to assign a grade of "F" for the course, as per RIT policy.

If you have any questions about whether or not something constitutes plagiarism and/or cheating, please ask the instructor in advance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) may not be used for assignments in this course except for the exploration of topics. Among other things, it may not be used for writing or drafting papers/reports. You may use it to get advice on how to do an analysis, for example. If you have any questions about acceptable use of AI in this course, please email the instructor immediately.

• Chi-square worksheet (xlsx)

• 200+ terms that genetics students should learn
• Term list broken down by exam period for 2023
• Game cards
• Two-trait Punnett Square practice
• Punnett Square practice worksheet
• Gene expression control by deacylation in flowering
• Online color hue test
• Alternative genetic codes
• Snake sex chromosome evolution article
• Genetics Testing Registry - over 10K tests registered!
• Mendel's paper
• A review of trisomy X (47,XXX)
• NCBI
• Detecting non-approved Genetically Modified Organisms
• Moris et al., 2008. (Identification of Candida species in HIV patients)
• Lai and Sun, 2003. (Microsatellite mutation)
• Kelly et al., 2006. (example of a missense mutation)
• Nakamura et al., 1995. (mt heteroplasmy in human disease)
• MERRF
• MELAS
• example of ragged-red fibers
• Profile of Barbara McClintock
• Labrador color genetics
• Male infertility related to 47,XYY
• Case of fully functional polydactyly (found by Shandra Iannucci)

Contents last updated 10/23/25

• Any changes after the start of class will be noted here.