BIOL 201 Genetics

Upon completion of this course, the student will understand and be able to articulate relationships between essential concepts in genetics. This course focuses on molecular and transmission (classical) genetics, including the structure and function of DNA, RNA and proteins, recombinant DNA technology, and normal and variant patterns of inheritance in viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. Students completing this course will be able to apply this knowledge to solve standard problems in genetics and to analyze and synthesize diverse genetic concepts to solve advanced problems and to address social, legal, and ethical issues raised by recent genetic discoveries. For Genetics Laboratory, see BIOL 202.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

BIOL 101 and MATH 143 or higher

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of essential concepts in transmission (classical) genetics,
    including patterns of inheritance, normal and variant chromosome structure, mechanisms
    and disorders of chromosome segregation, sex determination, and eukaryotic gene mapping.
  2. 2. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of essential concepts in molecular genetics, including
    DNA, RNA, and protein structure, mechanisms of transcription, translation, and DNA
    replication, mutagenesis and repair, regulation of gene expression and biotechnology.
  3. 3. Apply this knowledge to solve standard problems in genetics, and analyze and synthesize
    concepts to solve more advanced problems.
  4. 4. Articulate relationships between diverse concepts in molecular and transmission genetics,
    and be able to predict the effects on the level of the individual organism of specific alterations
    in DNA sequence.
  5. 5. Evaluate recent discoveries in genetics, and articulate the social, legal and ethical issues
    raised by these discoveries using effective written and oral communication skills.

Course Objectives

  1. 1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of essential concepts in transmission (classical) genetics,
    including patterns of inheritance, normal and variant chromosome structure, mechanisms
    and disorders of chromosome segregation, sex determination, and eukaryotic gene mapping.
  2. 2. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of essential concepts in molecular genetics, including
    DNA, RNA, and protein structure, mechanisms of transcription, translation, and DNA
    replication, mutagenesis and repair, regulation of gene expression and biotechnology.
  3. 3. Apply this knowledge to solve standard problems in genetics, and analyze and synthesize
    concepts to solve more advanced problems.
  4. 4. Articulate relationships between diverse concepts in molecular and transmission genetics,
    and be able to predict the effects on the level of the individual organism of specific alterations
    in DNA sequence.
  5. 5. Evaluate recent discoveries in genetics, and articulate the social, legal and ethical issues
    raised by these discoveries using effective written and oral communication skills.