What are genes? How do they work? How are they passed on? This course will provide an introduction to modes of inheritance as well as to genes, their structure, and their regulation. Topics discussed in this class will include, but are not limited to, the molecular structure of DNA and RNA, Mendelian inheritance, molecular properties of genes, and the regulation of gene expression. The laboratory portion of this course will provide hands-on experience with genome-wide genetic screening, highlighting the increasing importance of bioinformatics in the post-genome sequence era.
Learning Outcomes:
Become familiar with the historical observations and experimental approaches that inform our current understanding of genetic inheritance
Understand the molecular basis of genetic inheritance
Learn to identify patterns of inheritance as indicative of dominant versus recessive and/or autosomal versus sex-linked
Calculate expected probabilities associated with genetic inheritance and how to assess fit/likelihood of proposed inheritance models, as well as empirically determine map distances between genes based on experimental data and/or observations
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: Prerequisites: Prior coursework in biology and comfort with math. If you met these prerequisites, email the professor (ammclellan@bennington.edu) on the day that 4000-level registration begins to be placed into the course.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 10:30AM-12:20PM; W 2:10PM-5:50PM (Lab) (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 18
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: All courses , Biology , Fully In-Person
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