Genetics PCB 3063 B51

Florida International University Fall 2013

Course Time: Course Location: Instructor: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 AM 12:15 PM Glen Hubert Library 265 Helena Schmidtmayerova, Ph.D. Office: AC I 379B Office hours: Tue/Thur 9:00 - 10:30 AM Tue 3:30 - 5:00 PM Thur 4:00 - 5:30 PM (or by appointment) Phone: (305) 919-4135 E-mail: hschmid@fiu.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION: Genetics is a discipline of biology studying genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. During this course, students will learn the principles of transmission genetics and basic principles of molecular genetics. The course will primarily focus on the general principles of heredity, Mendelian inheritance, and on the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information is transferred. Towards the end of the course, students will learn basic principles of population genetics. The course is web-assisted via Blackboard. You will find all necessary information and class material posted on the class Blackboard page. COURSE GOAL is to translate a fundamental knowledge of genetics and to teach critical thinking. After completing this course, students should be able to: 1. Identify and interpret the basic principles of heredity. 2. Apply principles of heredity to solve genetic problems and predict outcome of genetic crosses. 3. Recognize particularities of bacterial and viral genetics 3. Define and describe the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information is transferred 4. Define how gene expression is regulated 5. Determine practical applications of molecular genetics 6. Recognize and interpret the outcomes of genetic mutations 7. Explain how gene pool of a population shapes LEARNING MATERIAL: Benjamin A. Pierce. GENETICS: A Conceptual Approach, 4th edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York (ISBN: 978-1-4292-3250-0). You will need access to Genetics Portal;

an online site with many features that will help you to master genetics including an eBook. You will also have graded assignments from Genetics Portal. You have following options: Benjamin A. Pierce GENETICS: A Conceptual Approach 4th edition, Hard Cover + Genetics Portal order ISBN: 978-1-4292-9331-0 Benjamin A. Pierce GENETICS: A Conceptual Approach 4th edition, Paperback + Genetics Portal order ISBN 978-1-4292-9531-4 Benjamin A. Pierce GENETICS: A Conceptual Approach 4th edition, Loose-leaf + Genetics Portal order ISBN 978-1-4292-9293-1 Access to Genetics Portal without printed textbook (http://courses.bfwpub.com/pierce4e.php). The textbook is your basic reference book, Genetics Portal is a highly recommended resource, and in addition, there will be required readings as well. You will need iClickers for in class activity. All assigned as well recommended readings will be posted on Blackboard periodically throughout the semester. Questions from assigned readings will be included in quizzes.

CLASS ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION This course comprises significant amount of material. As such, success in this course requires regular class attendance. Students are expected to arrive on time, and to remain in class until the end of the class. Class attendance will help you master the course material. In addition, exams may cover material discussed in the class that are not included in textbook or lecture PowerPoint outlines. In the case of missed lecture days or impending absences, students are responsible for obtaining lecture notes and in-class announcement information from fellow classmates. All electronic communication equipment (i.e. phones, computers, i-pads) must be silenced so as to not encumber the learning and thinking process of others. Disruptive behavior during lectures/exams is deemed inappropriate and will not be tolerated.

ASSESMENT: Your grade will be assessed based on your performance in three quizzes, one final cumulative exam, Learning Curve assignments from GeneticsPortal, and in class activities. Grade Distribution: Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 The final exam Learning Curve In class activity TOTAL: 200 points 200 points 200 points 200 points 100 points 100 points 1000 points (100%)

The final exam is cumulative and mandatory

 If you cant afford to buy access to GeneticsPortal (e.g. buy a new book that comes with it or buy an access code) your in class activity will account for 200 points. Tests and the final exam will consist of multiple-choice, matching, true-false questions answered on computer-graded forms (Scantron). On examination days you are responsible for bringing your student identification card and at least two pencils and an eraser. Your examination will not be graded if you will not have your student identification card or your examination answer sheet is marked incorrectly. Print your name and student identification number on the answer sheet in the appropriate place and then fill in the corresponding circles. Read each question carefully and fill in the circle on the answer sheet that corresponds with the best answer. Make sure you choose only one answer. If you make a mistake, be sure to erase completely. Questions with more than one answer will be counted as incorrect. Make-up exams: You will be able to make-up for one missed quiz with the appropriate documentation. All make-up exams will have fill in blank and an assay format. There will be no make-up for the final exam unless circumstances beyond the students control arise and are accompanied by the appropriate documentation: - Death of an immediate family member requires official bereavement statement. - Student/immediate family member with acute/terminal illness require an official hospital/clinic notification. - Traffic accident requires official accident report. - Jury duty requires county clerk summons. - Military duty. Make-up for the final exam will have an assay format Learning Curve: is a formative assessment activity that will guide you through a series of questions catered to your individual level of understanding. Learning Curve is an integral part of GeneticsPortal. You will have target points to reach in order to get 5 points for the assignment. You will have options, either to answer the question if you know the answer, or request the hint, or open the appropriate book chapter to find the answer. You will have 20 assignments, each worth 5 points. You can accumulate 100 points from all of them. To obtain the points, you have to complete learning curve before deadline. If you cant afford to buy access to GeneticsPortal (e.g. buy a new book that comes with it or buy an access code) your in class activity will account for 200 points. Class activity/assessments will consist of iClicker questions, short in class assignments,

or group problem solving tasks that will NOT be posted online. These instant short class works will NOT be announced in advance and you will NOT be able to makeup for them. In addition, you might have home work assigned in class that will not be posted on Blackboard and will account for class activity as well.
Extra Credits: I will not give individual extra credit assignments. However, you can get up to 5% extra credits towards the final grade for the in class presentation. You will make a short 5 min presentation on current topics in genetics. The topics and detail instructions will be posted on Blackboard. You will select your topic during the 1st week of the semester and submit your presentation via Turnitin by Friday, September 27. I will not accept presentations submitted by

e-mail. The best submissions will be selected for in class presentations, which will follow the class topic schedule. Be aware that you have to present your topic, not read from the notes or PowerPoint slides.

Grading scale:

A AB+ B BC+ C D F

93 % - 100% 90 % - 92.99 % 88 % - 89.99 % 83 % - 87.99 % 80 % - 82.99 % 78 % - 79.99 % 70 % - 77.99 % 60 % - 69.99 % <60%

EXAM DATES: Test 1 Tuesday, September 24 Test 2 Tuesday, October 29 Test 3 Tuesday, November 26 FINAL EXAM Thursday, December 12, 9:45 -11:45 AM ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT POLICY: Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct (e.g. cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty), they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the FIU Student Handbook under the Academic Misconduct section. If found cheating (the unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources, or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course assignments, or the unauthorized possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not) you will receive an F, no exception.

TENTATIVE ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE:

(Please be advised that the course syllabus schedule of events is subject to change) Week
1st week August 26 September 1 2nd week September 2 -8
(September 2 Labor Day; FIU is closed)

Subject
Introduction to Genetics Cellular Reproduction Basic Principles of Heredity Basic Principles of Heredity: Chi-Square Test and Application Problems Sex-linked Characteristics Extension of Basic Hereditary Principles Application Problems Pedigree Analysis, Genetic testing Quiz 1: Tuesday, September 24 Linkage and Recombination Bacterial and Viral Genetics

Assign chapters to read

1, 2

3rd week September 9 15 4th week September 16 -22 5th week September 23 - 29 6th week: September 30 October 6 7th week: October 7 - 13 8th week: October 14 - 20 9th week: October 21 - 27 10th week: October 28 November 3 11th week: November 4 - 10 12th week: November 11- 17

4, 5

7 8

DNA and Chromosome Structure Transposable elements, Mechanisms of Bacterial and Eukaryotic DNA Replication Transcription RNA Quiz 2: Tuesday, October 29 Genetic Code and Translation Gene Expression Gene Mutation and Repair Genetics and Biotechnology

10, 11

12

13, 14 15 16, 17 18, 19

13th week: November 18 -24 14th week: November 25 -December 1

(November 28-29 FIU is closed)

Cancer Genetics Population Genetics Quiz 3: Tuesday, November 26

23,25

25

15th week: December 2 -8

Review of Genetics

FINAL EXAM: Thursday, December 12, 9:45 -11:45 AM