Lahore University of Management Sciences

BIO221 Genetics

Instructor
Room No.
Office Hours
Email
Telephone
Secretary/TA
TA Office Hours
Course URL (if any)

(Spring & 2014-15)

Drs. M .Tariq (Lead), Sadia Hamera, Aziz Mithani

9-415A & 9-420A

m.tariq@lums.edu.pk & aziz.mithani@lums.edu.pk

8218 & 8352
TBA
TBA
No

Course Basics
Credit Hours
Lecture(s)
Recitation (per week)
Lab (if any ) per week
Tutorial (per week)

Course Distribution
Core
Elective
Open for Student Category
Closed for Student Category

4
Nbr of Lec(s) Per Week
Nbr of Rec (s) Per
Week
Nbr of Session(s) Per
Week
Nbr of Tut(s) Per
Week

2
1

Duration
Duration

75min each
1 hour

no

Duration

no

no

Duration

no

Core course for Biology major students

For any student
Sophomore Students (Biology)
None

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The intellectual framework of this course will introduce students to basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics. Both genetic and
epigenetic inheritance patterns will be introduced with an emphasis how they influence our development. Different modules will
cover classical genetics based on Mendelian laws and gene interactions which explain deviations from Mendels laws. In addition,
microbial genetics, human genetics and epigenetics modules will explain how genetic tools may be used to understand inheritance
of traits in different organisms. How genetics has helped us understanding molecular and biochemical pathways of development is
an important subject of this course. Analysis of mutagenic traits at individual as well as population level will also be covered. The
course outline is divided into 9 modules including presentations by the students at the end of course.
COURSE PREREQUISITE(S)

None

COURSE OBJECTIVES

To introduce the basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics inheritance patterns and how they influence our

development.
How monogenic and multigenic traits are analyzed.
To understand how biological function can be explored using various genetic and epigenetic approaches.

Lahore University of Management Sciences

Learning Outcomes

At the end of course students must be able to understand:

Inheritance of monogenic and multigenic traits.
How different genetic pathways may interact and affect development, how genotypes- phenotypes are linked
How genetic analysis differs among microbes, fruit flies and human.
Research articles about cutting edge genetic and epigenetic areas of research

Grading Breakup and Policy

Assignment(s): 10%
Home Work:
Quiz(s): 5%
Class Participation:
Attendance:
Exam1: 20%
Exam2: 20%
Exam3: 20%
Presentations: 5%
Final Examination: 20%
Examination Detail

Midterm
Exam

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Combine
Duration: 3hours
Preferred Date:
Exam Specifications:

Final Exam

Yes/No: Yes
Combine Separate: Combine
Duration: 3 hours
Exam Specifications:

COURSE OVERVIEW
Lecture

1-5
(Dr. M. Tariq)

6-8
(Saima Anwar)

Topics
Classical genetics: Introduction to genetics
and epigenetic, Mendelian genetics,
chromosomal theory of inheritance, Patterns
of autosomal and sex chromosome
inheritance, test cross, back cross, allele,
homozygote , heterozygote dominant trait,
recessive trait, genotype and phenotype,
Genetic Linkage and Chromosome mapping,
Recombination Genotype to phenotype,
complementation, epistasis,
Exam 1
Human genetics: Mendelian pedigee patterns,
Autosomal and Sex linked patterns of
inheritance,cytoplasmic inheritance,
Markers(RFLPs, STRs, SNPs etc, Genetic
Mapping of Mendelian characters, Lod score
Analysis

Recommended
Readings

Chapter 2, 3 4 and 6: Introduction to

genetic Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter 3 and 6: An introduction to

Human Molecular Genetics by Jack J
Pasternak
Chapter 2: Introduction to genetic
Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Objectives/
Application
Basic concepts of genetics covering
how genes and chromosome were
discovered and how they are inherited
in next generations. How genotype
can be correlated to phenotype and
how genetic interactions can be
studied

How Mendelian traits can be traced

in humans and how they can be
mapped and studied in humans in
contrast to model orgamsims e.g. pea
plant and Drosophila melanogaster

Lahore University of Management Sciences

9-12
(Dr. M. Tariq)

Microbial Genetics: conjugation,

transformation, transduction and
bacteriophage genetics
Exam 2

13-16
(Saima Anwar)

Mutagens, mutations, DNA Repair:

Transposons, Types of mutations, molecular
basis of mutations, Mechanism of DNA
Repair

17-20
(Dr. M. Tariq)

Epigenetics: Chromatin structure and nuclear

organization, transcription machinery and
chromatin remodeling, euchromatin and
hetrochromatin, position effect variegation,
heritable gene silencing chromatin
modifications and epigenetic informations,
non coding RNAs, X chromosome
inactivation, dosage compensation, cellular
memory and imprinting
Exam 3

21-22
(Dr. M. Tariq)

Genomics and transgenics: Forward

genetics, reverse genetics , gene isolation and
manipulation

23-25
(Saima Anwar)

Population genetics: Hardy Weinberg

equilibrium, factors effecting genotypic and
allelic frequency, inbreeding/assortative
meting, mutation Recombination, Migration,
Selection and Genetic Drift

Chapter 5 : Introduction to Genetic

Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter13 and 14: Introduction to

Genetic Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter 10: Introduction to Genetic

Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter 11: Introduction to Genetic

Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter 19: Introduction to Genetic

Analysis by Griffiths et al.,

Chapter 20: Introduction to Genetic

Analysis by Griffiths et al.,
26-28
(Saima Anwar)

Quantitative genetics: Inheritance of

complex traits, causes of variation, continuous
verses discontinuous traits, genotype and
phenotype distribution, Heritability, selection,
QTL analysis

To introduce different type of

Mutagens which are the sole source
of pathogenic mutations and how
DNA repair mechanism works to
proof read these mutations
To familiarize the students with
fundamental concepts in the area of
epigenetics covering histone
modifications, cell memory and X
chromosome inactivation which are
important in normal development

Students will be introduced to

different approaches which can be
used to isolate and study gene at the
molecular level.
To get familiarize with Genetic
composition of a population and how
different factors are involved to
maintain the genetic composition of
particular population
What is the difference between
discontinuous traits which are under
control of genes and continuous
traits which are the results of
interaction of environment and genes.
How these traits can be studied and
how multiple genes which are
involved in their development can be
identified.

Exam 4

Textbook(s)/Supplementary Readings

I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

Introduction to Genetic Analysis by Griffiths, Wesler, Lewontin, Gelbart, Suzuki, Miller (eighth edition): Photocopies of
selected chapters
Chromatin and Gene Regulation: Molecular mechanisms in epigenetics by Brian M. Turner: Photocopies of selected
chapters.
Genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes (sixth edition) by Daniel L. Hartl and Elizabeth W. Jones: Photocopies of
selected chapters
Genetics by Monroe W. Strickberger (3rd edition). Photocopies of selected chapters
An introduction to Human Molecular Genetics. Jack J Pasternak 2nd Edition.(Selected chapters)