BIOL2030 Principles of Genetics T,H 2:00-3:20 ASB 220

Instructor:
Dr. Nitin Phadnis, Biol 212, (801) 585-0493, nitin.phadnis@utah.edu

I do not have scheduled office hours, but am happy to meet with students individually. You may
contact me to set up an appointment. It is also usually possible to talk to me by dropping by my
office or lab (212 Biol). However, Tues. and Thurs. mornings before lectures are usually bad
times.

Lecture: Tues. and Thurs. 2:00-3:20, ASB 220

Teaching assistants:
Truc Vuong truc.vuong@utah.edu
Robert Gabbitas r.w.gabbitas@utah.edu
Brayden Jensen braydenjj@gmail.com
Elaine Ong elaine.ong@iechs.org
Kevin Nguyen kevin.k.nguyen@hotmail.com
Hannah Van Hollebeke hannahvanz@gmail.com
Tyler Gilvarry tylergilvarry@gmail.com

Discussion Sections:
Discussion sections will be staffed starting on Wednesday, Aug. 23.

T 8:35 LS107
T 9:40 LS107
T 10:45 LS107
T 11:50 LS107
W 8:35 LS111
W 9:40 LS111
W 10:45 LS111
W 11:50 ASB304

You may attend any or all of the Discussion Sections. These are conducted by the TAs, with
discussion instigated by questions from students. TAs will answer questions concerning concepts
from the lectures and the text, they will aid the students in solving the assigned problems and will
help students prepare for exams. It is strongly recommended that you attempt to solve the
problems before going to Discussions. You will not learn to think like a geneticist simply by
hearing the answers. It is imperative that you learn to solve the problems on your own!
st
The TAs will also run Office Hours in the Biology Learning Center, Room 103 (1 floor Atrium of
Biology Building). Schedules will be available Aug 24.

Textbook:
Klug & Cummings & Spencer & Pa: Concepts of Genetics Plus MasteringGenetics with eText --
Access Card Package 11/e

ISBN Package

Klug's Concepts of Genetics Modified MasteringGenetics with Pearson eText

9780134112688
Access Card, 11/E (loose-leaf version)

Klug's Concepts of Genetics Modified MasteringGenetics with Pearson eText

9780134063997
Access Card, 11/E (Hardback version)
Online Purchase w/etext $95.95
Online purchase without etext $62.95

Assignments:
Assignments have points and require you to have an access code to log in to the Mastering
Genetics system at www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com. The access code can be included in
a package available for purchase at the bookstore or can be bought online during the registration
process. Sign up through canvas. Make sure you provide your U ID in the system so that you can
get your assignment points.

Assignments are provided for every lecture, and are due at 2:00 PM on the day of the following
lecture. You will get two attempts to answer the questions. No credit will be provided for
assignments submitted after the due date and time.

The emphasis in this class is on the application of knowledge to solving problems — not rote
memorization. Working all the problems is the key to success. Give each problem a serious effort
before checking the answer.

Handouts and supplemental material:

To conserve paper, very little material will be handed out in class. However, supplemental
materials will be available on the course page on Canvas.

Administrative Assistant:
Terry Merritt, Biology Main office. If you miss a returned exam, Terry will have them (including
final exams).

Exams and Grading:

The exam questions are designed to test your overall comprehension and ability to integrate
concepts. There will be seven in-class exams during the semester and a final exam. Calculators
will not be needed, or allowed. Electronic devices, such as ipods or cell phones may NOT be
used during the exams. No books or notes may be used during the exams. You must show your
work and/or explain your reasoning to receive full credit for the correct answers.

If you would like to have an exam re-graded, it has to be done in pen. In certain instances, the
instructor may personally re-grade the entire exam. Because grading by TAs is done generously,
it is possible that you may earn points on a question but lose points in other places resulting in a
lower exam total on re-grading by the instructor.

If you miss an exam for any reason, that exam will be given a score of zero. No make-up exams
will be given. However, you are allowed to drop your two lowest mid-term scores, without
penalty. No explanation or excuse is required. This drop policy is liberal to allow for occasional
crises that may occur.

Each of the in-class mid-term exams will be worth 100 points. The final exam will be worth 200
points. Your cumulative points for all assignments across the whole course will be added up and
normalized to 100 points (worth one mid-term exam). Your final grade will be computed based on
an 800 point total. Your two lowest mid-term exam scores, or one midterm exam and assignment
score, or your final exam score will be dropped when computing your final grade. The choice of
which score(s) to drop will be based on which is most beneficial to you. If you are satisfied with
the grade you achieve based on the seven mid-terms, you do not need to take the final
exam. If for any reason you do not take the final, you will receive a score of zero for the final. In
that case the final exam score will be dropped instead of two mid-terms. Your grade will still be
based on an 800 point total. You cannot drop mid-term scores and the final. If you miss a mid-
term exam you should plan to take the final. Please note that your grade cannot go down by
taking the final — it can only improve or remain the same.

The number of points you must earn to achieve a particular grade is shown below:
A: 736 = 92%
A-: 704 = 88%
B+: 672 = 84%
B: 640 = 80%
B-: 608 = 76%
C+: 576 = 72%
C: 528 = 66%
C-: 480 = 60%
D: 400 = 50%
E: ≤ 399

Please note — it is University policy that a grade of Incomplete will not be given for reasons of
poor performance or underachievement.

Please keep in mind that the first in-class exam is usually the easiest. They tend to get harder as
the class continues.
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The final exam is scheduled for December 15 , 1:00-3:00 in ASB 220.

Absences:
Attendance at all lectures is strongly recommended. Concepts that are not covered in the book
may be presented in the lectures and will be included in the exams.

Important Dates:
Last day to drop classes: Sep. 1
Last day to register, elect CR/NC or audit: Sep. 1
Last day to withdraw: Oct 20
Classes end: Dec 7

Equal Access Provisions:

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for
people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice
needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020
(V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations.
All written information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior
notification to the Center for Disability Services.

Accommodations Policy:
The instructor does not grant content accommodation requests because the course content fulfills
legitimate pedagogical goals.

Lecture Schedule:
The lecture schedule provided below is tentative and will be revised periodically. Because the
emphasis will be on covering material in more depth, it is likely that the schedule will be pushed
forward or substantially revised.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Broad objectives:

1) Evolution - Students will be able to apply the principles of natural selection and mechanisms of
genetic change, including trait variation and heritability, to explain the observed diversity of life
that has arisen over long-term as well as recent evolutionary time frames.

2) Transmission, flow and interpretation of biological information – Students will be able to apply a
knowledge of genetics, gene expression, growth and development, signal perception and
transduction, and physiological regulation to explain how information is stored, transmitted and
utilized in biological contexts.

3) Structure and function - Students will be able to apply knowledge of molecular, cellular, and
organismal structures to explain the diverse set of functions – ranging from the subcellular to
behavioral to ecological – that underlie the remarkable diversity of individual organisms as well as
communities of organisms.

4) Systems - Students will be able to explain how biological units interact to give rise to emergent
properties at multiple levels of biological organization. These interactions range from the cycling
of matter and energy at the subcellular to organismal to biogeochemical scales to the interaction
and interdependency of organisms, including humans, with their environment.

5) Ability to apply the process of science – Students will be able to apply the process of science
to identify knowledge gaps, formulate hypotheses, and test them against experimental and
observational data to advance an understanding of the natural world.

6) Ability to explain the relationship between science and society– Students will be able to
evaluate the interactions between biology and society, including the societal impacts of biological
research as well as public perception and decision-making about science, and clearly
communicate biological concepts and their implications to broad audiences.
BIOL 2030, Fall 2016, Lecture Schedule. T and Th, 2:00-3:20PM, ASB220

Aug 22 Introduction Ch 1, Ch 10
24 DNA Ch 10

29 Properties of DNA Ch 11
31 Exam 1

Sep 5 The Genetic Code Ch 13

7 Organizing DNA in cells Ch 12

12 Mutations Ch 15
14 Exam 2

19 Mitosis and Meiosis Ch 2

21 Mendelian Genetics I Ch 3

26 Mendelian Genetics II Ch 4
28 Exam 3

Oct 3 Linkage and mapping I Ch 5

5 Linkage and mapping II Ch 5

17 Bacterial genetics Ch 6
19 Exam 4

24 Sex chromosomes Ch 7
26 Chromosomal mutations Ch 8

31 Extranuclear inheritance Ch 9
Nov 2 Exam 5

7 Recombinant DNA technology I Ch 20

9 Genomics Ch 21

14 Genetics is technology Ch 22
16 Exam 6

21 Quantitative Genetics Ch 23

28 Population Genetics Ch 25
30 Exam 7

Dec 5 Guest lecture

7 Guest lecture

15 Comprehensive Final Exam 1:00 PM, ASB 220