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GENETICS
BIOL 3413.01
Time: TR 9:25-10:40
Room: SCNE 2.106
SPRING 2016
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Text:
Dr. S. J. Gunn
SCIE 1.360
665-3540
[email protected]
MW 9:00-10:00 am, TR 10:45-11:45 am, or by appointment
An Introduction to Genetic Analysis. 2015 A.F.J. Griffiths, S.R. Wessler, S. B. Carroll and J.
Doebley. 11th Edition. W.H. Freeman and Company. The textbook is be available new. Used
copies of the 10th Edition will still be fully serviceable for the course.
Grading: There will be four lecture exams given, each of which covers the materials from lecture,
handouts, problem sets, and assigned readings. Each exam will be worth 100 points. There
will be no exemptions from any exams and no exams will be given early. An additional 100
points will be available in the form of graded problem sets and announced or unannounced
quizzes. There will be a total of 500 points in the lecture portion of the course. The lecture
grade will make up 75% of the final course grade, with the other 25% coming from the
laboratory grade. Final grades will be determined on a standard scale (90, 80, 70, 60) with no
curve
All lecture make up exams will be given during dead days at the end of the semester. The
make up will be a generalized, comprehensive make up exam. This will be the only time for
make up exams. Late home work will be accepted with a substantial penalty. 25% of the
assignment's value is lost for each day late. After 4 days a zero will be recorded.
Class:
Tardiness will not be tolerated. Be on time!!! There will be no eating, drinking, or smoking
during lecture. Questions during lecture are encouraged, however social conversations will not
be tolerated. Please turn off or silence all cell phones and beepers during class.
Biology Student Learning Outcomes (core curriculum course):


Principles of Heredity: Students will be able to
o explain Mendel’s principles of inheritance and apply these to problems of inheritance
o describe the different forms of inheritance patterns and identify these in genetic data
o use and interpret probabilities and statistics in the gathering, predicting, and analysis of
genetic data
o describe various types of genetic crosses and indicate when/why they would be used by
a geneticist
o explain more complex modes of inheritance and how sex influences the inheritance and
expression of genes (e.g. sex-influenced traits, cytoplasmic inheritance, genomic
imprinting)
o use this information in predicting genetic outcomes and the analysis of genetic data
Cell and Organism Reproduction: Students will be able to
o describe cellular and chromosomal events that occur during the eukaryotic cell cycle and
gamete formation
o describe chromosome behavior and changes in chromosome structure and number as a
cell progresses through a cell cycle, meiosis I and meiosis II
o explain how meiosis and random fertilization contribute to genetic variation in sexually
reproducing organisms

Pedigrees: Students will be able to apply principles of heredity in assessment of pedigrees to
identify genotypes of family members, conclude the mode of inheritance for a trait, and predict
mating outcomes.

Eukaryotic Gene Mapping: Students will be able to
o compare the effect of linkage and independent assortment on genetic outcomes and
assess data to determine if genes are linked or on separate chromosomes
o explain how crossing over produces recombination and use recombination frequencies
to construct a genetic map
o use genetic maps to predict gametic and mating outcomes
o describe some of the methods that can be used to place a gene on a particular
chromosome (e.g. FISH)

Chromosome Variation and Structure: Students will be able to
o describe and recognize a variety of abnormalities in chromosome structure and number
and explain how these anomalies arise and are detected
o explain the molecular structure of chromosomes as it relates to storage, gene expression,
and sequence function

Nucleic Acid Structure: Students will be able to
o describe early studies that led to DNA as the genetic material and/or interpret results
from these studies
o describe the molecular structure of DNA and RNA and indicate similarities and
differences

DNA Replication: Students will be able to
o describe the historic experiment that demonstrated DNA replication follows a semiconservative model
o describe the process of DNA replication in prokaryotes at the biochemical level
o explain how proofreading and repair is accomplished during DNA synthesis
o describe how DNA is replicated in viruses, plasmids, and eukaryotes and identify
similarities and differences between these and replication in prokaryotes

Gene Expression: Students will be able to
o describe at the biochemical level the events that occur to go from gene to phenotype
o identify different types of RNA, note their properties, how they are processed to yield a
functional form, and their function in gene expression
o recognize the importance of regulating gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes
and describe the levels at which gene expression is controlled and the mechanisms used
by prokaryotes and eukaryotes

Mutations: Students will be able to define and identify the various types of mutations that occur
at the DNA and protein levels and explain and recognize the relationship between mutations
and
new alleles.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Genetics 3413.01
DATE
Jan.
Feb.
March
April
TOPIC
19
21
26
28
2
4
9
11
16
18
23
25
1
3
8
10
22
24
29
31
5
7
12
Introduction
Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian Genetics
Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis and Meiosis
EXAM I
Sex Determination
Sex Linkage
General Linkage and Crossing Over
Gene Mapping
Variation in Chromosome Number
Variation in Chromosome Structure
Chromosome Replication/Fine Structure
EXAM II
Nucleic Acid Structure and Replication
SPRING BREAK (March 14-18)
Fine Structure - Biochemical Genetics
Bacterial Genetics
Genetic Engineering
Gene Expression
Molecular Aspects of the Gene
Mutation
EXAM III
CHAPTER
1
2
3
6
2
2
2
2
4
4
17
17
7
7
8
5
9
10
10
16
(April 13 is the Drop Date)
May
14
19
21
26
3
5
12 (Th)
Repair Systems
Transposable Elements
Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
Extra-chromosomal Inheritance
Dead Days
FINAL EXAM IV 8:00 – 9:45
16
15
11
12
13
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which
affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please
inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to
initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility
Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville
Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by
phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at [email protected]. Edinburg Campus:
Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at
(956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at [email protected].
MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD:
Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your
UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further
instructions. Online evaluations will be available Nov. 18 – Dec. 9, 2015. Students who complete
their evaluations will have priority access to their grades.
ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for
excessive absences. UTRGV’s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are
participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of
religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the
excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations.
SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY:
As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded
that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the
possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes
but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or
materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for
another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit
such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the
University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and
Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be
reported to the Dean of Students.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, and VIOLENCE:
In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “responsible employee” for reporting
purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student’s
time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment
about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal
disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential
resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning,
working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an
environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination.
COURSE DROPS:
According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR until
the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no
longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the “3-peat rule”
and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success.
The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more
than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher
education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to
additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time.