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Spring 2008
BISC 499 Special Topics (4 units)
“Advanced Genetics through the literature”
Instructors:
Steven Finkel, Ph.D.
Office: MCB 319
Office Hours: TBA
Office Phone: 213.821.1498
E-mail: [email protected]
Susan Forsburg Ph.D.
Office: MCB104
Office Hours: TBA
Office Phone: 213.740-7342
E-mail: [email protected]
Meeting times:
3:00PM - 6:00PM, Thursdays in Room MCB 421
Overview and Course Content:
This is a literature-based seminar course, designed to introduce graduate students and advanced undergraduates to
complex topics in genetics by close reading of primary literature. This course seeks to give students an in-depth
appreciation of genetics by reading and evaluating the classic research papers that revealed fundamental principles,
while at the same time honing their critical skills by discussing strengths and weaknesses in the approaches
described. The class will meet once a week with lectures by the instructor and student-lead discussions of assigned
papers. Quizzes will be given after each topic is completed. Students will write a final paper that reviews and
evaluates a current research paper in genetics.
The course will be taught as a literature seminar. Each student will be responsible for reading and presenting a
paper to the class. All students are expected to participate vigorously in discussion. This presentation will include
several components:
A description of the state of the field prior to the paper,
The question(s) addressed by the paper
Experimental methodology, data, and conclusions,
A critique: what are the strengths and weaknesses of the paper, what questions remain, and how would
they be addressed by contemporary scientists?
At the mid-point of the term, students are required to identify a modern paper published within the previous 6
months. Once their choice is approved by the instructor, they will write a three page critique similar to a detailed
peer review of the paper for their final grade. An interim draft outline may be required.
Prerequisites:
Biology/Biochemistry majors, or graduate students enrolled in biological sciences
Permission of instructor.
Familiarity with basic genetics and molecular biology is assumed.
Web Site: http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/biosci/courses/
Course materials and communication will be provided on Blackboard
Course Credit:
Presentation
Participation/Quizzes
Final Paper
40%
20%
40%
Course Policies:
Exam dates are firm. There are no makeup exams or quizzes in the course. Performance may be prorated to
substitute for a missing quiz, if an excuse considered valid by faculty is presented in a timely fashion. An
acceptable written excuse or documentation must be provided to the faculty. No special assignments for extra credit
are permitted.
Quizzes will be returned to students. The final paper will not be returned but will be retained for one semester by
the faculty.
Regrades: If you think an answer you have provided was graded incorrectly or if there is an arithmetic error, you
may seek a regrade. You must provide a written explanation of why you think your answer was graded incorrectly.
Regrade requests must be received within two weeks of when the quiz is returned.
Disability: Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability
Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from
DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to Dr. Finkel or Dr. Forsburg as early in the
semester as possible. DSP is open Mon-Fri, 8:30-5:00. The office is in Student Union 301 and their phone number is 7400776.
It may be necessary to make adjustments to the syllabus during the semester. Check the course web site or class
announcements for updates.
Any questions or concerns regarding these policies should be addressed to faculty.
Week 1:
1865. - Mendel, Gregor. Experiments in plant hybridization.
Mendelian
Verhandlungen des naturforschenden Vereines in Brünn, Bd. IV für das
genetics
Jahr 1865, Abhandlungen, 3-47.
Week 2
more Mendel
Week 3
One gene, one
enzyme
Week 4
Chromosome
theory of
inheritence
Week 5
sex
chromosomes
Week 6
Linkage
week 7
Linkage, 2
Week 8
Mutation
Week 9
recombination
1922. - Muller, H. J. Variation due to change in the individual gene.
The American Naturalist, 56:32-50.
1910. - Castle, W. E., and Little, C. C. On a modified Mendelian ratio
among yellow mice. Science, N.S., 32:868-870.
1902. - Garrod, Archibald E. The incidence of alkaptonuria: A study in
chemical individuality. Lancet, ii:1616-1620.
1941 - Beadle, GW, and tatum, EL. genetic control of biochemical
reactionsin neurospora PNAS 27:499
1902. - Sutton, Walter S. On the morphology of the chromosome group
in Brachystola magna. Biological Bulletin, 4:24-39.
1905. - Wilson, Edmund B. The chromosomes in relation to the
determination of sex in insects. Science, N.S. 22:500-502.
1905. - Stevens, Nettie M. Studies in Spermatogenesis with especial
reference to the "accessory chromosome". Carnegie Institution of
Washington, Publication No. 36., pp 1-33.
1910. - Morgan, Thomas H. Sex-limited inheritance in Drosophila.
Science, 32:120-122.
1913. - Sturtevant, Alfred H. The linear arrangement of six sex-linked
factors in Drosophila, as shown by their mode of association. Journal
of Experimental Biology, 14:43-59.
1914. - Bridges, Calvin B. Direct proof through non-disjunction that the
sex-linked genes of Drosophila are borne on the X-chromosome.
Science, NS vol. XL:107-109.
1943. - Luria, S. E., and Delbrück, M. Mutations of bacteria from virus
sensitivity to virus resistance. Genetics, 28:491-511
1927: Muller. Artificial transmutation of a gene. science 46:84
1931. - Creighton, Harriet B., and McClintock, Barbara. A correlation
of cytological and genetical crossing-over in Zea mays. PNAS, 17:492497.
Week 10
mobile genetic
elements
Week 11
DNA as
genetic
material
Week 12
Structure of
DNA
1946.- Lederberg, J. and E. L. Tatum. 1946. Gene recombination in
Escherichia coli. Nature. 58: 558.
1950.- McClintock, B . the origin and behaior of mutable lci in maize.
PNAS 36:344
1944.- Avery, Oswald T., Colin M. MacLeod, and Maclyn McCarty.
Studies on the Chemical Nature of the Substance Inducing
Transformation of Pneumococcal Types: Induction of Transformation
by a Desoxyribonucleic Acid Faction Isolated from Pneumococcus
Type III. reprint Journal of Experimental Medicine 149, (February
1979): 297-326.
1952. - HERSHEY AD, CHASE M.Independent functions of viral
protein and nucleic acid in growth of bacteriophage.J Gen Physiol. 1952
May;36(1):39-56.
1953. Watson & Crick . A structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid.
Nature 171:737-738
1958. Meselson & Stahl . The replication of DNA in Escherichia coli.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 44:671-682.
Week 13
Epistasis
1932.Wright, Sewall. Complementary Factors for Eye Color in
Drosophila The American Naturalist, LXVI:282-283
1961 Jacob & Monod Genetic regulatory mechansims in the synthesis
of proteins. J. Mol. Biol. 3:318-356.
Week 14
Nüsslein –Volhard, C and Wieschaus, E. (1980) Mutations affecting
Developmental segment number and polarity in Drosophila. nature 2897:795-901
pathways
Lewis, E.B. (1978) a gene complex controlling segmentation in
Drosophila. nature 276:565-570
Week 15
2001 Nakayama J, Rice JC, Strahl BD, Allis CD, Grewal SI. Role of
Epigenetics
histone H3 lysine 9 methylation in epigenetic control of
heterochromatin assembly. Science. Apr 6;292(5514):110-3.
2001 Bannister AJ, Zegerman P, Partridge JF, Miska EA, Thomas JO,
Allshire RC, Kouzarides T. Selective recognition of methylated lysine
9 on histone H3 by the HP1 chromo domain. Nature. Mar
1;410(6824):120-4.