I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Genetics

2. Course Prefix & Number:
BIOL 2420

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 4

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 2

4. Course Description:

This laboratory science course provides an introduction to the study of genetics. Topics covered include: classical genetics - Mendelian principles underlying inheritance; population genetics – natural and artificial (trait) selection; and modern molecular genetics – with applications to medical genetics, agriculture, and society. The laboratory component requires careful manipulation, observations, recording of data, and analyses of results. MnTC Goal 3

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Bemidji State University, BIOL 2360 Genetics (4 credits)
Minnesota State University, Moorhead, BIOL 341 Genetics (4 credits)
Rochester Community and Technical College, BIOL 2300 Genetics (4 credits)

III. Course Purpose

1. Program-Applicable Courses – This course is required for the following program(s):

Biology Transfer Pathway A.S. Degree

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 3 – Natural Sciences

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Create formal laboratory reports demonstrating comprehension and writing skills.
Analyze and follow a sequence of operations	Follow the traits from parents-to-offspring, requiring strict adherence to laboratory protocol and analysis of outcomes.
Utilize appropriate technology	Demonstrate synthesis and application of (molecular) genetics using equipment.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Explain and apply fundamental concepts related to the storage, transfer, and expression of genetic information at the cellular level;
• Explain and apply fundamental concepts related to the storage, transfer, and expression of genetic information at the organismal level;
• Explain and apply fundamental concepts related to the storage, transfer, and expression of genetic information at the population level;
• Compare and contrast genetic processes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells;
• Analyze how mutation at the molecular level drives evolutionary change (MnTC Goal 3);
• Distinguish the mechanisms by which cells and organisms regulate gene expression in response to environmental and physiological changes;
• Use critical thinking skills to understand, evaluate, and analyze processes of inheritance;
• Demonstrate ability to apply relevant statistical tests to genetic data;
• Formulate a hypothesis, and conduct and analyze an experiment with a model organism (MnTC Goal 3);
• Organize, draft, edit, and revise formal scientific writing (MnTC Goal 3);
• Read, interpret, incorporate, and cite information and ideas from primary literature into writing; and
• Utilize and understand the application of a genetic technology (MnTC Goal 3).

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Introduction
   • Chromosomes, genes, and inheritance
   • Organisms, populations
2. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
   • Structure
   • Replication
   • Mutations
3. Cell Cycle and Cell Division
   • Mitosis
   • Meiosis
4. Protein Synthesis
   • Transcription
   • Translation
   • Mutations
5. Mendelian principles
   • Laws of Segregation, Independent Assortment, and Dominance
   • Monohybrid cross
   • Dihybrid cross
   • Punnett squares and pedigrees
6. Non-Mendelian patterns
   • Lethal genotypes
   • Allelic Heterogeneity
   • Incomplete dominance
   • Epistasis
   • Penetrance
   • Expressivity
   • Pleiotropy
   • Phenocopies
   • Genetic Heterogeneity
   • Genome Organization in viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes.
     • DNA and RNA viruses
     • Chromosomal DNA and Plasmid DNA
     • Chromosomal DNA and mitochondrial DNA
     • Population and Evolutionary Genetics
     • Allelic variation and genetic drift
     • Hardy-Weinberg principle
7. Gene mapping
   • Loci
   • Linkage
8. Medical Genetics
   • Risk factors/diagnostics
   • Treatment (gene therapies)
9. Current Issues
   • Editing DNA in embryos
   • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

2. Laboratory/Studio Sessions

1. DNA Structure and Function
2. Cell Cycle
3. Patterns of Inheritance
   • Autosomal recessive
   • Autosomal dominant
   • Co-dominant
   • Incomplete dominant
   • Sex-linked
4. Polygenic Inheritance
   • Linkage and crossing over
5.  Open – ended experiments using Drosophila (fruit flies) or Wisconsin Fast Plants
6. Bacterial cultures/aseptic technique
7. Bacterial mutagenesis
8. Gel electrophoresis
   • Restriction enzymes
   • Recombination in phage
9. Transformation of Escherichia coli
10. DNA amplification/polymerase chain reaction
11. Population genetics
    • The Hardy-Weinberg principle
    • The effects of selection and genetic drift