Joseph P. Ardizzi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
GENETICS 50.332
SYLLABUS AND
RELATED INFORMATION
Below you will find the basic course syllabus with links to assignments, the course content outline, and the laboratory schedule.
TEXTS:
Hartwell, L. H., L. Hood, M. L. Goldberg, A. E. Reynolds, L. M. Silver, and R. C. Veres. 2008. Genetics: From Genes to Genome, Third Edition. McGraw Hill Publishers, Boston.
Ardizzi, J. P. Laboratory Manual for Genetics (50.332)--Summer 2007.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course addresses the following topics: the mechanisms of heredity in animals, plants, and microorganisms, Mendelian inheritance, linkage, probability, crossing over, chromosomal modifications, nucleic acids, the principles of molecular genetics and genetic engineering, gene action, and the roles of genes in development and in populations. The course requires three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. The laboratory hours will vary. (Prerequisite: Cell Biology 50.271)
COURSE GOALS:
METHODS:
This course is presented in a series of the following elements:
EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
The lecture portion of the course is evaluated through the following elements:
The laboratory portion of the course is evaluated through a series of laboratory reports.
PARTICULARS:
Exam Schedule for Spring 2008
| Examination 1 | February 6 |
| Examination 2 | March 5 |
| Examination 3 | April 9 |
| Final Examination | May 6, 8AM |
Note: If weather or other problems cause the university to close or to go to a compressed class schedule, the examinations will take place in the next regular full class period. The regular class period is from 12:00 to 12:50 AM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The compressed period begins at 1:20 PM and ends at 2:00 PM. The regular laboratory begins at 2:00 PM on Wednesday and Friday. The compressed period begins at 3:00 PM.
Course Requirements
| 3 fifty-minute examination1 | 36% of the total points accumulated |
| quizzes and assignments2 | 16.5% of the total points accumulated |
| laboratory reports3 | 25% of the total points accumulated |
| participation | 2.5% of the total points accumulated |
| 1 two-hour final examination | 20% of the total points accumulated |
1
Each of the fifty-minute examination scores will be counted toward the final
grade (12% each). A make-up examination will be available if a fifty-minute
examination is missed and a valid, verifiable excuse is provided
before the time of the examination; otherwise, a grade of 0 will be recorded
for the missed examination. For athletes, participation in
college-sponsored co-curricular activities is considered a valid excuse provided
that the instructor is notified when the activity is announced, not at a
later date. Make-up examinations may consist of problems,
essays, or a mixture of both as determined by the instructor. The final
examination must be taken. Failure to meet any of these conditions will result
in a failing grade for the course. Students needing assistance from
Accommodative Services must notify the instructor during the first week of
class.
2 During the semester, you will receive unannounced quizzes testing you on the material most recently covered in class. In addition, you will receive homework assignments. These assignments may be group or individual assignments as indicated. Some assignments will require problem solving; others will require scientific writing and research in the current literature for genetics. For standards, please see Pechenik, Jan A. 2007. A Short Guide to Writing about Biology, Sixfth Edition. Pearson Longman, New York. The specific requirements and deadlines for these assignments will be presented when the assignments are given. Late penalties will apply.
3 The number of reports and their relative values will be described in the laboratory. Extra-credit reports may be submitted only if all required reports have been submitted. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. In extreme circumstances and with approval prior to the time of the laboratory, you may be excused with an alternate assignment to be determined by the instructor. Given the nature of the exercises, make-up laboratories are not possible. No assignment will be accepted from a laboratory you did not attend. These policies follow university guidelines found in PRP 3506—Class Attendance.
Note: Proper behavior is expected in the classroom and in the laboratory. Failure to conform to university standards or laboratory rules will result in a penalty applied against the final grade. The point penalty will be determined by the instructor. A warning will be given in the first instance; penalties will be applied for each succeeding instance.
The penalty for late assignments and reports is 5 points for each day!
If assistance is needed from Accommodative Services, the instructor must be notified by the end of the first week of classes.
Grading Scale
| A = 1741 to 2000 points | B- = 1401 to 1470 points | D+ = 1051 to 1140 points |
| A- = 1661 to 1740 points | C+ = 1311 to 1400 points | D = 881 to 1050 points |
| B+ = 1571 to 1660 points | C = 1211 to 1310 points | E = 0 to 880 points |
| B = 1471 to 1570 points | C- = 1141 to 1210 points |
The Genetics Laboratory
Review problems will be assigned during the semester and may be discussed during some of the laboratory periods. The nature of the laboratory requires flexibility in scheduling. As stated in the course catalog, the laboratory hours will vary. The laboratory may run beyond the regular time. You are required to remain until the laboratory is completed unless excused by the instructor. Most microbiological experiments will be examined the next day; Thursday for Wednesday laboratory and Saturday for Friday laboratory. Keep these requirements in mind when planning work schedules and scheduling other courses.
A selection will be made from the following Laboratory Exercises:
| Exercise 1 | Identification and Mapping of Unknown Mutations in Drosophila melanogaster |
| Exercise 2 | Inheritance of Leaf Phenotype in Brassica rapa--Nuclear and Extra chromosomal Inheritance |
| Exercise 3 | Tetrad Analysis in the Fungus Sordaria fimicola--Gene-Gene and Gene-Centromere Linkage |
| Exercise 4 | Ultra-violet Mutagenesis in the Bacterium Escherichia coli |
| Exercise 5 | Conjugation and Gene Transfer in Escherichia coli |
| Exercise 6 | Genetic Complementation of T4 Virus Mutations in Escherichia coli |
| Exercise 7 | Regulation of the Lactose Operon in Escherichia coli |
| Exercise 8 | Transformation of E. coli with Drug-Resistance Plasmids |
| Exercise 9 | Hybrid Analysis in Maize; Linkage Analysis in Maize |
| Exercise 10 | Quantitative Genetics and Inheritance |
The genetics laboratory will count for 25% of your total possible points. Each laboratory exercise will be worth a specific number of points. These points will be assigned as each laboratory report is due. The Drosophila experiment will be worth 40 of the 100 points earned for the laboratory. One or more of the exercises may be designated bonus exercises as time allows. Only those students who have completed the required exercises will be eligible for the bonus points. Each bonus exercise will make you eligible for up to 5 to 10 points toward your laboratory score depending on your performance.
Reports and assignments are to be the result of individual efforts unless an exception is explicitly granted by the instructor. Unapproved collaboration in writing reports and assignments is considered cheating and appropriate penalties will be applied. The use of texts and other sources in preparing reports and assignments is acceptable provided the sources are cited appropriately. Failure to cite sources is plagiarism and appropriate penalties will be applied. If unsure about a possible violation, ask the instructor before submitting a report or an assignment. For further information, see PRP 3512—Academic Integrity Policy.
OTHER INFORMATION:
SURVIVAL TIPS:
Lecture
Read the textbook and use it along with your lecture notes, reviewing the material covered in class prior to the next class.
Incorporate text material to fill out your class notes and rewrite the class notes in your lecture notebook.
For any material you find difficult, do the text's chapter problems. Keep up with the lecture material. If you do not understand a problem or its solution, see the instructor to find out how to work that type of problem.
Begin reviewing the material in your notebook and doing review problems well before an examination. Go over the old examination problems found in your laboratory manual.
Form a study group and meet regularly to reinforce a systematic approach to learning genetics.
Expect to spend about 9 hours a week outside of lecture and laboratory working on genetics. (A good rule of thumb for any course is to multiply the credits by 3.)
Laboratory
Read over the laboratory exercises before coming to lab.
Attend the laboratory and ask questions right then and there if you do not understand.
Pick trustworthy people as laboratory partners and check up on them during the exercises.
Keep a notebook with a detailed record of what you are doing at each step.
Analyze the data as they become available and then think ahead to the next step. Keep the laboratory schedule and get ahead; timing is very important.
Be certain that you understand what you are doing at each step in the exercises. Do not be afraid to ask for help.
Site last updated 7 January 2008