Lectures
Tu-Th 1:10-2:25 p.m. in CNS 112.
Genetics is the
study of inherited variation and
traits. Although genetics is often associated with disease, our genes
provide a
great variety of characteristics that create much of our individuality,
from
our hair and eye color, to the shapes of our body parts, to our talents
and personality
traits. In February of 2001, the sequence of the human genome was
completed. It
will take much of the 21st century to understand our genetic
selves.
The potential impact of this new understanding is immense and raises
many
issues. Genetics affects our lives so intimately! Genetic tests can
establish
identity and diagnose disease. Do we want to know how and when we are
likely to
die or the predicted life expectancy of the baby we carry? Principles
of
genetics also touch history, politics and economics. For instance,
genetic
manipulations can provide new agricultural variants. Are these
genetically
modified plants safe to eat? Are they safe for the environment?
As young
adults, citizens and voters, or simply parents, you will have to face
during your
lifetime many of these issues. The objective of this course is to
provide you
with a basic understanding of genetics, and especially human genetics,
so that
you can:
-share the extraordinarily
contagious enthusiasm of geneticists as they explore the underpinnings
of life
and disease
-understand the new
biotechnology that are currently used or that will be available in the
near
future
-evaluate the policies
proposed/implemented by the government of the country where you reside.
Required books
-The cartoon guide to genetics,
by Larry Gonick and Mark Wheelis (isbn 0-06-460416-0)
-DNA, the secret of life,
by James Watson (isbn 0-375-71007-8)
-Genome, by Matt Ridley
(isbn 0-06-093290-2)
Syllabus (click here,
updated 11/25/06)
Course Webpage
Visit
the website for this course EVERY WEEK. This is where
I will post updates of the syllabus,
review sheets for exams, links to potentially interesting websites,
digital
movies to help you grasp genetic concepts (etc… ) AND grades (with your
codename instead of your real name).
Lecture
Notes
I will post the Powerpoint
presentations presented in lecture on the course website. Note that
these lectures notes are not complete, and
are not intended to serve as a substitute to coming to class! I
encourage you
to print them before class, using for instances the many computer
classrooms
available to you on campus. This will greatly facilitate taking notes
for this
class.
Grading
Exams
-Exam 1
25%
-Exam 2
25%
Topics in Human Biology
Assignment
-Oral
presentation/Poster 15%
-Paper
1st draft
15%
2d draft
10%
Miscellaneous
Activities in class / write
ups 10%
Exams (50%)
There
will be two exams (Exam 1, Exam 2). Exam 1 will be in
CNS 112 on Tuesday October 17, during class time. Exam
2 will be in CNS
112 on Thursday November 30, during class time. The
content of these exams will be a mixture of multiple choice questions
and
fill-in the blank questions (see here 2003
Exam 1, 2003
Exam 2).
Ten days before each exam, I will hand in a
review
sheet
that contains between100% of the questions present in the
exams.
This
technique is good for you (i.e. if you take the time to prepare for the
exam,
you will do well), and good for me (i.e. it is my way of increasing
your motivation
for looking closely at some key concepts in genetics)
Topics
in human Biology Assignment (40%)
Details on
assignment HERE
I
will provide you with a list of topics in Human biology (example: human
cloning, genetically modified corn, human races, stem cell therapy,
inherited breast cancer, genetics of schizophrenia, gene therapy for
Alzheimer, etc..). You will form pairs. Each group will choose one
topic and perform a
search on the web as well as on databases available at the library to
obtain more information on the subject. The results of your research
will be presented in two ways. First, you will have 10-15
min. to present, during the last two weeks of classes, the results of
your
research using Powerpoint slides. Alternatively, you can present a poster that
will be shown in the poster session of the last day of classes. Second, you
will prepare a 10 pp. paper for the instructor . You will be invited
to produce a 1st draft that will be graded and returned to you so that
you can incorporate comments and improve the document. Instructions for this assignment
will be posted during the semester .
Miscellaneous (10%)
There will be several in-class
activities that will be graded (you get full credit if you did them and
no credit if you were not in class). For instance, we will solve
genetics problems together (answer will be given in class). I am not
checking attendance but I used those in-class exercises to favor
students who come regularly to class.
Weekly
homework
Your
typical homework for this class each week will be: 1-5 readings (s). I
recommend strongly that you come regularly to class and actually LISTEN/THINK
while you are in class. If you make the most of your time spent in the
classroom instead of just being present, you are likely to assimilate a
lot of
information in class ; this reduces the amount of time you have to
spend preparing
for class exams OUTSIDE the classroom.
Attendance
policy
Students
at Ithaca College are expected to attend all
classes, and they are responsible for work missed during any absence
from
class. Students should notify their instructors as soon as possible of
any
anticipated absences, especially for examinations. Written
documentation that
indicates the reason for being absent may be required.
In accordance with New York State law, students who miss class
due to their religious beliefs shall be excused from class or
examinations on
that day. Such students must notify their course instructors before any
anticipated absence so that proper arrangements may be made to make up
any
missed work or examination without penalty.
Any student who misses class due to a
verifiable
family or individual health emergency or to a required appearance in a
court of
law shall be excused. The student or a family member/legal guardian may
report
the absence to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life, which
will notify
the student's dean's office, as well as residential life if the student
lives
on campus. The dean's office will disseminate the information to the
appropriate faculty. Follow-up by the student with his or her
professors is
imperative. Students may need to consider
a leave of absence, medical leave of absence, selected course
withdrawals,
etc., if they have missed a significant portion of classwork.
A student may be excused for participation in
College-authorized cocurricular and extracurricular activities such as
athletic
events, musical and theatrical performances, and professional
conferences.
Policy on Plagiarism in
Collaborative Projects
In
a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held
responsible for
academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of
plagiarism by
others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate
in a
collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held
accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.
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Caillaud's
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Page maintained and updated by Marina
Caillaud
Last updated November 30, 2006