Genetics (BIOL-22700)
General Syllabus
Spring 2011
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Lecture
instructor (Williams 323, Tu/Th,
9:25-10:40) Lab Instructor T/Th (CNS 109,
1-3:50 pm) Lab Instructor W (CNS109, 1-3:50 pm) Lab Teaching Assistants |
Dr. Marina Caillaud Marcia McCord (Senior Biochemistry Major) Dr. Marina Caillaud Dr Esther Racoosin Elise Heick (Tuesday &
Wednesday labs) Kayla Jagoda (Thursday lab) |
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Offices: |
Marina: 165 CNS Esther: 172 CNS Marcia & Elise: usually somewhere in CNS Kayla: often in CNS 179 |
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Office hours: |
Marina: Tuesday 4-5:15 or by appointment (e-mail) Esther: noon-1pm on Wednesday |
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e-mails: |
eracoosin@ithaca.edu kjagoda1@ithaca.edu |
Click here for the Lecture syllabus
Click here for the Laboratory syllabus
COURSE DESCRIPTION
At the end of this course, students
should be
1.
Understand
the principles of genetics from the molecular level to the whole
organism as well as populations. This is essential for preparing them for
more advanced course work in cell and molecular biology
2.
Appreciate
recent advancements in genetic engineering, biotechnology and genomics as well
as their impact on the individual and society.
3.
Able
to solve a variety of genetic problems and think analytically.
4.
Able
to conduct basic experiments in genetics and molecular biology and interpret
the data obtained. Laboratory experimentation should also show how research
works
5.
Understand
the language of genetics and effectively communicate genetics principles in
both written and oral forms.
REQUIRED
TEXTBOOKS
* Genetics, a conceptual
approach by Pierce, B. (2009, 3d edition)(edited
by Freeman).The textbook has a website (http://bcs.whfreeman.com/pierce3e/).
The website for the textbook contains animated tutorials for most chapters to
review and synthesize the main topics of each chapter.
*MegaManual,
Solutions and problem-solving (2009, 3d edition)(edited
by Freeman). This book contains the solutions to all the exercises of your
textbook. It also comes with a CD-ROM (Interactive Genetics) that contains many
exercises that I will assign to you. Last, it contains internet-based
activities that help you explore international genetic databases.
*Clicker (PRS) device. We will start using them on Thursday 27th
of January. I will use them for non-graded in-class questions as well as for
taking attendance (I give you TWO unexcused absences).
COURSE WEBPAGE
Visit this website before every
lecture or lab. This is where I will post updates of the syllabus, links to
potentially interesting websites, digital movies to help you grasp genetic
concepts, solutions to the problem sets (see below), grades (with your codename
instead of your real name), etc... You will need a password to access most of
the material posted (given in class).
LECTURE PART
I believe that the ability to
solve new problems is a sign of the mastery of the material. For every topic
covered, I assigned specific problems of the textbook for practice. The answers
to these problems are in the MegaManual book. I
encourage you to keep up with your work, as solving genetics problems is not
learned in one night of study.
LABORATORY PART
It is important that you do not miss any
laboratories. You are encouraged to attend a different laboratory session of
the week if circumstances require it. However, wanting to come back to
town on Monday evening, or exams scheduled in other classes are NOT sufficient
reason to change lab sections. Be sure to make prior arrangements with
me.
ASSESSMENT
Every 10 days or so, on either a Tuesday
or a Thursday, AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS (9:25 exactly), you will have a 15-25
min. mini test. Count on
10-20 questions. Multiple choice, short answers, short problems.
Every 10 days or so, you will have a problem set due. This problem
set will be due the same day as a test, and is designed to prepare you for the
test. NO HELP will be provided by either instructors or the TA. You can work
with other students. However your written answers have to be your own.
You and you lab partner will write TWO laboratory reports to present
the experiments performed during labs 5-7 (lab report 1) and labs 8-12
(Lab report 2). Each will be 5-10 pp. long and will have to follow the standard
format of a Research Article from the primary literature. Details about
the expectations for these lab reports will be provided in early
February.
You and you lab partner will prepare a poster presentation on an
article extracted from the primary Research Literature (Heredity, Journal of
Human Genetics, etc…). You will present this poster at a Poster session during
the last two weeks of classes. Instructions for this assignment will be
provided after Spring Break.
We will end the semester with a comprehensive final exam, during
exam week, which will include any of the questions you already worked on in the
context of mini tests, problems sets, and lab exercises.
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Comprehensive Final Exam |
12% |
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Problem sets (9 at
2% each) |
18% |
assess learning objectives
3 |
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Lab Report 1 |
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Poster Presentation |
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STANDARDS OF ACADEMNIC
CONDUCT AND PLAGIARISM
These are outlined clearly in the student
handbook: “Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the mission of the
College”. Academic dishonesty can lead to a zero grade on that assignment, a
failing grade in the course, academic code probation, suspension or expulsion
from the College depending on the gravity of the violation and the decision of
the judicial board.
Please familiarize yourself with
Plagiarism. What is Plagiarism? If you take a sentence from someone else’s work and
only change one or a couple of words, it is still plagiarism even if you cite
the source. You must rewrite the information or ideas in
your own words. Plagiarism is a serious offense of academic misconduct:
check the student handbook and the library website for details, but it can lead
to judicial proceedings and even expulsion from the college. Each idea
has to be referenced (and in the sentence where the idea appears), you cannot
simply cite the reference once at the end of a paragraph containing many ideas
from the same source. In this course, there is potential for plagiarism
in the laboratory write-ups and the poster presentation.
COURSE EVALUATIONS
Student input is highly valued and is important to maintain
high quality instruction. Course evaluations are
mandatory and must be completed by the last day of class. An incomplete may appear on
your transcript if it is not submitted by that
time. The evaluation will be submitted to the Department
Assistant. She will verify that you have submitted the form. Once that
has been checked, your identification will be removed and will not be printed
with the comments. Further instructions will be given at the end of the
semester.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING
Diminished mental health, including
significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating
and/or sleeping can interfere with optimal academic performance. The source of
symptoms might be strictly related to your course work; if so, please speak
with me. However, problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a
personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic
performance.
Ithaca College provides a Counseling
Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center
provides cost-free services to help you manage personal challenges that
threaten your well-being.
In the event I suspect you need additional
support, I will express my concerns and the reasons for them, and remind you of
resources (e.g., Counseling Center, Health Center, chaplains, etc.) that might
be helpful to you. It is not my intention to know the details of what
might be bothering you, but simply to let you know I am concerned and that
help, if needed, is available.
Getting help is a smart and courageous
thing to do -- for yourself and for your loved ones.
Page maintained and updated by Marina Caillaud
Last updated January 15, 2011