Genetics  

GEN 705 - Population Genetics
Credits: 4.00
An exploration of the forces affecting the frequency and distribution of allelic variation in natural populations. The relative role of mutation, selection, random drift and inbreeding and structuring genetic variation. Quantification of the genetic structure of populations. Prereq: BIOL 604. (Also offered as ZOOL 705.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)

GEN 706 - Human Genetics
Credits: 3.00
The genetic basis of human traits and diseases. New understanding added by molecular genetic approaches. Human genome project, gene therapy. Discussion of genetic components of quantitative and behavioral traits in human evolution. (Not offered every year.) Prereq: BIOL 604 or ANSC 612. (Also offered as ANSC 706.)

GEN 711 - Genomics and Bioinformatics
Credits: 4.00
The methods, applications, and implications of genomics--the analysis of whole genomes. Microbial, plant and animal genomics are addressed, as well as medical, ethical and legal implications. The lab provides exposure and experience of a range of bioinformatics approaches--the computer applications used in genome analysis. Prereq: BIOL 604. (Also offered as BCHM 711 and MICR 711.) Lab.

GEN 715 - Molecular Evolution
Credits: 4.00
Rates and patterns of evolutionary change in biomolecules. Forces affecting the size and structure of genomes. Molecular mechanisms of organismal evolution. Emphasis on integrating evidence from biochemistry, molecular genetics and organismal studies. Methods for reconstructing phylogeny from molecular sequences. Prereq: BIOL 604. Some knowledge of statistics is recommended. (Also offered as ZOOL 715.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)

GEN 723 - Quantitative Genetics
Credits: 4.00
Analysis of continuous variation in populations simultaneously segregating at multiple loci. Genetic and nongenetic factors and the complex interactions between them. Models and methods of analysis, for both theoretical and practical applications. Prereq: BIOL 604; BIOL 528 strongly suggested. (Also offered ZOOL 723.) Special fee. Lab. (Not offered every year.)

GEN 753 - Cytogenetics
Credits: 4.00
Chromosome structure, function, and evolution. Eukaryotic genome organization. Theory of, and laboratory techniques for, cytogenetic analysis in plants and animals. Prereq: BIOL 604. Special fee. Lab. (Also offered as PBIO 753. Not offered every year.)

GEN 754 - Laboratory in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids
Credits: 5.00
Application of modern techniques to the analysis of biomolecules, with an emphasis on nucleic acids; includes DNA isolation and analysis, cloning, sequencing, and analysis of gene products. No credit if credit has been received for MICRO 704. Prereq: BCHM 658/659; 751, or permission. (Also offered as BCHM754 and PBIO 754.) Special fee. Not offered every year. Writing intensive.

GEN 766 - Environmental Genomics
Credits: 4.00
The field of environmental genomics uses existing and developing high throughput genomic-scale technologies to investigate ecological and evolutionary theory, and so provides a more complete understanding of how organisms respond to level. Course covers an array of systems involved in this emerging field, with the central aim of understanding the effects of environmental change on genome structure, gene expression, and adaptive evolutionary change. Information is dervived from the primary literature in the field and covers practical and technical concepts as well as the underlying theoretical basis for the major research themes. Prereq: BIOL 604. (Also offered as BCHM 766.)

GEN 771 - Molecular Genetics
Credits: 4.00
Structure, organization, replication, dynamics, and expression of genetic information in eukaryotes. Focus on molecular genetic mechanisms of gene expression and its control; molecular genetics methods; molecular genetic control of cell division and differentiation during development. Prereq: BCHM 658 or 751; BIOL 604;/ or permission. (Also offered as BCHM 771.)

GEN 772 - Evolutionary Genetics of Plants
Credits: 4.00
Mechanisms of genetic change in plant evolution, domestication, breeding, and genetic engineering. Topics include Darwinian theory; speciation and hybridization; origins and co-evolution of nuclear and organelle genomes; gene and genome evolution; transposable elements, chromosome rearrangements, polypliody. Lab: DNA techniques, sequence analysis programs, phylgenetic trees. Special fee. Prereq: BIOL 604 or equivalent; PBIO 412 or BIOL 411/412 or equivalent. (Also offered as PBIO 772.)

GEN 774 - Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering
Credits: 3.00
Plant transformation and regeneration, gene isolation and identification, structure and regulation of plant genes, current applications of plant genetic engineering, environmental and social implications. Prereq: BIOL 604 or permission. (Also offered as PBIO 774.)
Co-requisites: GEN 775

GEN 775 - Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Lab
Credits: 2.00
Techniques for genetic transformation and selection of plants, analysis of foreign gene expression, and plant cell and tissue culture. Coreq: PBIO or GEN 774. (Also offered as PBIO 775.) Special fee. (Not offered every year.)
Co-requisites: GEN 774

GEN 782 - Developmental Genetics
Credits: 3.00
The molecular genetic basis of metazoan development. Focuses on how genes direct the process and how this problem is analyzed in model organisms using molecular genetic approaches. Topics include: control of cell division, maternal factors, cell-cell interactions, and differential gene expression. Prereq: BIOL 604; BCHM 658 or 751. (Also offered as BCHM 782. Not offered every year.)

GEN 795 - Investigations
Credits: 1.00 to 4.00
Independent Study/Research in various areas of genetics. A) Transmission Genetics; B) Molecular Genetics; C) Population and Quantitative Genetics. Prereq: permission. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 credits.