Genetics Courses

• Semester Offered: Fall
• Credits: 4
• Course URL: canvas
• Core Curriculum: CCO

Prerequisites

General Biology 01:119:115-116 and General Chemistry 01:160:161-162 or 01:160:163-164

Special permission numbers are required for everyone. Please confirm you will have completed the required courses, and are, or have committed to, becoming a Genetics major, then send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or submit a request through the online SPN System. You must specify the recitation section for which you would like to have a special permission number.

Course Description

Experimental methods and concepts in genetics. Emphasis on application of principles of genetic research. This course is half of a year-long sequence. Students will cover topics in greater depth than is possible in Genetics (447:380). Genetic Analysis I covers transmission genetics and breeding analyses, basic molecular genetics, including DNA replication, genetic code, transcription and translation, gene regulation with an emphasis on prokaryotes.   The class will be a combination of lecture and discussion.

Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 Syllabus (Subject to change)

Course Satisfies Departmental Learning Goals

1. Knowledge specific goals: Know the terms, concepts and theories in genetics.

2. Integrate the material from multiple courses and research. That is, to think holistically and to see the whole as well as the parts.

Course Satisfies the SAS Core Curriculum Goals

21st Century Challenges [CC]- Our Common Future [CCO]

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Weekly problems and essays, short quizzes each class period and 3-4 exams. Attendance is mandatory and class participation and group work is a significant part of the grade.

Course Materials

eBook: Hartwell 8^th edition, ISBN10: 1266121870 | ISBN13: 9781266121876 or digital options are available.

Supplemental readings: Will be made available via the course Canvas site.

Course Registration:

Registration by SPN only:  Please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Department of Genetics section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. If you have any questions, please contact the genetics department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Faculty

Drs. Verzi (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Dr. Yadavalli (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 4
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites 

Genetic Analysis I 01:447:384

Genetics Majors only, in person only.

Course Description 

This is the second half of the core course for majors in Genetics, and covers selected topics in greater depth than is possible in Genetics (447:380). Topics include genome structure epigenetics; DNA damage and mutagenesis; cancer genetics; developmental genetics; model organism genetics, recombinant DNA techniques, next-generation genomics and bioinformatics, human genetic disease and gene mapping; and population, quantitative and evolutionary genetics. Emphasis will be on experimental methods and concepts in genetics, and their application in contemporary genetic research. The class will be a combination of lecture and discussion, and includes a weekly recitation section.

Course Syllabi

Course Syllabus Spring 2023 

Course Satisfies Departmental Learning Goals 

1. Knowledge specific goals: Know the terms, concepts and theories in genetics.

2. Integrate the material from multiple courses and research. That is, to think holistically and to see the whole as well as the parts.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy 

Weekly graded problem sets. Short quizzes in-class. Three in-class 80 minute examinations involving short answer questions and emphasizing problem solving. Attendance is mandatory, as class participation is a significant portion of the grade.

Course Materials 

Genetics: From Genes to Genomes  (8th edition) by Hartwell, Goldberg, Fisher and Hood.
Same textbook as 447:384. Contact Dr. McKim if you already have the 7^th edition.

Supplemental readings to be assigned.

Course Registration:

Genetics Majors only. If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Genetics section on the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. If you have any questions, please contact the genetics department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Faculty 

Dr. Kim McKim
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Fall
• Credits: 4
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites

General Biology 01:119:115-116 or 01:119:101-102 and General Chemistry 01:160:161-162 or 01:160:163-164

Course Description

This is a 4-credit course which surveys the basic concepts of genetics. There are 2 lectures of 80 minutes each and one 50 minute recitation per week.

We plan to start the course with a study of DNA structure and manipulation followed by a detailed examination of classical genetics experiments beginning with those of Mendel. Further lectures in the course will focus on some of the details of molecular genetics, developmental genetics, and population genetics.

The topics to be covered will include:

• Introduction to Molecular Genetics
• DNA Structure and Manipulation
• Mendelian Genetics
• Sex-chromosomes and Sex-linkage
• Genetic Linkage and Chromosome Mapping
• DNA Replication and Recombination
• Molecular Organization of Chromosomes
• Human Karyotypes and Chromosome Behavior
• Microbial Genetics
• Gene Expression
• Regulation of Gene Expression
• Genomics, Proteomics and Transgenics
• Genetic Control of Development
• Mutations and DNA Repair
• Genetics of Cell Cycle and Cancer
• Mitochondrial DNA and Extranuclear Inheritance
• Population Genetics
• Quantitative Genetics

Course Syllabus

Fall 2023 Syllabus

Any notices regarding the course will be posted on the website. The students should access the website on a regular basis.

Course Satisfies Departmental Learning Goals

This course presents the fundamental terms, concepts and theories of genetics. In addition, key experimental results that contributed to the development of the field of genetics are discussed.

 Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

There will be 3 exams during the semester (100 points each).

• Exams (300 points)
• Recitations (110 points)
• Class participation (50 points)
• Writing assignments (40 points)

Total = 500 possible points

Course Materials

Required text: Benjamin A. Pierce, Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 5th edition

ISBN: 978-1-4641-0946-1

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Department of Genetics section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. We ask that if you are provided an spn for a course and choose not to use it, to please notify our offices at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we may provide it to the next student.

Faculty

Dr. Mai Soliman

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.

• Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 4
• Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites

General Biology 01:119:115-116

General Chemistry 01:160:161-162 or 01:160:163-164

Course Description

Genetics 380 is a 4-credit course designed to teach students basic concepts of Genetics.  Each week, new material is introduced in lecture videos posted on Canvas.  Understanding of this material is demonstrated by completing questions embedded in lecture videos, completing online homework assignments (via the Achieve site), working through recitation assignments in class, answering clicker questions during TWIG meetings, and completing 3 exams.     

This course has a hybrid format consisting of both synchronous (in-person) and asynchronous (online) components.  Recitation and TWIG meetings are synchronous and will be held in-person.  Lectures and Online Homework (OH) assignments are asynchronous. 

Course Syllabus

Download GENETICS_380_Syllabus_Spring_2026 Accessible

Course Satisfies Departmental Learning Goals

This course presents the fundamental terms, concepts and theories of genetics. In addition, key experimental results that contributed to the development of the field of genetics are discussed.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Two Hourly Exams (each is 20% of final grade)

Non-Cumulative Final Exam (20% of final grade)

Weekly Recitation Attendance and Participation (12% of final grade)

Online Homework (10% of final grade)

Lecture Questions Embedded in Videos (10% of final grade)

Weekly TWIG meeting attendance and participation (8% of final grade)

Course Materials

Required text: Benjamin A. Pierce, Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, 7th edition

ISBN: 1-319-21680-3

Required: Online access to Achieve site.

Note that registration on the Achieve site includes access to the e-version of the required text, so there is no need to purchase a hard copy. Use of iClickers is also included with registration on Achieve.  During TWIG meetings, students will use their own electronic device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc) together with the iClicker app, so there is no need to purchase a clicker device.

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Department of Genetics section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. We ask that if you are provided an spn for a course and choose not to use it, to please notify our offices at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we may provide it to the next student.

Faculty

Dr. D. Glodowski

** All information is subject to change at the discretion of the course coordinator.