Genetics Courses

• Assists students with their honors project. Emphasis will be on analysis of research data and writing the discussion. Student will be expected to complete their results and discussion sections of their thesis. Students will also prepare both a fifteen minute platform talk and a much longer talk for their thesis defense. Finally, they will prepare a poster that explains their research to the general public.  
• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites

Concurrent registration in 447:409 (or equivalent college-based Honors Program); By special permission number only.

Course Description

Assists students with their honors project. Emphasis will be on analysis of research data and writing the discussion. Student will be expected to complete their results and discussion sections of their thesis. Students will also prepare both a fifteen minute platform talk and a much longer talk for their thesis defense. Finally, they will prepare a poster that explains their research to the general public.

The course is being offered in-person.  Although this course will be given in-person, there is always the possibility of a class cancellation because of inclement weather (e.g., snow) or other issues (e.g., COVID outbreak).  In this case, lectures and discussions during class will transition to being synchronous and live using Zoom.  The recurring “join meeting” Meeting ID, Passcode, and URL for accessing the class on Zoom will be available as an announcement on the course Canvas site and sent to students’ email.  It is incumbent on the student to check their email and the Canvas course site announcements before each class to determine if a class will be held via Zoom as an alternative.

Course Syllabus Spring 2022

Course Satisfies Genetics Departmental Learning Goals

1. Effectively incorporate critiques from peers and faculty in their revision of written and oral communication.
2. Effectively describe their research, using relevant discipline-specific terminology with precision, accuracy & purpose.
3. Accurately and effectively present advanced scientific concepts through oral presentations and poster formats.

Course Satisfies SAS Core Learning Goals:

Writing and Communication, Revision (WCr)

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Grades will be based on attendance, participation/presentation,  and homework. Since this course requires participation and presentations, attendance is mandatory.

Course Materials

No required textbook

Course Closed?

Registration is by SPN only.  This course is only for Genetics majors. Please contact the Genetics Department undergraduate office for an SPN.

Faculty

Dr. Chris Rongo

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.

• Assists students with writing their honors thesis in the form of a published research article. Students will review examples of published research articles, and will use them as a guide to write the following sections of their thesis: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods and Literature Cited. The Results and Discussion sections of their thesis will be completed in the next course in the sequence. This is the first part of a two-semester sequence (414-415). For seniors completing Departmental Honors; by Special Permission only.  
• Semester Offered: Fall
• Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites

Concurrent registration in 447:408, Honors in Genetics Research. By special permission number only. Please see the Genetics Dept. SPN website for information.

Course Description

Assists students with writing their honors thesis in the form of a published research article. Students will review examples of published research articles, and will use them as a guide to write the following sections of their thesis: Title, Abstract, Introduction, Materials and Methods and Literature Cited. The Results and Discussion sections of their thesis will be completed in the next course in the sequence. This is the first part of a two-semester sequence (414-415). For seniors completing Departmental Honors; by Special Permission only.

Course Syllabus 

Fall 2020 Syllabus 

Learning Goals

This course has been certified as satisfying the following learning goals of the Department of Genetics and the SAS Core Curriculum Goals

• Use genetics information and ideas to critically analyze published research articles in genetics.
• Design an experiment, carry out the research using the appropriate laboratory techniques and analyze and interpret their data. 
• Communicate their discoveries through a written article appropriate for publication in a peer-reviewed Genetics journal, and through talks or posters appropriate for scientific meetings.  

SAS Core Learning Goals:
This course satisfies the SAS requirement for "Cognitive Skills and Processes: Discipline-Based Writing and Communication [WCd]".

• Communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry.
• Evaluate and critically assess sources and use the conventions of attribution and citation
  correctly.
• Analyze and synthesize information and ideas from multiple sources to generate
  new insights.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

 Weekly assignments to read, write, review, and rewrite.

Course Closed?

To request an SPN, please see the Genetics Dept. SPN website for special permission. 

Course Materials

Articles from the published literature available from the Library of Science and Medicine website.

No required textbook. Reference book in Library of Science of Medicine: Hofmann, A.H. 2014. Scientific Writing and Communication: Papers, Proposals, and Presentations. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, NY. Paper. ISBN 978-0-19-994756-0.

Faculty

Dr. David E. Axelrod, Department of Genetics, Nelson Biolabs, Room B341

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

• Assists students with their Honors project. Emphasis will be on analysis of research data and writing the discussion. Student will be expected to complete their results and discussion sections of their thesis. Students will also prepare both a fifteen minute platform talk and a much longer talk for their thesis defense. Finally, they will prepare a poster that explains their research to the general public.  
• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites

Concurrent registration in 447:409 (or equivalent college-based Honors Program); By special permission number only.

Course Description

Assists students with their Honors project. Emphasis will be on analysis of research data and writing the discussion. Student will be expected to complete their results and discussion sections of their thesis. Students will also prepare both a fifteen minute platform talk and a much longer talk for their thesis defense. Finally, they will prepare a poster that explains their research to the general public.

Course Syllabi

Spring 2020 Syllabus

Course Satisfies Genetics Departmental Learning Goals

• Effectively incorporate critiques from peers and faculty in their revision of written and oral communication.
• Effectively describe their research, using relevant discipline-specific terminology with precision, accuracy & purpose.
• Accurately and effectively present advanced scientific concepts through oral presentations and poster formats.

Course Satisfies SAS Core Learning Goals:

Writing and Communication, Revision (WCr)

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Grades will be based on attendance, participation/presentation, and homework. Since this course requires participation and presentations, attendance is mandatory.

Course Materials

No required textbook

Course Closed?

Registration is by SPN only. This course is only for Genetics majors. Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an SPN.

Faculty

Dr. Gary Heiman

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.

• Two exams (each worth 25% of the final grade) will be given. Exams will be open book. Class attendance/participation contributes 10% to the final grade. Homework assignments and notes kept in a notebook will contribute 40% to the final grade. Notebooks will be collected and graded twice during the semester.
• Semester Offered: Spring
• Credits: 3
• Course URL: Sakai

Prerequisites

General Biology  (01:119:115-116-117 or 01:119:101-102) or equivalent. Highly recommended: 01:694:215

 Course Description

Two exams (each worth 25% of the final grade) will be given. Exams will be open book. Class attendance/participation contributes 10% to the final grade. Homework assignments and notes kept in a notebook will contribute 40% to the final grade. Notebooks will be collected and graded twice during the semester.

Course Syllabus 

Spring 2018 Syllabus

Course URL

Sakai

Course Satisfies Departmental Learning Goals

• Use genetic information and ideas to critically analyze published research articles in genetics. Students will participate in group discussion on each assigned paper.

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

Two exams (each worth 25% of the final grade) will be given. Class participation/homework/notebooks will make up  50% of the final grade.

Course Materials

Several papers from primary literature will be chosen at the beginning of the semester.

Course Closed?

If this course is closed,  please use the following link to add your name to the course wait list: Wait List Sign Up for Spring 2023 Courses. If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Life Sciences-Office of Undergraduate Instruction  at 848-445-2075 or visit our office at Nelson Labs B112, Busch Campus. 

Faculty

Dr. D. Glodowski

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