Syllabus for Lab
PLSC, BIOL, BOT,
ZOO 315L – Genetics Laboratory
Spring 2008 - 1
credit - North Dakota State University
Instructor: Ted C. Helms, Ph.D.
Office: 374B Loftsgard Hall
Phone: 231-8136
E-mail: ted.helms@ndsu.edu
Office Hours: 3:00-4:00 Tuesday and by appointment
Section Time Place Instructor
6 Tuesday 9:00 AM - 10:50 AM 247
Walster
1 Tuesday 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM 247
Walster
2 Tuesday 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM 247
Walster
3 Wednesday 12:00 PM - 1:50 PM 247
Walster
4 Thursday 9:00 AM - 10:50 AM 247
Walster
5 Thursday 11:00 AM - 12:50 PM 247
Walster
7 Thursday 1:00 PM - 2:50 PM 247
Walster
Office Hours: By arrangement
315L Laboratory Teaching Assistants
Instructor |
Office |
Phone |
e-mail address |
Lab activity schedule:
Jan. 14-18, Week 1:
Inheritance of albinism in barley, part 1; Coin-toss
probability, part 1
Jan. 21-25, Week
2:
Inheritance
of albinism in barley, part 2; Inheritance of leaf color in soybean, part 1
Jan. 28-Feb. 1, Week 3:
Inheritance of eye color in Drosophila, part
1; Coin-toss probability, part 2
Feb. 4-8, Week 4:
Inheritance of leaf color in soybean, part 2;
Inheritance of kernel color in corn
Feb. 11-15, Week 5:
Inheritance of eye color in Drosophila, part 2
Feb. 18-22, Week 6:
Human karyotyping
Feb. 25-Feb. 29, Week 7:
Fingerprint ridges and the distribution of total ridge
counts
March 3-7:
No Lab –Spring Break
March 10-14, Week 8:
Root-tip squashes and chromosomes
March 17-21, Week 9:
DNA extraction from wheat germ
March 24-28, Week 10:
Agarose gel electrophoresis
March 31- April 4, Week 11:
DNA murder-mystery
April 7-11, Week 12:
Drosophila eye color, wing type, and genetic
linkage, part 1
April 14-18, Week 13:
Drosophila eye color, wing type, and genetic
linkage, part 2
April 21-25, Week 14:
T.A. evaluation, restriction enzyme mapping
No class:
Jan. 21 (Martin Luther King Day)
Feb. 18 (President’s Day)
March 3-7 (Spring break)
March 21-24 (Break)
Course Description:
We will study the basis of heredity emphasizing Mendelian
genetics and DNA structure and function. This course serves as an opportunity
for 'hands-on' activities and also serves as a review of topics from PLSC,
BIOL, BOT, ZOO 315 Genetics lecture. Lab activities will generally pertain to
lecture topics of the previous week.
Schedule:
Labs will meet every week during the semester with the
following exceptions: Labs will not meet Jan. 9-11, and will not meet March 3-7
(Spring break). All labs will not meet April 28-May 2 (last week of
classes).
Assessment:
In addition to 'hands-on' lab activities, you will be given
a worksheet each lab period. You may work on the worksheet with a partner
unless otherwise directed. Each worksheet is generally worth 100 points and
will be due prior to leaving the lab. We will have a total of 14 worksheets,
and your lowest worksheet score will automatically be dropped. If you are
absent from a lab, the corresponding worksheet may be used as your 'dropped'
worksheet. This leaves a total of 1300 points for the semester. Letter grades
are based on the worksheets.
The following is a guide for letter grades.
1170-1300 A
1040-1169 B
845-1039 C
650-844 D
649 or less F
Disability Accommodations:
Students that may require disability accommodations for this
course are encouraged to speak with the instructor and/or the Disability
Services Office (231-7671) as soon as possible to make appropriate
arrangements.
Dishonesty:
The College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural
Resources has an Honor System (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/colag/honor.htm),
which believes that a student has the privilege and responsibility to perform
honestly and responsibly. An indication of dishonesty will be referred to the
Honor Commission made up of students. The instructor also retains the
privilege of deducting points if he/she deems that the action is warranted.
Course Objectives:
- Have a broad
background in understanding genetics.
- Appreciate
the interdisciplinary relationship of genetics to biology, chemistry, ethics,
economics, mathematics, medicine, etc.
- Provide a
background for increased understanding of current societal topics involving
genetics.
- Be able to
assist others in understanding genetics.
- Provide a
base for further study in genetics.
Web Access: Grades and other course materials will be available via Blackboard (http://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu/). Lectures are videotaped and are available for viewing with RealPlayer. You can access the lecture videos through the Blackboard site or directly at http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/hammond/genetics/. A 'User name' and 'Password' will be provided in class.
Optional Textbook: Essentials of Genetics, 6th Edition, by W.S. Klug, M.R. Cummings and C.R. Spenser.
- This
optional book is recommended for students who would like a review of
fundamentals, additional background information, a second presentation of
material, or expanded coverage of topics. It is available at the Varsity
Mart. One copy is on reserve at the library.
Cancellations:
Cancellation of a class meeting time automatically delays
all scheduled activities, including exams, to the next scheduled meeting time.
General Education:
This course has been approved for meeting General Education
requirements under the following learning outcomes:
- General
Education Outcome #5: Comprehend concepts and methods of inquiry in science
and technology, and their applications for society. This course meets Outcome
#5 because it addresses basic and applied genetic investigation techniques
along with the influence of genes and genetic information on individual people,
families, and society.
- General
Education Outcome #6: Integrate knowledge and ideas in a coherent and
meaningful manner. This course meets Outcome #6 because it incorporates the
areas of transmission genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, and
population genetics into the study of individual genetic problems, investigations,
and solutions.